Xcel Energy (XEL) Competitors

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL) and Constellation Energy (NASDAQ:CEG) are both large-cap utilities companies, but which is the superior investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, valuation, analyst recommendations, profitability, media sentiment, earnings, community ranking, dividends and institutional ownership.

Which has more risk & volatility, XEL or CEG?

Xcel Energy has a beta of 0.38, suggesting that its share price is 62% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Constellation Energy has a beta of 0.98, suggesting that its share price is 2% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Does the MarketBeat Community believe in XEL or CEG?

Constellation Energy received 123 more outperform votes than Xcel Energy when rated by MarketBeat users. Likewise, 63.47% of users gave Constellation Energy an outperform vote while only 32.45% of users gave Xcel Energy an outperform vote.

Company	Underperform	Outperform
Xcel Energy	Outperform Votes 49 32.45%	Underperform Votes 102 67.55%
Constellation Energy	Outperform Votes 172 63.47%	Underperform Votes 99 36.53%

Does the media prefer XEL or CEG?

In the previous week, Xcel Energy had 42 more articles in the media than Constellation Energy. MarketBeat recorded 43 mentions for Xcel Energy and 1 mentions for Constellation Energy. Xcel Energy's average media sentiment score of 1.48 beat Constellation Energy's score of 0.79 indicating that Xcel Energy is being referred to more favorably in the media.

Company	Very Positive	Positive	Neutral	Negative	Very Negative	Overall Sentiment
Xcel Energy	31 Very Positive mention(s)	6 Positive mention(s)	0 Neutral mention(s)	0 Negative mention(s)	0 Very Negative mention(s)	Positive
Constellation Energy	0 Very Positive mention(s)	1 Positive mention(s)	0 Neutral mention(s)	0 Negative mention(s)	0 Very Negative mention(s)	Positive

Is XEL or CEG more profitable?

Constellation Energy has a net margin of 15.91% compared to Xcel Energy's net margin of 14.40%. Constellation Energy's return on equity of 21.96% beat Xcel Energy's return on equity.

Company	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Xcel Energy	14.40%	10.65%	2.90%
Constellation Energy	15.91%	21.96%	5.26%

Do institutionals & insiders hold more shares of XEL or CEG?

78.4% of Xcel Energy shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 82.2% of Constellation Energy shares are held by institutional investors. 0.1% of Xcel Energy shares are held by insiders. Comparatively, 0.2% of Constellation Energy shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Do analysts prefer XEL or CEG?

Xcel Energy presently has a consensus price target of $76.00, indicating a potential upside of 5.09%. Constellation Energy has a consensus price target of $285.79, indicating a potential downside of 2.26%. Given Xcel Energy's stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, equities analysts plainly believe Xcel Energy is more favorable than Constellation Energy.

Company	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Xcel Energy	0 Sell rating(s)	2 Hold rating(s)	8 Buy rating(s)	0 Strong Buy rating(s)	2.80
Constellation Energy	0 Sell rating(s)	4 Hold rating(s)	11 Buy rating(s)	0 Strong Buy rating(s)	2.73

Which has better valuation and earnings, XEL or CEG?

Xcel Energy has higher earnings, but lower revenue than Constellation Energy. Xcel Energy is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Constellation Energy, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Company	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Xcel Energy	$13.70B	3.05	$1.94B	$3.40	21.27
Constellation Energy	$24.20B	3.79	$1.62B	$9.49	30.81

Is XEL or CEG a better dividend stock?

Xcel Energy pays an annual dividend of $2.28 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.2%. Constellation Energy pays an annual dividend of $1.55 per share and has a dividend yield of 0.5%. Xcel Energy pays out 67.1% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Constellation Energy pays out 16.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years. Xcel Energy has raised its dividend for 22 consecutive years and Constellation Energy has raised its dividend for 3 consecutive years. Xcel Energy is clearly the better dividend stock, given its higher yield and longer track record of dividend growth.

Summary

Constellation Energy beats Xcel Energy on 14 of the 21 factors compared between the two stocks.