Increased its quarterly common stock dividend 3.2 percent

An $11 billion electricity and natural-gas company, Xcel Energy (XEL) modestly boosted its quarterly common dividend Wednesday, to 24.5 cents a share from 23.75 cents, for a 5.77% yield. Holders of record June 25 will receive the new payout July 20. The ex-date is June 23. The company said the increase "is consistent with our goal of growing the dividend 2%-4% annually." Xcel has been making payouts since 1910. The NYSE-listed shares recently traded around 17; their 52-week range is 22.39 to 15.32. Standard & Poor's rates the stock Buy, while Edward Jones & Co.'s opinion is Hold. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Xcel primarily serves eight Midwestern and Western states. Its first-quarter earnings rose 14% from the level a year earlier, to 38 cents a share, although operating revenue fell 11%. Xcel expects sales of both power and gas to slide 1% this year. It estimates full-year profit of $1.45 to $1.55 a share, against 2008's $1.46.

6/24/2008

Good Div

dividends

Another long term holding

Upgraded by Lehman Brothers from Underweight to Equal-weight

value, and growth

Used to work for it's predecessor, NCE. Have had stock since I left in 2003.

utility sector

looking at options