Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) vs Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (PEG) 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 | PEG | 18.3% revenue growth vs XEL's -5.4% |
| Value | PEG | Lower P/E (19.6x vs 20.1x) |
| Quality / Margins | PEG | 17.3% net margin vs XEL's 13.5% |
| Stability / Safety | XEL | Beta 0.19 vs PEG's 0.44 |
| Dividends | XEL | 2.5% yield, 16-year raise streak, vs PEG's 2.2% |
| Momentum (1Y) | XEL | +18.8% vs PEG's +9.2% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | PEG | 19.9% ROA vs XEL's 2.4%, ROIC 5.6% 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.
Public Service Enterprise Group is a regulated utility holding company operating primarily in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic United States. It generates revenue through its two main segments: PSE&G (regulated electric and gas distribution, ~70% of earnings) and PSEG Power (competitive power generation and wholesale energy marketing, ~30%). The company's primary moat comes from its regulated utility operations which provide stable, predictable returns through government-approved rate structures.
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
PEG leads in 2 of 6 categories (Financial Metrics, Profitability & Efficiency). XEL leads in 2 (Risk & Volatility, Analyst Outlook). 2 tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
XEL and PEG operate at a comparable scale, with $14.2B and $12.2B in trailing revenue. Profitability is closely matched — net margins range from 17.3% (PEG) to 13.5% (XEL). On growth, PEG holds the edge at +18.3% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | XELXcel Energy Inc. | PEGPublic Service En… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $14.2B | $12.2B |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $5.4B | $4.3B |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $1.9B | $2.1B |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | -$5.2B | $1.0B |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +46.3% | +69.0% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +16.5% | +24.5% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +13.5% | +17.3% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | -36.2% | +8.4% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +7.4% | +18.3% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | -25.6% | -100.0% |
Valuation Metrics
On an enterprise value basis, XEL's 15.1x EV/EBITDA is more attractive than PEG's 15.8x.
| Metric | XELXcel Energy Inc. | PEGPublic Service En… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $49.3B | $42.9B |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $79.3B | $66.8B |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 24.23x | — |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 20.12x | 19.58x |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 4.46x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 15.08x | 15.77x |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 3.67x | 3.52x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | 2.40x | 2.52x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | — | 18.60x |
Profitability & Efficiency
PEG delivers a 12.4% return on equity — every $100 of shareholder capital generates $12 in annual profit, vs $9 for XEL. PEG carries lower financial leverage with a 1.42x debt-to-equity ratio, signaling a more conservative balance sheet compared to XEL's 1.55x. On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), PEG scores 7/9 vs XEL's 5/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | XELXcel Energy Inc. | PEGPublic Service En… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | +9.0% | +12.4% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +2.4% | +19.9% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +3.8% | +5.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +3.9% | +14.0% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 5 | 7 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | 1.55x | 1.42x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $30.0B | $24.0B |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $179M | $106M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $30.2B | $24.1B |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 2.02x | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in PEG five years ago would be worth $17,693 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $15,839 for XEL. Over the past 12 months, XEL leads with a +18.8% total return vs PEG's +9.2%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors PEG at 15.6% vs XEL's 11.7% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | XELXcel Energy Inc. | PEGPublic Service En… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +11.6% | +6.3% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +18.8% | +9.2% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +39.2% | +54.3% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +58.4% | +76.9% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +156.3% | +149.6% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +11.7% | +15.6% |
Risk & Volatility
XEL is the less volatile stock with a 0.19 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than PEG's 0.44 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. XEL currently trades 99.0% from its 52-week high vs PEG's 94.3% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | XELXcel Energy Inc. | PEGPublic Service En… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.19x | 0.44x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $84.23 | $91.26 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $65.21 | $74.67 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +99.0% | +94.3% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 71.6 | 61.9 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 4.5M | 2.4M |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates XEL as "Buy" and PEG as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 7.4% upside for XEL (target: $90) vs 3.2% for PEG (target: $89). For income investors, XEL offers the higher dividend yield at 2.50% vs PEG's 2.20%.
| Metric | XELXcel Energy Inc. | PEGPublic Service En… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $89.50 | $88.80 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 26 | 32 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +2.5% | +2.2% |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 16 | 0 |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.09 | $1.89 |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Mar 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) | 100 | 113.1 | +13.1% |
| Public Service Ente… (PEG) | 100 | 149.53 | +49.5% |
Public Service Ente… (PEG) returned +77% over 5 years vs Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL)'s +58%. A $10,000 investment in PEG 5 years ago would be worth $17,693 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) | $11.1B | $13.4B | +21.0% |
| Public Service Ente… (PEG) | $9.1B | $12.2B | +34.3% |
Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated's revenue grew from $9.1B (2016) to $12.2B (2025) — a 3.3% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) | 10.1% | 14.4% | +42.4% |
| Public Service Ente… (PEG) | 9.8% | 17.3% | +77.2% |
Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated's net margin went from 10% (2016) to 17% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 8 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) | 21.4 | 19.6 | -8.4% |
| Public Service Ente… (PEG) | 16.6 | 23.9 | +44.0% |
Xcel Energy Inc. has traded in a 19x–24x P/E range over 8 years; current trailing P/E is ~24x. Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated has traded in a 12x–30x P/E range over 7 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% |
| Public Service Ente… (PEG) | 1.75 | 0 | -100.0% |
Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated's EPS grew from $1.75 (2016) to $0.00 (2025) — a -100% CAGR.
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
Xcel Energy Inc. generated $-3B FCF in 2024 (-33% vs 2021). Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated generated $2B FCF in 2025 (+334% vs 2021).
XEL vs PEG: Frequently Asked Questions
9 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is XEL or PEG 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 PEG?
On forward P/E, Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated is actually cheaper at 19.6x — notably different from the trailing picture, reflecting expected earnings growth.
03Which is the better long-term investment — XEL or PEG?
Over the past 5 years, Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (PEG) delivered a total return of +76.9%, compared to +58.4% for Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL). A $10,000 investment in PEG five years ago would be worth approximately $18K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: XEL returned +156.3% versus PEG's +149.6%. 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 PEG?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) is the lower-risk stock at 0.19β versus Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated's 0.44β — meaning PEG is approximately 125% more volatile than XEL relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (PEG) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 142% versus 155% for Xcel Energy Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.
05Which has better profit margins — XEL or PEG?
Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (PEG) is the more profitable company, earning 17.3% net margin versus 14.4% for Xcel Energy Inc. — meaning it keeps 17.3% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: PEG leads at 24.5% versus 17.8% for XEL. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — PEG leads at 69.0%, 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.
06Is XEL or PEG more undervalued right now?
On forward earnings alone, Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (PEG) trades at 19.6x forward P/E versus 20.1x for Xcel Energy Inc. — 0.5x 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 PEG?
All stocks in this comparison pay dividends. Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) offers the highest yield at 2.5%, versus 2.2% for Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (PEG).
08Is XEL or PEG 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). Both have compounded well over 10 years (XEL: +156.3%, PEG: +149.6%), 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 PEG?
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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