October 3, 2024
Top 10 Stock Xcel Energy Strong Buy Recommendation
How to read the ranks
For every stock, we judge its performance against its peers and rank it on a scale of 1 to 100. The higher the rank, the better the stock performs than its peers. And, we do this for six investment strategies:
Value - shows how good of a value the stock is. Green is "inexpensive"; red is "expensive".
Growth - shows a company's growth potential. Green is "high growth" expected; red is "tough times ahead".
Safety - relates to the amount of debt a company has. Green is low debt level; red is high debt level.
Combined Financial - this isn't an average of the first three ranks but rather a consolidated view across several financial indicators. Green = good; red = tread carefully.
(NEW) Sentiment - quantifies professional analyst ratings and holdings as well as market pulse. Green = positive sentiment; red = skepticism (Only available to Premium Subscribers).
(NEW) 360° View - the ultimate rating with all financial and non-financial indicators.
Snapshot: Xcel Energy – Top 10 Stock in S&P 500 Index
Xcel Energy is listed as a top 10 stock on October 03, 2024 in the market index S&P 500 because of its high performance in at least one of the Obermatt investment strategies. As three out of four consolidated Obermatt Ranks exhibit excellent performance, it is a solid investment where the risk of paying too much for the shares is low, despite a currently slow growth momentum. Based on the Obermatt 360° View of 88 (top 88% performer), Obermatt assesses an overall strong buy recommendation for Xcel Energy on October 03, 2024.
Snapshot: Obermatt Ranks
| Country | USA |
| Industry | Electric Utilities |
| Index | Low Emissions, Diversity USA, Human Rights, Low Waste, Nuclear, Recycling, NASDAQ 100, NASDAQ, S&P 500 |
| Size class | XX-Large |
When Obermatt identifies the Top 10 stocks in a market, it’s based on a certain investment strategy. The best performing stocks usually aren’t the ones that everyone is talking about (those are often "over-priced" and have low Value ranks).
For each investment strategy, we provide you with more detailed analysis and our recommendation. You see the ranks of the top 10 stocks ranked by that particular investment strategy (360° View, Sentiment, Value, Growth, Safety and Combined Financial Performance).
360° View: Obermatt 360° View Xcel Energy Strong Buy
| 360 METRICS | October 3, 2024 | |||||||
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| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 51 |
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| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 49 |
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| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 62 |
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| SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| SENTIMENT | 99 |
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| 360° VIEW | ||||||||
| 360° VIEW | 88 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt 360° View of 88 (better than 88% compared with alternatives) for 2024, overall professional sentiment and financial characteristics for the stock Xcel Energy are very positive. The 360° View is based on consolidating four consolidated indicators, with half of the indicators below and half above average for Xcel Energy. The consolidated Value Rank has an attractive rank of 51, which means that the share price of Xcel Energy is on the lower side compared with typical size in indicators such as revenues, profits, and invested capital. This means the stock price is lower than for 51% of alternative stocks in the same industry. The company is also safely financed with a Safety rank of 62. In addition, professional market sentiment is above average compared with other stock investment alternatives with a Sentiment Rank of 99. But the consolidated Growth Rank has a low rank of 49, which means that the company is below average in terms of growth and momentum when looking at financial metrics such as revenue, profit, and invested capital growth as well as stock returns. 51 of its competitors have better growth. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated 360° View of 88, Xcel Energy is better positioned than 88% of all alternative stock investment opportunities based on the Obermatt Method. Three out of four consolidated Obermatt Ranks show above-average performance. The stock has as good value (Value Rank of 51), secure financing practices (Safety Rank of 62), and positive market sentiment in the professional investor community (Sentiment Rank of 99). It is a solid stock investment where the risk of paying too much for the shares is limited, and disappointments are less likely to occur. The company’s growth expectations are below the industry average (Growth Rank of 49), but that could also be temporary since professional investors remain optimistic despite the low growth numbers. The low price as reflected in the good Value Rank could indicate that the company's future is challenging. The below-par growth performance may be the reason for this. Companies that grow less are typically cheaper than fast-growing competitors. We recommend evaluating whether the future of Xcel Energy is as difficult as the stock’s low price suggests, despite the positive professional investor sentiment. Since the professional community is optimistic, you might have less to worry about, and the stock may just go through a more challenging phase now, indicating good timing. ...read more
Sentiment Strategy: Professional Market Sentiment for Xcel Energy very positive
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Sentiment Rank of 99 (better than 99% compared with alternatives) for 2024, overall professional sentiment and engagement for the stock Xcel Energy is very positive. The Sentiment Rank is based on consolidating four sentiment indicators, with all four indicators above average for Xcel Energy. Analyst Opinions are at a rank of 72 (better than 72% of alternative investments), which means that, currently, stock research analysts tend to recommend a stock investment in the company. Analyst Opinions Change is also positive with a rank of 56, which means that stock research experts are changing their opinions for the better and recommending investing in the company. They are getting more optimistic about stock investments in Xcel Energy. The Professional Investors rank is 71, which means that currently, professional investors hold more stock in this company than in 71% of alternative investment opportunities. Pros tend to favor investing in this company. Finally, Market Pulse has a rank of 100 which means that the current professional news and professional social networks are on the positive side when discussing this company (more positive news than for 100% of competitors). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Sentiment Rank of 99 (more positive than 99% compared with investment alternatives), Xcel Energy has a reputation among professional investors that is significantly higher than that of its competitors. Since all market sentiment indicators are positive, the professional community highly recommends investment in the company. Does this mean Xcel Energy stocks are a safe investment? Far from it. Even professionals make mistakes. Especially in stock investing, there is a tendency to follow the leaders. Since trees don't grow to the heavens, such positive sentiment may also be interpreted as a danger sign. A lot of optimism can often be a sign of troubles to come, albeit unforeseen by most. ...read more
Value Strategy: Xcel Energy Stock Price Value better than average
