XEL
Xcel Energy Inc.
Regulated Electric
Market Cap$50.28B
5Y Perf.+23.9%
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Stock Comparison
XEL vs ED
Revenue, margins, valuation, and 5-year total return — side by side.
ED
Consolidated Edison, Inc.
Regulated Electric
Market Cap$25.17B
5Y Perf.+42.4%
XEL vs ED — Key Financials
Market cap, revenue, margins, and valuation side-by-side.
| Company Snapshot | XEL | ED |
|---|---|---|
| Industry | Regulated Electric | Regulated Electric |
| Market Cap | $50.28B | $25.17B |
| Revenue (TTM) | $14.78B | $16.59B |
| Net Income (TTM) | $2.09B | $2.04B |
| Gross Margin | 18.9% | 64.4% |
| Operating Margin | 19.8% | 17.8% |
| Forward P/E | 19.6x | 17.5x |
| Total Debt | $34.78B | $315M |
| Cash & Equiv. | $274M | $1M |
XEL vs ED — Long-Term Stock Performance
Price return indexed to 100 at period start. Dividends excluded.
XEL
ED
| Stock | May 20 | May 26 | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) | 100 | 123.9 | +23.9% |
| Consolidated Edison… (ED) | 100 | 142.4 | +42.4% |
Price return only. Dividends and distributions are not included.
Quick Verdict: XEL vs ED
Each card shows where this stock fits in a portfolio — not just who wins on paper.
Bottom line: ED leads in 4 of 7 categories, making it the strongest pick for growth and revenue expansion and valuation and capital efficiency. Xcel Energy Inc. is the stronger pick specifically for profitability and margin quality and dividend income and shareholder returns. As sector peers, any of these can serve as alternatives in the same allocation.
XEL
Xcel Energy Inc.
The Long-Run Compounder
XEL is the clearest fit if your priority is long-term compounding and sleep-well-at-night.
- 144.2% 10Y total return vs ED's 85.6%
- Lower volatility, beta 0.08, current ratio 0.71x
- Beta 0.08, yield 2.7%, current ratio 0.71x
Best for: long-term compounding and sleep-well-at-night
ED
Consolidated Edison, Inc.
The Income Pick
ED carries the broadest edge in this set and is the clearest fit for income & stability and growth exposure.
- Dividend streak 0 yrs, beta -0.41, yield 3.0%
- Rev growth 10.9%, EPS growth 7.6%, 3Y rev CAGR 2.6%
- PEG 1.53 vs XEL's 4.71
Best for: income & stability and growth exposure
See the full category breakdown
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | ED | 10.9% revenue growth vs XEL's 9.1% |
| Value | ED | Lower P/E (17.5x vs 19.6x), PEG 1.53 vs 4.71 |
| Quality / Margins | XEL | 14.1% margin vs ED's 12.3% |
| Stability / Safety | ED | Lower D/E ratio (1.3% vs 147.3%) |
| Dividends | XEL | 2.7% yield, 17-year raise streak, vs ED's 3.0% |
| Momentum (1Y) | XEL | +16.6% vs ED's -0.1% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | ED | 2.8% ROA vs XEL's 2.6%, ROIC 6.0% vs 4.0% |
XEL vs ED — Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
FY 2025
FY 2025
XEL vs ED — Financial Metrics
Side-by-side numbers across 2 stocks — who leads on profitability, valuation, growth, and risk.
BEST OVERALLEDLAGGINGXEL
XELXcel Energy Inc.
1leads
EDConsolidated Edison, …
3leads
6 Total Categories
CATEGORYLEADERvs XELMETRICS WON
Income & Cash FlowRevenue, margins, and cash flow strength
ED4/6
Valuation MetricsMultiples, price ratios, and targets
ED6/6
Profitability & EfficiencyROE, ROIC, leverage, and quality scores
ED7/9
Total Returns1Y, 3Y, 5Y total returns with dividends
XEL5/6
Risk & VolatilityBeta, volatility, and downside exposure
Tied
—
Analyst OutlookRatings, price targets, and dividends
Tied
—
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ED leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Income & Cash Flow (Last 12 Months)
ED and XEL operate at a comparable scale, with $16.6B and $14.8B in trailing revenue. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 14.1% (XEL) to 12.3% (ED). On growth, ED holds the edge at +10.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | XELXcel Energy Inc. | EDConsolidated Edis… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $14.8B | $16.6B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $5.9B | $5.2B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $2.1B | $2.0B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$343M | $3.4B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +18.9% | +64.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +19.8% | +17.8% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +14.1% | +12.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -2.3% | +20.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +2.9% | +10.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +6.0% | +12.4% |
ED leads this category, winning 4 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
ED leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Valuation Metrics
At 18.9x trailing earnings, ED trades at a 20% valuation discount to XEL's 23.6x P/E. Adjusting for growth (PEG ratio), ED offers better value at 1.65x vs XEL's 5.67x — a lower PEG means you pay less per unit of expected earnings growth.
