XEL
Xcel Energy
$80.33
▲ 1.9%Updated Today 5:06 AM ET
▲ Up 16.8% over the last 12 months
Market Cap
$49.30B
P/E
23.98x
Forward P/E (est.)
23.42x
ROE
9.3%
Revenue Growth
8.0%
EPS Growth
2.4%
Profit Margin
14.2%
FCF Yield
9.9%
Debt / Equity
1.49x
ROIC
3.0%
Interest Coverage
1.76x
Current Ratio
0.77x
Dividend Yield
2.9%
Implied Growth (rev. DCF)
—
Rating Score
52/100
Technical analysis reads price and volume to judge momentum and timing. It complements the fundamentals above — it does not replace them. Here is what XEL's chart says today, with each tool explained.
Trend — moving averages. A moving average is the average closing price over a window, which smooths out daily noise. XEL trades near $80.33, above its 50-day average ($79.46) and 200-day average ($78.55). Price above both averages, with the shorter one above the longer, is the textbook definition of an uptrend — momentum favours buyers.
Momentum — RSI. The Relative Strength Index runs 0–100 and measures how strong recent gains are versus losses. Above 70 is "overbought", below 30 "oversold". At 62 it is in neutral territory — neither stretched nor washed out.
MACD. MACD compares two moving averages to flag shifts in momentum. Its histogram is currently positive — short-term momentum is improving.
Volatility — ATR. Average True Range is the typical daily move. XEL's is $1.71 (~2.1% of price), so swings of about that size each day are normal — handy for setting a stop that isn't too tight.
Support & resistance. Over the last month XEL found buyers near $76.16 (support) and sellers near $81.50 (resistance); its 52-week range is $66.56–$84.23. A decisive break beyond either edge often marks the next move.
Volume. The latest session traded 0.6× the 20-day average — lighter than usual, so the move carries less conviction. Rising volume on up-days suggests real buying; on down-days, real selling.
Educational information to help you read a chart — not a recommendation or a forecast. It updates daily as the price and indicators change.
Xcel Energy (XEL) is a large-cap company in the Multi-Utilities industry, part of the Utilities sector of the S&P 500, with a market value around $49.30B.
In its latest reported year it generated about $11.54B in revenue.
Our model rates XEL Neutral (52/100) on growth, profitability, financial health, and valuation. The summary below is built from its filed financials and current ratios and refreshes automatically.
4Y CAGR
-0.3%
Revenue moved from $11.69B in 2014 to $11.54B in 2018, a -0.3% compound annual growth rate. The most recent year grew a steady 8.0% year over year. Slower, mature growth is common for established businesses.
Gross Margin
40.4%
Operating Margin
18.1%
Net Margin
14.2%
ROE
9.3%
Xcel Energy keeps about 14.2% of each sales dollar as net profit, with a 40.4% gross margin and 18.1% operating margin. Return on equity is 9.3% and return on invested capital about 3.0%. Margins are moderate — typical of a competitive but profitable business.
Total Debt
$35.55B
Net Debt
$33.79B
Net Debt / EBITDA
—
Debt / Equity
1.49x
Leverage: debt-to-equity is 1.5x, and operating profit covers interest about 1.8x, with a current ratio of 0.8x. That is a moderate, manageable debt load for most businesses. It carries roughly $35.55B of total debt against $1.76B of cash.
Operating CF
—
Free Cash Flow
—
FCF Margin
—
P/E
23.98x
P/S
3.37x
P/B
1.89x
EV / EBITDA
15.03x
XEL trades at 24.0x trailing earnings (about 23.4x on estimated forward earnings), 3.4x sales, and 1.9x book value. That is a fairly typical valuation for a profitable company.
Where this stock sits versus what most companies trade at.
Typical ranges are general references (e.g., many stocks trade at ~18–26x earnings), not hard rules. Context only — not investment advice.
How XEL stacks up against its Utilities peers — valuation, profitability, and growth versus the sector median.
