CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE:CNP) Shares Sold by Yousif Capital Management LLC

Yousif Capital Management LLC lessened its holdings in CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE:CNP) by 3.3% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 88,526 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after selling 3,008 shares during the period. Yousif Capital Management LLC’s holdings in CenterPoint Energy were worth $2,809,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB acquired a new stake in CenterPoint Energy during the 3rd quarter valued at $26,000. First Horizon Advisors Inc. lifted its position in shares of CenterPoint Energy by 51.3% in the third quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 1,106 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 375 shares in the last quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB boosted its stake in shares of CenterPoint Energy by 53.0% during the fourth quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 1,392 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $44,000 after acquiring an additional 482 shares during the last quarter. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC purchased a new stake in CenterPoint Energy during the 3rd quarter worth about $52,000. Finally, GHP Investment Advisors Inc. raised its stake in CenterPoint Energy by 25.7% in the 3rd quarter. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 2,047 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $60,000 after purchasing an additional 418 shares during the last quarter. 91.77% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

CenterPoint Energy Stock Performance

CenterPoint Energy stock opened at $32.38 on Monday. The firm has a market capitalization of $21.10 billion, a PE ratio of 21.44, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.61 and a beta of 0.95. CenterPoint Energy, Inc. has a one year low of $25.41 and a one year high of $33.12. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $32.03 and its 200 day moving average price is $29.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.87, a quick ratio of 0.92 and a current ratio of 1.11.

CenterPoint Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 13th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 20th will be paid a dividend of $0.22 per share. This is an increase from CenterPoint Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.21. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 20th. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.72%. CenterPoint Energy’s payout ratio is 55.63%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

CNP has been the topic of several analyst reports. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on shares of CenterPoint Energy from $32.00 to $31.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, November 22nd. StockNews.com cut shares of CenterPoint Energy from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 17th. Guggenheim lowered CenterPoint Energy from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH assumed coverage on CenterPoint Energy in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $34.50 price objective for the company. Finally, Barclays increased their target price on CenterPoint Energy from $29.00 to $30.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research report on Monday, January 27th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $31.46.

CenterPoint Energy Profile

CenterPoint Energy, Inc operates as a public utility holding company in the United States. The company operates through two segments, Electric and Natural Gas. The Electric segment includes electric transmission and distribution services to electric customers and electric generation assets, as well as optimizes assets in the wholesale power market.