| Metric | XELXcel Energy Inc. | EDConsolidated Edis… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $50.3B | $25.2B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $84.8B | $25.5B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 23.55x | 18.95x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 19.57x | 17.52x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 5.67x | 1.65x |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 14.54x | 4.85x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.43x | 1.49x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.01x | 1.58x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 5.56x |
ED leads this category, winning 6 of 6 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
ED leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Profitability & Efficiency
XEL delivers a 9.3% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $9 in annual profit, vs $8 for ED. ED carries lower financial leverage with a 0.01x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to XEL's 1.47x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), ED scores 7/9 vs XEL's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | XELXcel Energy Inc. | EDConsolidated Edis… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +9.3% | +8.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +2.6% | +2.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +4.0% | +6.0% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +4.2% | +6.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.47x | 0.01x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $34.5B | $314M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $274M | $1M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $34.8B | $315M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.32x | 0.77x |
ED leads this category, winning 7 of 9 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
XEL leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Total Returns (Dividends Reinvested)
A $10,000 investment in ED five years ago would be worth $15,824 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $12,720 for XEL. Over the past 12 months, XEL leads with a +16.6% total return vs ED's -0.1%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors XEL at 7.9% vs ED's 5.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | XELXcel Energy Inc. | EDConsolidated Edis… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +8.7% | +7.8% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +16.6% | -0.1% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +25.8% | +18.1% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +27.2% | +58.2% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +144.2% | +85.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +7.9% | +5.7% |
XEL leads this category, winning 5 of 6 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
Evenly matched — XEL and ED each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Risk & Volatility
ED is the less volatile stock with a -0.41 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than XEL's 0.08 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. XEL currently trades 95.6% from its 52-week high vs ED's 92.0% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | XELXcel Energy Inc. | EDConsolidated Edis… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.08x | -0.41x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $84.23 | $116.17 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $65.21 | $94.96 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +95.6% | +92.0% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 54.5 | 44.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 4.3M | 1.8M |
Evenly matched — XEL and ED each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Evenly matched — XEL and ED each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates XEL as "Buy" and ED as "Hold". Consensus price targets imply 13.0% upside for XEL (target: $91) vs 1.8% for ED (target: $109). For income investors, ED offers the higher dividend yield at 2.96% vs XEL's 2.70%.
| Metric | XELXcel Energy Inc. | EDConsolidated Edis… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Hold |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $91.00 | $108.78 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 26 | 27 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.7% | +3.0% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 17 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.18 | $3.16 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Evenly matched — XEL and ED each lead in 1 of 2 comparable metrics.
Key Takeaway
ED leads in 3 of 6 categories (Income & Cash Flow, Valuation Metrics). XEL leads in 1 (Total Returns). 2 tied.
Best OverallConsolidated Edison, Inc. (ED)Leads 3 of 6 categories
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XEL vs ED: Frequently Asked Questions
10 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is XEL or ED a better buy right now?
For growth investors, Consolidated Edison, Inc.
(ED) is the stronger pick with 10. 9% revenue growth year-over-year, versus 9. 1% for Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL). Consolidated Edison, Inc. (ED) offers the better valuation at 18. 9x trailing P/E (17. 5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) a "Buy" — based on 26 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which has the better valuation — XEL or ED?
On trailing P/E, Consolidated Edison, Inc.
(ED) is the cheapest at 18. 9x versus Xcel Energy Inc. at 23. 6x. On forward P/E, Consolidated Edison, Inc. is actually cheaper at 17. 5x. The PEG ratio (P/E divided by earnings growth rate) is the most growth-adjusted single valuation metric: Consolidated Edison, Inc. wins at 1. 53x versus Xcel Energy Inc. 's 4. 71x — a reasonable growth-adjusted valuation.
03Which is the better long-term investment — XEL or ED?
Over the past 5 years, Consolidated Edison, Inc.
(ED) delivered a total return of +58. 2%, compared to +27. 2% for Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: XEL returned +144. 2% versus ED's +85. 6%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
04Which is safer — XEL or ED?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Consolidated Edison, Inc.
(ED) is the lower-risk stock at -0. 41β versus Xcel Energy Inc. 's 0. 08β — meaning XEL is approximately -119% more volatile than ED relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Consolidated Edison, Inc. (ED) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 1% versus 147% for Xcel Energy Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which is growing faster — XEL or ED?
By revenue growth (latest reported year), Consolidated Edison, Inc.
(ED) is pulling ahead at 10. 9% versus 9. 1% for Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Consolidated Edison, Inc. grew EPS 7. 6% year-over-year, compared to -0. 6% for Xcel Energy Inc.. Over a 3-year CAGR, ED leads at 2. 6% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.
06Which has better profit margins — XEL or ED?
Xcel Energy Inc.
(XEL) is the more profitable company, earning 13. 8% net margin versus 12. 0% for Consolidated Edison, Inc. — meaning it keeps 13. 8% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: XEL leads at 19. 6% versus 17. 3% for ED. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ED leads at 81. 0%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
07Is XEL or ED more undervalued right now?
The PEG ratio (forward P/E divided by expected earnings growth rate) is the most precise measure of undervaluation relative to growth potential.
By this metric, Consolidated Edison, Inc. (ED) is the more undervalued stock at a PEG of 1. 53x versus Xcel Energy Inc. 's 4. 71x. Both stocks trade at elevated growth-adjusted valuations, so expected growth needs to materialise. On forward earnings alone, Consolidated Edison, Inc. (ED) trades at 17. 5x forward P/E versus 19. 6x for Xcel Energy Inc. — 2. 1x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for XEL: 13. 0% to $91. 00.
08Which pays a better dividend — XEL or ED?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends.
Consolidated Edison, Inc. (ED) offers the highest yield at 3. 0%, versus 2. 7% for Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL).
09Is XEL or ED better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Consolidated Edison, Inc.
(ED) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β -0. 41), 3. 0% yield). Both have compounded well over 10 years (ED: +85. 6%, XEL: +144. 2%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
10What are the main differences between XEL and ED?
Both stocks operate in the Utilities sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.
These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
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Revenue Growth>
%
(XEL: 2.9% · ED: 10.7%)Net Margin>
%
(XEL: 14.1% · ED: 12.3%)P/E Ratio<
x
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