Analysts See $0.40 EPS for Alliant Energy (LNT); Provident Financial Services (PFS) Shorts Decreased By 31.51%

July 20, 2017 - By Michael Collier

Provident Financial Services Incorporated (NYSE:PFS) had a decrease of 31.51% in short interest. PFS’s SI was 772,000 shares in July as released by FINRA. Its down 31.51% from 1.13M shares previously. With 191,800 avg volume, 4 days are for Provident Financial Services Incorporated (NYSE:PFS)’s short sellers to cover PFS’s short positions. The SI to Provident Financial Services Incorporated’s float is 1.33%. The stock increased 0.04% or $0.01 during the last trading session, reaching $25.61. About shares traded. Provident Financial Services, Inc. (NYSE:PFS) has risen 21.62% since July 20, 2016 and is uptrending. It has outperformed by 4.92% the S&P500.

Analysts expect Alliant Energy Corporation (NYSE:LNT) to report $0.40 EPS on August, 3 after the close.They anticipate $0.03 EPS change or 8.11% from last quarter’s $0.37 EPS. LNT’s profit would be $91.46M giving it 25.31 P/E if the $0.40 EPS is correct. After having $0.43 EPS previously, Alliant Energy Corporation’s analysts see -6.98% EPS growth. The stock increased 0.55% or $0.22 during the last trading session, reaching $40.5. About shares traded. Alliant Energy Corporation (NYSE:LNT) has risen 11.22% since July 20, 2016 and is uptrending. It has underperformed by 5.48% the S&P500.

Among 7 analysts covering Alliant Energy (NYSE:LNT), 3 have Buy rating, 0 Sell and 4 Hold. Therefore 43% are positive. Alliant Energy had 14 analyst reports since August 7, 2015 according to SRatingsIntel. Wolfe Research downgraded Alliant Energy Corporation (NYSE:LNT) on Friday, August 7 to “Outperform” rating. On Thursday, August 25 the stock rating was maintained by Argus Research with “Buy”. As per Friday, March 18, the company rating was maintained by Barclays Capital. Zacks upgraded the shares of LNT in report on Wednesday, August 12 to “Hold” rating. The rating was downgraded by Barclays Capital on Friday, June 10 to “Equal-Weight”. The rating was maintained by Argus Research on Monday, March 21 with “Buy”. The firm has “Neutral” rating given on Tuesday, January 24 by Macquarie Research. The stock has “Outperform” rating by Wells Fargo on Monday, November 16.

Alliant Energy Corporation operates as a regulated investor-owned public utility holding company. The company has market cap of $9.26 billion. The Company’s divisions include Utility and Non-regulated, Parent and Other. It has a 24.53 P/E ratio. The Utility segment includes the activities of Interstate Power and Light Company and Wisconsin Power and Light Company (WPL), which serve retail clients in Iowa and Wisconsin.

Investors sentiment decreased to 0.97 in 2016 Q4. Its down 0.06, from 1.03 in 2016Q3. It dived, as 31 investors sold Alliant Energy Corporation shares while 140 reduced holdings. 40 funds opened positions while 126 raised stakes. 148.16 million shares or 0.49% more from 147.44 million shares in 2016Q3 were reported. 3.52 million are owned by Victory Cap Management Incorporated. Amer Invest Svcs Inc holds 0.43% or 27,087 shares. Synovus Fincl owns 10,178 shares for 0.01% of their portfolio. Gofen And Glossberg Limited Liability Company Il holds 0.02% or 13,131 shares. Evercore Wealth Mngmt Limited Company has invested 0% of its portfolio in Alliant Energy Corporation (NYSE:LNT). Macquarie Gru Limited, a Australia-based fund reported 188,332 shares. City Holding owns 622 shares or 0.01% of their US portfolio. Opus Capital Group Ltd Limited Liability Company holds 0.05% or 8,078 shares in its portfolio. Duncker Streett And Com Incorporated reported 4,800 shares or 0.06% of all its holdings. Arrow Financial Corporation owns 2,960 shares. The Illinois-based Nuveen Asset Mngmt Lc has invested 0.01% in Alliant Energy Corporation (NYSE:LNT). Los Angeles Cap And Equity Research Inc invested in 13,953 shares. 199,123 were reported by Calvert Inv Mgmt. First Quadrant L P Ca reported 371,284 shares or 0.29% of all its holdings. At Bank & Trust invested 0.09% in Alliant Energy Corporation (NYSE:LNT).