In the Utilities sector (31 S&P 500 companies), XEL ranks #19 of 31 by our overall rating. It trades at roughly in line versus the sector on earnings (24x P/E vs. 22.2x median) with a lower return on equity (9.3% vs. 10.4%) and slower revenue growth (8.0% vs. 9.0%).
P/E vs sector
24x
median 22.2x
ROE vs sector
9.3%
median 10.4%
Growth vs sector
8.0%
median 9.0%
Sector rank
#19
of 31 by rating
Valuation vs. quality map
The sweet spot is upper-left: more profitable (higher ROE) for a lower P/E. Dashed lines mark the sector median.
Peers are the closest Utilities companies by sub-industry and size. Sector median is across all 31 S&P 500 names in the sector. Educational, not a recommendation.
Project revenue → earnings → price. Edit the assumptions to build your own case.
2030 price target (Base Case)
$53.22 – $91.24
vs. $80.33 today · expected CAGR -8% – 3%
| Metric | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 | 2029 | 2030 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $12.46B | $13.46B | $14.53B | $15.70B | $16.95B |
| Net income | $1.74B | $1.88B | $2.03B | $2.20B | $2.37B |
| EPS | $2.79 | $3.02 | $3.26 | $3.52 | $3.80 |
| Share price (low) | $39.12 | $42.25 | $45.63 | $49.28 | $53.22 |
| Share price (high) | $67.06 | $72.43 | $78.22 | $84.48 | $91.24 |
| CAGR (low–high) | -51% / -17% | -27% / -5% | -17% / -1% | -11% / 1% | -8% / 3% |
Educational model on sample fundamentals — not a forecast or investment advice. Outputs are only as good as your assumptions.
The case for XEL:
- Healthy free-cash-flow yield (~9.9%) funds buybacks and dividends.
- Pays a 2.9% dividend on top of any price gains.
The case against XEL:
- Interest coverage is thin (1.8x), so debt costs bite.
- Like any single stock, it is exposed to competition, the economic cycle, and shifts in its end markets.
Balance-sheet risk — debt/equity of 1.5x magnifies the impact of higher rates or weaker earnings.
Market risk — sector rotation, the economic cycle, and broad sentiment move the stock regardless of fundamentals.
On balance, the picture is mixed: Xcel Energy is a large-cap utilities business growing at a mature pace, with solid profitability, and a heavier debt load to watch. It trades at 24.0x earnings, which our model scores Neutral (52/100). Weigh this against your own goals and time horizon — this is educational information, not a recommendation.
XEL — frequently asked questions
Is XEL a good stock to buy?
We don't give buy or sell advice. Our model rates Xcel Energy Neutral (52/100) based on its growth, profitability, financial health, and valuation — use that as a research starting point and make your own decision.
What is XEL's rating on The Stocks School?
Xcel Energy currently scores 52/100 (Neutral) on our transparent model, which weighs real fundamentals: growth, margins, returns on capital, balance-sheet strength, and valuation.
How our ratings work →Where does XEL's data come from?
Live price data plus real fundamentals and 5-year financials pulled directly from Xcel Energy's SEC filings — refreshed automatically, not hand-entered.
How is the 5-year projection for XEL calculated?
It's a scenario model: it grows revenue at an assumed rate, applies a profit margin and a valuation multiple, and shows the resulting share-price range. The assumptions are yours to change — it's a tool for thinking, not a prediction.
Is this XEL analysis financial advice?
No. Everything on this page is educational research, not financial advice or a recommendation to buy or sell XEL. Always do your own research and consider a licensed professional.
Data notice. Fundamentals and financial statements are sourced from company filings (SEC EDGAR) and market-data providers; prices and market caps refresh on trading days and may be delayed. Ratings, projections, technical signals, and written summaries are model- or rule-generated for education and may simplify or lag the latest filings.
Not advice. Nothing on this page is investment advice or a recommendation to buy, hold, or sell any security. Do your own research and consult a licensed financial professional before investing.