Seek Returns

AES vs. XEL: AES vs. Xcel Energy Stock Comparison

How do AES (AES) and Xcel Energy (XEL) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

AES (AES) and Xcel Energy (XEL) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but AES is classified in Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers while XEL is classified in Electric Utilities.

Company profile comparison for AES (AES) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
Profile ItemAESXEL
NameThe AES CorporationXcel Energy Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryIndependent Power and Renewable Electricity ProducersElectric Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryIndependent Power Producers & Energy TradersElectric Utilities
Market Capitalization10.61 billion USD51.14 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateJune 26, 1991February 21, 1973
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

AES
XEL
GSPC
Loading price history…
AES (AES) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

Loading price history…
Trailing total returns for AES (AES) and Xcel Energy (XEL). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…
Calendar-year total returns for AES (AES) and Xcel Energy (XEL). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for AES (AES) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricAESXEL
Total Return (1Y)10.79%2.65%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)3.44%14.93%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)-5.12%8.26%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

AES
XEL
GSPC
Loading price history…
AES (AES) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

Loading price history…
Distribution of monthly total returns for AES (AES) and Xcel Energy (XEL). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for AES (AES) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricAESXEL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)25.19%19.49%
Beta (5Y)0.930.33
Max Drawdown (5Y)-63.43%-34.41%
Avg. Volume (3M)8.50M5.83M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Loading chart…
AES and XEL are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for AES (AES) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricAESXEL
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.26-0.08
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.33-0.12

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both AES (AES) at 8.68% and Xcel Energy (XEL) at 11.44% land near their industries’ usual ROE ranges, so capital efficiency looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

AES

Utilities industry group

8.68%

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
Median
9.44%
AES
8.68%
Q1
7.56%
Min
2.17%

XEL

Utilities industry group

11.44%

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
XEL
11.44%
Median
9.44%
Q1
7.56%
Min
2.17%
Loading chart…
AES (AES) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

Xcel Energy (XEL) at 17.95% retains a top-quartile share of revenue as profit, ahead of AES (AES) at 13.16%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

AES

Utilities industry group

13.16%

Max
28.78%
Q3
17.30%
AES
13.16%
Median
12.73%
Q1
9.18%
Min
-0.20%

XEL

Utilities industry group

17.95%

Max
28.78%
XEL
17.95%
Q3
17.30%
Median
12.73%
Q1
9.18%
Min
-0.20%
Loading chart…
AES (AES) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both AES (AES) at 23.89% and Xcel Energy (XEL) at 28.50% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

AES

Utilities industry group

23.89%

Max
53.83%
Q3
31.12%
AES
23.89%
Median
23.62%
Q1
15.45%
Min
-4.90%

XEL

Utilities industry group

28.50%

Max
53.83%
Q3
31.12%
XEL
28.50%
Median
23.62%
Q1
15.45%
Min
-4.90%
Loading chart…
AES (AES) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for AES (AES) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricAESXEL
ROE (TTM)8.68%11.44%
ROA (TTM)3.13%2.37%
Net Margin (TTM)13.16%17.95%
Operating Margin (TTM)23.89%28.50%
Gross Margin (TTM)21.34%47.27%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Xcel Energy (XEL) at 9.14% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while AES (AES) at -0.37% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

Loading chart…
AES (AES) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Xcel Energy (XEL) at -0.58% is around its peer norm for EPS growth, while AES (AES) at -46.61% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

Loading chart…
AES (AES) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for AES (AES) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricAESXEL
Revenue Growth (YoY)-0.37%9.14%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-1.03%-1.42%
EPS Growth (YoY)-46.61%-0.58%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)--2.56%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both AES (AES) at 0.86 and Xcel Energy (XEL) at 0.69 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

AES

Utilities industry group

0.86

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
Median
0.88
AES
0.86
Q1
0.66
Min
0.29

XEL

Utilities industry group

0.69

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
Median
0.88
XEL
0.69
Q1
0.66
Min
0.29
Loading chart…
AES (AES) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Xcel Energy (XEL) at 1.68 carries an industry-typical debt-to-equity mix, while AES (AES) at 2.43 uses more debt funding than most peers.

AES

Utilities industry group

2.43

Max
2.63
AES
2.43
Q3
1.77
Median
1.35
Q1
0.84
Min
0.00

XEL

Utilities industry group

1.68

Max
2.63
Q3
1.77
XEL
1.68
Median
1.35
Q1
0.84
Min
0.00
Loading chart…
AES (AES) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their debt-to-equity ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for AES (AES) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricAESXEL
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.860.69
Debt / Equity (MRQ)2.431.68
Net Debt / EBITDA7.286.35

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

AES (AES) at 4.73% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Xcel Energy (XEL) at 2.92% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, AES the richer one.

AES

Utilities industry group

4.73%

Max
6.66%
AES
4.73%
Q3
3.58%
Median
2.85%
Q1
0.66%
Min
0.00%

XEL

Utilities industry group

2.92%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
XEL
2.92%
Median
2.85%
Q1
0.66%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
AES (AES) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Xcel Energy (XEL) at 54.72% keeps its payout within the industry’s typical band; AES (AES) at 28.27% pays out less than peers usually do, retaining more of its earnings — a policy difference more than a quality gap.

AES

Utilities industry group

28.27%

Max
113.04%
Q3
68.72%
Median
56.38%
Q1
32.38%
AES
28.27%
Min
0.00%

XEL

Utilities industry group

54.72%

Max
113.04%
Q3
68.72%
Median
56.38%
XEL
54.72%
Q1
32.38%
Min
0.00%
Loading chart…
AES (AES) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for AES (AES) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricAESXEL
Dividend Yield (TTM)4.73%2.92%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)28.27%54.72%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

AES (AES) at 5.97 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Xcel Energy (XEL) at 18.57 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for AES, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

AES

Utilities industry group

5.97

Max
31.22
Q3
23.30
Median
19.64
Q1
15.17
AES
5.97
Min
3.34

XEL

Utilities industry group

18.57

Max
31.22
Q3
23.30
Median
19.64
XEL
18.57
Q1
15.17
Min
3.34
Loading chart…
AES (AES) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

AES (AES) at 0.78 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Xcel Energy (XEL) at 3.44 prices around its industry’s middle — AES costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

AES

Utilities industry group

0.78

Max
6.35
Q3
3.63
Median
2.63
Q1
1.52
AES
0.78
Min
0.00

XEL

Utilities industry group

3.44

Max
6.35
Q3
3.63
XEL
3.44
Median
2.63
Q1
1.52
Min
0.00
Loading chart…
AES (AES) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

On P/B ratio, both AES (AES) at 1.86 and Xcel Energy (XEL) at 1.98 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

AES

Utilities industry group

1.86

Max
3.12
Q3
2.21
AES
1.86
Median
1.83
Q1
1.46
Min
0.34

XEL

Utilities industry group

1.98

Max
3.12
Q3
2.21
XEL
1.98
Median
1.83
Q1
1.46
Min
0.34
Loading chart…
AES (AES) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for AES (AES) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricAESXEL
P/E Ratio (TTM)5.9718.57
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.783.44
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.861.98
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-30.54%-16.32%