Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) vs GE Vernova Inc. (GEV) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
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Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | GEV | 8.9% revenue growth vs XEL's -5.4% |
| Value | XEL | Lower P/E (20.1x vs 61.0x) |
| Quality / Margins | XEL | 13.5% net margin vs GEV's 12.8% |
| Stability / Safety | XEL | Beta 0.19 vs GEV's 1.59 |
| Dividends | XEL | 2.5% yield, 16-year raise streak, vs GEV's 0.1% |
| Momentum (1Y) | GEV | +161.0% vs XEL's +18.8% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | GEV | 7.8% ROA vs XEL's 2.4%, ROIC 27.9% vs 3.8% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
Xcel Energy is a regulated electric and natural gas utility serving customers across eight Midwestern and Western states. It generates revenue primarily through regulated rate structures — earning returns on its infrastructure investments in generation, transmission, and distribution — with electricity contributing roughly 75% of operating income and natural gas about 25%. Its key advantage is its regulated monopoly status in its service territories, providing stable, predictable returns through cost recovery mechanisms approved by state utility commissions.
GE Vernova is a diversified energy technology company that provides power generation equipment and grid solutions across multiple energy sources. It makes money primarily through three segments: Power (gas, nuclear, and hydro turbines), Wind (onshore and offshore wind turbines), and Electrification (grid equipment and power conversion systems). The company's competitive advantage lies in its comprehensive energy portfolio—spanning traditional and renewable technologies—and its deep expertise in large-scale power infrastructure projects.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
XEL leads in 4 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Valuation Metrics). GEV leads in 2 (Profitability & Efficiency, Total Returns).
Financial Metrics (TTM)
GEV is the larger business by revenue, generating $38.1B annually — 2.7x XEL's $14.2B. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 13.5% (XEL) to 12.8% (GEV). On growth, XEL holds the edge at +7.4% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | XELXcel Energy Inc. | GEVGE Vernova Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $14.2B | $38.1B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $5.4B | $2.3B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.9B | $4.9B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$5.2B | $3.7B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +46.3% | +19.9% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +16.5% | +3.7% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +13.5% | +12.8% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -36.2% | +9.7% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +7.4% | +3.8% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -25.6% | +6.7% |
Valuation Metrics
At 24.2x trailing earnings, XEL trades at a 51% valuation discount to GEV's 49.4x P/E. On an enterprise value basis, XEL's 15.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than GEV's 101.1x.
| Metric | XELXcel Energy Inc. | GEVGE Vernova Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $49.3B | $235.5B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $79.3B | $226.6B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 24.23x | 49.38x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 20.12x | 61.04x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 4.46x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 15.08x | 101.12x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.67x | 6.19x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.40x | 19.61x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 63.45x |
Profitability & Efficiency
GEV delivers a 39.7% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $40 in annual profit, vs $9 for XEL. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), GEV scores 6/9 vs XEL's 5/9, reflecting solid financial health.
| Metric | XELXcel Energy Inc. | GEVGE Vernova Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +9.0% | +39.7% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +2.4% | +7.8% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +3.8% | +27.9% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +3.9% | +6.6% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 6 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.55x | — |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $30.0B | -$8.8B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $179M | $8.8B |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $30.2B | $0 |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.02x | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in GEV five years ago would be worth $66,674 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $15,839 for XEL. Over the past 12 months, GEV leads with a +161.0% total return vs XEL's +18.8%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors GEV at 88.2% vs XEL's 11.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | XELXcel Energy Inc. | GEVGE Vernova Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +11.6% | +28.6% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +18.8% | +161.0% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +39.2% | +566.7% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +58.4% | +566.7% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +156.3% | +566.7% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +11.7% | +88.2% |
Risk & Volatility
XEL is the less volatile stock with a 0.19 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than GEV's 1.59 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500.
| Metric | XELXcel Energy Inc. | GEVGE Vernova Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.19x | 1.59x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $84.23 | $894.93 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $65.21 | $252.25 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +99.0% | +97.6% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 71.6 | 73.4 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 4.5M | 2.5M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates XEL as "Buy" and GEV as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 7.4% upside for XEL (target: $90) vs -4.5% for GEV (target: $835). For income investors, XEL offers the higher dividend yield at 2.50% vs GEV's 0.11%.
| Metric | XELXcel Energy Inc. | GEVGE Vernova Inc. |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $89.50 | $834.72 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 26 | 27 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.5% | +0.1% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 16 | 1 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.09 | $1.00 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | +1.4% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Apr 24 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) | 100 | 139.83 | +39.8% |
| GE Vernova Inc. (GEV) | 108.21 | 575.22 | +431.6% |
GE Vernova Inc. (GEV) returned +567% over 5 years vs Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL)'s +58%. A $10,000 investment in GEV 5 years ago would be worth $66,674 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) | $11.1B | $13.4B | +21.0% |
| GE Vernova Inc. (GEV) | $29.7B | $38.1B | +28.4% |
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) | 10.1% | 14.4% | +42.4% |
| GE Vernova Inc. (GEV) | -9.2% | 12.8% | +239.1% |
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 8 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) | 21.4 | 19.6 | -8.4% |
Xcel Energy Inc. has traded in a 19x–24x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~24x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) | 2.21 | 3.44 | +55.7% |
| GE Vernova Inc. (GEV) | -10.06 | 17.69 | +275.8% |
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Xcel Energy Inc. generated $-3B FCF in 2024 (-33% vs 2021). GE Vernova Inc. generated $4B FCF in 2025 (+692% vs 2022).
XEL vs GEV: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is XEL or GEV a better buy right now?
Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) offers the better valuation at 24.2x trailing P/E (20.1x 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 GEV?
On trailing P/E, Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) is the cheapest at 24.2x versus GE Vernova Inc. at 49.4x. On forward P/E, Xcel Energy Inc. is actually cheaper at 20.1x.
03Which is the better long-term investment — XEL or GEV?
Over the past 5 years, GE Vernova Inc. (GEV) delivered a total return of +566.7%, compared to +58.4% for Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL). A $10,000 investment in GEV five years ago would be worth approximately $67K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: GEV returned +566.7% versus XEL's +156.3%. 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 GEV?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) is the lower-risk stock at 0.19β versus GE Vernova Inc.'s 1.59β — meaning GEV is approximately 719% more volatile than XEL relative to the S&P 500.
05Which has better profit margins — XEL or GEV?
Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) is the more profitable company, earning 14.4% net margin versus 12.8% for GE Vernova Inc. — meaning it keeps 14.4% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: XEL leads at 17.8% versus 3.6% for GEV. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — XEL leads at 45.7%, 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.
06Is XEL or GEV more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) trades at 20.1x forward P/E versus 61.0x for GE Vernova Inc. — 40.9x cheaper on a one-year earnings basis. Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for XEL: 7.4% to $89.50.
07Which pays a better dividend — XEL or GEV?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) offers the highest yield at 2.5%, versus 0.1% for GE Vernova Inc. (GEV).
08Is XEL or GEV better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.19), 2.5% yield, +156.3% 10Y return). GE Vernova Inc. (GEV) carries a higher beta of 1.59 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (XEL: +156.3%, GEV: +566.7%), 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.
09What are the main differences between XEL and GEV?
Both stocks operate in the Utilities sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. XEL pays a dividend while GEV does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. 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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