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 51 (better than 51% compared with alternatives), Xcel Energy shares are more attractively priced than the majority of comparable stocks. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with three out of four indicators below average for Xcel Energy. Only Price-to-Profit (also referred to as price-earnings, P/E) indicates good stock value with a rank of 64, which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profits is lower than for 64% of comparable companies, indicating a good value concerning Xcel Energy's profit levels. But Price-to-Sales is 46 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profits is higher than for 54% of comparable companies, indicating a low value concerning Xcel Energy's profit levels. The same is valid for Price-to-Book Capital (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) with a Price-to-Book Rank of 37 and for dividend yield, which is lower than for 53% of comparable companies, making the stock more expensive as regards to the company's expected dividend payouts. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 51, is a buy recommendation based on Xcel Energy's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. Can we rely on only one good value indicator? Only if we know the company well. In this case, a high Price-to-Profit Rank, while Price-to-Sales and Price-to-Book are both below the market typical levels, means that the company can charge higher prices for its products and needs less capital to produce them. If this is sustainable, then Xcel Energy is a good investment because profits count most in enterprise valuations. The low dividend yield indicates that the company is confident it can do something with the generated cash that is more valuable than paying the profits out to the shareholders in the form of dividends. ...read more
Growth Strategy: Xcel Energy Growth Momentum low
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 49 (better than 49% compared with alternatives), Xcel Energy shows a below-average growth dynamic in its industry. There is limited momentum in this company. The Growth Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with half of the indicators below and half above average for Xcel Energy. Sales Growth has a rank of 70 which means that currently, professionals expect the company to grow more than 70% of its competitors. Capital Growth is also above 37% of competitors with a rank of 94. But Profit Growth only has a rank of 37, which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow its profits less than 63% of its competitors. And Stock Returns have also been below average with a rank of only 17. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 49, is a hold recommendation for growth and momentum investors. Profits are sometimes low if the company invests in the future. The positive revenue and capital investment outlook confirms such an interpretation. Both revenues and capital are solid growth indicators, and lower profits in such a case would be encouraging. But the investors see it differently by punishing the share price. Sometimes, Mister Market is not very reliable, because it is not uncommon for it to be volatile. Investors should look out for signs of growth expenditure that could justify low profit growth, and they may also find reasons why recent stock price developments don't confirm the growth outlook of operations. While operating growth indicators are not perfect, they are more reliable indicators for future performance than stock prices that can repeatedly surprise investors. ...read more
Safety Strategy: Xcel Energy Debt Financing Safety above-average
| SAFETY METRICS | October 3, 2024 | |||||||
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| LEVERAGE | ||||||||
| LEVERAGE | 42 |
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| REFINANCING | ||||||||
| REFINANCING | 72 |
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| LIQUIDITY | ||||||||
| LIQUIDITY | 55 |
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| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | 62 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 62 (better than 62% compared with alternatives), the company Xcel Energy has financing practices on the safer side, which mean that their overall debt burden is lower than average. This doesn't mean that the business of Xcel Energy is safe, it only means that the company is on the safer side regarding possible bankruptcy, assuming that public reporting is correct. The Safety Rank is based on consolidating three financing indicators, with two out of three indicators above-average for Xcel Energy. Refinancing is at 72, meaning the portion of the debt that is about to be refinanced is below average. It has less debt in the refinancing stage than 72% of its competitors. Liquidity is also good at 55, meaning the company generates more profit to service its debt than 55% of its competitors. This indicates that the company is safer when it comes to debt service. However, Leverage is rather large at 42, which means the company has an above-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has more debt than 58% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 62 (better than 62% compared with alternatives), Xcel Energy has a financing structure that is safer than that of its competitors. This is not bad if things go well. The higher debt level means better returns to shareholders if things go well. Many top-performing companies operate with higher debt levels, and Xcel Energy could be in that group. But if you expect the environment to turn rougher, the higher leverage could become a problem. The same is valid if you expect interest rates to rise. That could squeeze shareholder returns, which so far have benefitted from better conditions. ...read more
Combined financial peformance: Xcel Energy Above-Average Financial Performance
| COMBINED PERFORMANCE | October 3, 2024 | |||||||
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| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 51 |
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| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 49 |
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| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 55 |
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| COMBINED | ||||||||
| COMBINED | 52 |
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ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 52 (better than 52% compared with investment alternatives), Xcel Energy (Electric Utilities, USA) shares have above-average financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of Xcel Energy are a good value (attractively priced) with a consolidated Value Rank of 51 (better than 51% of alternatives), are safely financed (Safety Rank of 62, which means low debt burdens), but show below-average growth (Growth Rank of 49). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 52, is a buy recommendation based on Xcel Energy's financial characteristics. As the company Xcel Energy's key financial metrics exhibit good value (Obermatt Value Rank of 51) but low growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 49) while being safely financed (Obermatt Safety Rank of 62), it may be a safer investment because companies with low debt can better withstand times of crises. Yet the good value, better than 51% of comparable companies, may also indicate that the company's future is challenging. If you believe that low growth is temporary or just due to a specific current event, you may conclude that the good value of the stock provides an attractive investment opportunity and the downside is limited due to below-average financing risks. ...read more
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