Stock Traders Buy High Volume of Exelon Put Options (NASDAQ:EXC)

Exelon Co. (NASDAQ:EXC) was the recipient of some unusual options trading on Friday. Stock investors purchased 3,579 put options on the stock. This represents an increase of approximately 53% compared to the average daily volume of 2,332 put options.

Exelon Stock Performance

Shares of EXC stock opened at $46.22 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $46.66 billion, a PE ratio of 18.87, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.86 and a beta of 0.39. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $44.73 and a 200-day moving average of $41.04. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.61, a current ratio of 0.87 and a quick ratio of 0.78. Exelon has a one year low of $34.01 and a one year high of $48.11.

Exelon (NASDAQ:EXC) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The company reported $0.64 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.59 by $0.05. Exelon had a return on equity of 9.52% and a net margin of 10.68%. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.60 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Exelon will post 2.64 earnings per share for the current year.

Exelon Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 14th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 24th were issued a dividend of $0.40 per share. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.46%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 24th. This is a boost from Exelon’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.38. Exelon’s dividend payout ratio is 65.31%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on EXC. Evercore ISI reissued an “in-line” rating and issued a $48.00 price target (up previously from $46.00) on shares of Exelon in a report on Tuesday, April 15th. BMO Capital Markets restated an “outperform” rating on shares of Exelon in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. Scotiabank raised their price target on Exelon from $42.00 to $44.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a report on Thursday, February 13th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on Exelon from $46.00 to $48.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Thursday, March 20th. Finally, Barclays raised their target price on shares of Exelon from $42.00 to $48.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 25th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Exelon presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $45.78.

Insider Buying and Selling at Exelon

In other Exelon news, EVP Colette D. Honorable sold 1,463 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $40.57, for a total value of $59,353.91. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 2,271 shares in the company, valued at approximately $92,134.47. This trade represents a 39.18 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Exelon

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Ameriflex Group Inc. bought a new stake in Exelon in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Millstone Evans Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Exelon in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Stephens Consulting LLC lifted its position in shares of Exelon by 78.1% in the fourth quarter. Stephens Consulting LLC now owns 782 shares of the company’s stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 343 shares in the last quarter. Brown Lisle Cummings Inc. acquired a new position in Exelon during the fourth quarter worth $30,000. Finally, Crews Bank & Trust bought a new position in Exelon in the fourth quarter valued at $34,000. 80.92% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About Exelon

Exelon Corporation, a utility services holding company, engages in the energy distribution and transmission businesses in the United States and Canada. The company is involved in the purchase and regulated retail sale of electricity and natural gas, transmission and distribution of electricity, and distribution of natural gas to retail customers.