Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL)

In the past six months (January to June 2025), Xcel Energy's stock (XEL) has gained 0.39%. The share price on June 20, 2025, was $66.64, marking a 23.45% increase from $53.98 on June 24, 2024. As of June 26, 2025, the stock closed at $67.75. Over the past six months, XEL's share price has underperformed the S&P500 Index by -4.82%. Since the end of 2023, the stock has gained 16%, primarily driven by a 25% increase in its Price to Sales (P/S) ratio. Recent company developments impacting the stock include Q1 2025 disclosures highlighting surging electricity consumption driven by data center growth and AI adoption, leading Xcel to actively contract new loads. Xcel is extending the operational lifespans of its Prairie Island and Monticello nuclear plants in Minnesota until the early 2050s. In December 2024, Xcel Energy announced a collaboration with Itron to deploy an aggregator distributed energy resource management system (DERMS) in Colorado. The company also received regulatory approval for an event in January 2025.

Demand for Xcel Energy's products and services exhibits seasonality. Natural gas prices typically increase during cold weather, leading Xcel Energy to advise customers on conservation during winter months. Xcel Energy purchases and stores a portion of its natural gas needs for the winter heating season. In Colorado, Xcel Energy's residential customers have been transitioning to seasonal Time-of-Use (TOU) rates since 2022, with completion expected in 2025. By 2030, Public Service Company of Colorado (PSCo) is projected to become a dual-peaking utility. Historically, PSCo's peak demand has occurred in the summer, particularly in July and August. In Minnesota, regulators have approved Xcel Energy's request to operate two coal plants seasonally (June-August and December-February). Minnesota customers of Xcel Energy generally use about 20% less electricity in winter, and winter electricity rates are, on average, more than 30% cheaper than summer rates.

Xcel Energy, Inc. is a U.S. regulated electric utility and natural gas delivery company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The company operates as an energy holding company, with its subsidiaries engaged in the generation, procurement, transmission, distribution, and resale of electricity, as well as the transportation, storage, distribution, and resale of natural gas. Xcel Energy is categorized within the Utilities sector and the Electric Utilities industry. Its major products include electric power and natural gas, and it also offers home appliance repair, maintenance, and replacement services. The company generates electricity using a diverse mix of sources, including coal, nuclear, natural gas, wind, hydro, biomass, and solar, and is recognized as one of the largest renewable energy suppliers in the U.S., with over half of its electricity sales derived from carbon-free energy.

Xcel Energy serves approximately 3.7 million electric customers and 2.1 million natural gas customers across parts of eight Midwestern and Western states, including Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin. The company operates through four primary regulated utility subsidiaries: Northern States Power-Minnesota (NSPM), Northern States Power-Wisconsin (NSPW), Public Service Company of Colorado (PSCo), and Southwestern Public Service Co. (SPS). More than 80% of Xcel Energy's revenues are generated from its operations in Minnesota and Colorado.

Xcel Energy has a "Medium Risk" ESG rating of 29.5 from Sustainalytics as of March 28, 2025. The company's commitment to sustainability, renewable energy, and energy efficiency initiatives contributes positively to its reputation. Xcel Energy aims to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2030 and achieve 100% carbon-free electricity by 2050. In 2023, Xcel Energy made progress on clean energy, clean fuels, and electric transportation, with over 10,000 megawatts of renewable energy and plans to add 15,000 to 20,000 megawatts by 2030. The company is also extending the operational lives of its Monticello and Prairie Island nuclear plants. In December 2024, Xcel Energy released its "Grid of the Future" white paper. In February 2023, Xcel Energy's involvement with a non-profit advocating for natural gas in Colorado drew attention.

Xcel Energy Inc. exhibits a mixed ownership structure, with a substantial portion of its shares held by institutional investors alongside individual shareholders. The company has 1986 institutional owners and shareholders, collectively holding 595,661,658 shares. Approximately 72.72% of the company's stock is owned by institutional investors, 0.21% by insiders, and 27.07% by public companies and individual investors (retail investors). Major institutional shareholders include Vanguard Group Inc., BlackRock, Inc., State Street Corp, Price T Rowe Associates Inc /md/, Bank Of America Corp /de/, and JPMorgan Chase & Co. Vanguard Group Inc. holds the largest number of shares.