Since May 19, 2017, it had 1 insider purchase, and 1 insider sale for $59,684 activity. 3,700 shares valued at $146,566 were bought by Dunie Deborah B. on Friday, May 19. GALLEGOS JAMES H also sold $206,250 worth of Alliant Energy Corporation (NYSE:LNT) shares.

Since January 31, 2017, it had 0 insider purchases, and 7 selling transactions for $2.73 million activity. Shares for $155,582 were sold by FEKETE FRANK L on Wednesday, February 1. Another trade for 20,120 shares valued at $533,153 was made by Raimonde Michael A on Tuesday, January 31. 2,650 shares were sold by HERNANDEZ CARLOS, worth $65,079 on Friday, May 12. Shares for $662,594 were sold by Gallagher Terence. The insider Nesci James D sold $692,405. KUNTZ JOHN F sold $584,065 worth of stock.

Provident Financial Services Inc. is a holding firm for The Provident Bank . The company has market cap of $1.70 billion. The Bank is a New Jersey-chartered capital stock savings bank. It has a 18.16 P/E ratio. As a community and customer-oriented institution, the Bank provides personal service and customer convenience in serving the financial needs of the individuals, families and businesses residing in its primary markets areas.

Among 6 analysts covering Provident Financial Services (NYSE:PFS), 2 have Buy rating, 0 Sell and 4 Hold. Therefore 33% are positive. Provident Financial Services had 11 analyst reports since August 5, 2015 according to SRatingsIntel. Boenning & Scattergood reinitiated Provident Financial Services, Inc. (NYSE:PFS) on Friday, July 31 with “Neutral” rating. The firm has “Hold” rating by Zacks given on Friday, August 14. As per Tuesday, April 11, the company rating was maintained by Wood. The stock of Provident Financial Services, Inc. (NYSE:PFS) earned “Buy” rating by Sandler O’Neill on Thursday, June 29. The rating was downgraded by Sandler O’Neill to “Hold” on Tuesday, September 13. The firm has “Buy” rating by RBC Capital Markets given on Friday, July 7. The firm has “Hold” rating given on Thursday, July 13 by Piper Jaffray. The firm has “Outperform” rating given on Monday, August 3 by RBC Capital Markets. The rating was downgraded by Piper Jaffray to “Neutral” on Tuesday, November 10. Drexel Hamilton downgraded the shares of PFS in report on Monday, August 3 to “Hold” rating.

Investors sentiment decreased to 1.11 in Q4 2016. Its down 0.02, from 1.13 in 2016Q3. It worsened, as 10 investors sold Provident Financial Services, Inc. shares while 54 reduced holdings. 31 funds opened positions while 40 raised stakes. 41.54 million shares or 2.29% more from 40.61 million shares in 2016Q3 were reported. Allianz Asset Management Ag reported 1.04M shares or 0.03% of all its holdings. Da Davidson & accumulated 1,051 shares. Putnam Investments Ltd Limited Liability Company holds 123,122 shares. Jacobs Levy Equity has invested 0.03% in Provident Financial Services, Inc. (NYSE:PFS). Nationwide Fund Advsrs holds 152,235 shares. Denali Advsr Limited Liability Corporation reported 37 shares. Rothschild Asset Mngmt accumulated 98,162 shares. Arizona State Retirement System has 30,918 shares for 0.01% of their portfolio. Bnp Paribas Arbitrage owns 17,076 shares for 0% of their portfolio. Tower Rech Capital Ltd Company (Trc) owns 1,322 shares. Moreover, Retail Bank Of Montreal Can has 0% invested in Provident Financial Services, Inc. (NYSE:PFS) for 761 shares. Barclays Public Limited Liability Corp accumulated 1,984 shares. Tiaa Cref Inv Mgmt Llc reported 274,679 shares. Northern Trust Corp holds 0.02% or 2.30M shares in its portfolio. Teachers Retirement Of The State Of Kentucky accumulated 20,500 shares or 0.01% of the stock.