The Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL) First-Quarter Results Are Out And Analysts Have Published New Forecasts

Investors in Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL) had a good week, as its shares rose 4.0% to close at US$82.58 following the release of its first-quarter results. Revenues came in 2.2% below expectations, at US$4.0b. Statutory earnings per share were relatively better off, with a per-share profit of US$0.89 being roughly in line with analyst estimates. Earnings are an important time for investors, as they can track a company's performance, look at what the analysts are forecasting for next year, and see if there's been a change in sentiment towards the company. With this in mind, we've gathered the latest statutory forecasts to see what the analysts are expecting for next year.

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After the latest results, the 16 analysts covering Xcel Energy are now predicting revenues of US$15.8b in 2026. If met, this would reflect an okay 6.9% improvement in revenue compared to the last 12 months. Statutory earnings per share are predicted to surge 23% to US$4.11. Before this earnings report, the analysts had been forecasting revenues of US$16.0b and earnings per share (EPS) of US$4.11 in 2026. So it's pretty clear that, although the analysts have updated their estimates, there's been no major change in expectations for the business following the latest results.

View our latest analysis for Xcel Energy

It will come as no surprise then, to learn that the consensus price target is largely unchanged at US$92.17. That's not the only conclusion we can draw from this data however, as some investors also like to consider the spread in estimates when evaluating analyst price targets. There are some variant perceptions on Xcel Energy, with the most bullish analyst valuing it at US$99.00 and the most bearish at US$73.00 per share. Still, with such a tight range of estimates, it suggeststhe analysts have a pretty good idea of what they think the company is worth.

These estimates are interesting, but it can be useful to paint some more broad strokes when seeing how forecasts compare, both to the Xcel Energy's past performance and to peers in the same industry. It's clear from the latest estimates that Xcel Energy's rate of growth is expected to accelerate meaningfully, with the forecast 9.3% annualised revenue growth to the end of 2026 noticeably faster than its historical growth of 1.5% p.a. over the past five years. Compare this with other companies in the same industry, which are forecast to grow their revenue 7.2% annually. It seems obvious that, while the growth outlook is brighter than the recent past, the analysts also expect Xcel Energy to grow faster than the wider industry.

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The Bottom Line

The most important thing to take away is that there's been no major change in sentiment, with the analysts reconfirming that the business is performing in line with their previous earnings per share estimates. Fortunately, they also reconfirmed their revenue numbers, suggesting that it's tracking in line with expectations. Additionally, our data suggests that revenue is expected to grow faster than the wider industry. There was no real change to the consensus price target, suggesting that the intrinsic value of the business has not undergone any major changes with the latest estimates.

With that said, the long-term trajectory of the company's earnings is a lot more important than next year. We have estimates - from multiple Xcel Energy analysts - going out to 2028, and you can see them free on our platform here.

And what about risks? Every company has them, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for Xcel Energy (of which 1 can't be ignored!) you should know about.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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