AEP vs. XEL: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
UpdatedHere’s a clear look at AEP and XEL, comparing key factors like performance, valuation metrics, dividends, and financial strength. It’s built for investors or anyone curious to see how these two stocks match up.
Company Overview
With AEP at 54.98 billion USD and XEL at 40.33 billion USD, their market capitalizations sit in the same ballpark.
With betas of 0.43 for AEP and 0.40 for XEL, both show similar volatility profiles relative to the overall market.
| Symbol | AEP | XEL |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | American Electric Power Company, Inc. | Xcel Energy Inc. |
| Country | US | US |
| Sector | Utilities | Utilities |
| Industry | Regulated Electric | Regulated Electric |
| CEO | Mr. William J. Fehrman | Mr. Robert C. Frenzel |
| Price | 102.93 USD | 69.92 USD |
| Market Cap | 54.98 billion USD | 40.33 billion USD |
| Beta | 0.43 | 0.40 |
| Exchange | NASDAQ | NASDAQ |
| IPO Date | January 2, 1962 | March 13, 2001 |
| ADR | No | No |
Performance Comparison
This chart compares the performance of AEP and XEL over the past year by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each (starting one year ago).
Hover over the lines to see the investment’s value and total return (%) at specific dates.
Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Valuation Metrics Comparison
The section examines key financial ratios to assess the valuation of AEP and XEL based on earnings, cash flow, sales, and book value. Pay attention to the following notable points where extreme values stand out.
- AEP and XEL both consumed more free cash flow than they generated last year—P/FCF of -42.33 and -127.21, respectively—highlighting persistent liquidity pressure.
| Symbol | AEP | XEL |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E, TTM) | 19.86 | 20.82 |
| Forward PEG Ratio (TTM) | 2.92 | 2.64 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S, TTM) | 2.73 | 2.94 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (P/B, TTM) | 2.01 | 2.03 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (P/FCF, TTM) | -42.33 | -127.21 |
| EV-to-EBITDA (TTM) | 13.99 | 12.80 |
| EV-to-Sales (TTM) | 5.04 | 5.22 |
| EV-to-Free Cash Flow (TTM) | -78.25 | -225.65 |
Dividend Comparison
Both AEP and XEL offer similar dividend yields (3.57% vs. 3.16%), indicating comparable approaches to balancing income and growth.
| Symbol | AEP | XEL |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 3.57% | 3.16% |
Financial Strength Metrics Comparison
This section dives into the financial resilience of AEP and XEL, spotlighting key metrics like liquidity, leverage, and debt coverage. Check out the standout observations below where notable differences or extremes pop up.
- With current ratios of 0.42 and 0.80, both AEP and XEL have less current assets than short-term liabilities, which could strain their working capital and force reliance on additional financing.
- Both AEP (quick ratio 0.31) and XEL (quick ratio 0.70) fall below 0.8, meaning their most liquid assets—excluding inventory—aren’t enough to meet short-term obligations. This could force them to rely on receivables, inventory turn, or external financing.
| Symbol | AEP | XEL |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (TTM) | 0.42 | 0.80 |
| Quick Ratio (TTM) | 0.31 | 0.70 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (TTM) | 1.72 | 1.63 |
| Debt-to-Assets Ratio (TTM) | 0.45 | 0.44 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 2.30 | 1.98 |