Xcel Energy’s Stock Performance and Earnings Outlook Overview

Minneapolis, Minnesota-based Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) is an electric and natural gas delivery company involved in generating, purchasing, transmitting, distributing, and selling electricity. With a market capitalization of $40.7 billion, Xcel operates through its Regulated Electric Utility and Regulated Natural Gas Utility segments.

Xcel Energy’s Recent Stock Performance

Over the past 52 weeks, XEL shares have significantly outperformed the broader market. The stock has increased by 27.8%, while the S&P 500 Index ($SPX) gained only 8.6%. Additionally, year-to-date, XEL is up 4.6%, contrasting with the S&P 500’s decline of 3.8%.

Comparison with Utility Sector

Further analysis reveals that Xcel Energy has surpassed the Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLU), which saw a nearly 12.5% increase in the same time frame.

Recent Earnings Report

Xcel Energy’s stock fell by 1.8% following the release of its Q1 2025 earnings report on April 24. The company reported a 7% year-over-year revenue increase, reaching $3.9 billion, driven by growth across all segments. However, earnings per share (EPS) of $0.84 fell short of the analysts’ estimate of $0.93. For the fiscal year 2025, the company predicts EPS of between $3.75 and $3.85.

Future Earnings Expectations

For the current fiscal year, which ends in December 2025, analysts project XEL’s EPS to rise by 8.9% year-over-year to $3.81. However, the company’s history of earnings surprises is concerning, as it has missed consensus estimates for the past four quarters.

Analyst Ratings and Price Targets

A survey of 15 analysts covering XEL reveals a consensus rating of “Strong Buy,” based on 11 “Strong Buy” ratings and four “Holds.”

On April 28, analyst Durgesh Chopra from Evercore ISI raised Xcel Energy’s price target to $77 while retaining an “Outperform” rating.

Currently, Xcel Energy is trading below the mean price target of $77.28, and the Street-high price target of $83 suggests a potential upside of 17.5% from its current price levels.

On the date of publication, Sohini Mondal did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article are for informational purposes only. For more details, please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.

The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.