Seek Returns

ATO vs. XEL: Atmos Energy vs. Xcel Energy Stock Comparison

How do Atmos Energy (ATO) 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

Atmos Energy (ATO) and Xcel Energy (XEL) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but ATO is classified in Gas Utilities while XEL is classified in Electric Utilities.

Company profile comparison for Atmos Energy (ATO) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
Profile ItemATOXEL
NameAtmos Energy CorporationXcel Energy Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryGas UtilitiesElectric Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryGas UtilitiesElectric Utilities
Market Capitalization29.27 billion USD51.14 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateDecember 28, 1983February 21, 1973
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

ATO
XEL
GSPC
Loading price history…
Atmos Energy (ATO) 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 Atmos Energy (ATO) and Xcel Energy (XEL). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Atmos Energy (ATO) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricATOXEL
Total Return (1Y)0.43%2.65%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)18.83%14.93%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)16.10%8.26%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

ATO
XEL
GSPC
Loading price history…
Atmos Energy (ATO) 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 Atmos Energy (ATO) and Xcel Energy (XEL). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Atmos Energy (ATO) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricATOXEL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)16.06%19.49%
Beta (5Y)0.550.33
Max Drawdown (5Y)-19.08%-34.41%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.03M5.83M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Loading chart…
ATO 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 Atmos Energy (ATO) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricATOXEL
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.24-0.08
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.34-0.12

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Atmos Energy (ATO) at 9.79% 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.

ATO

Utilities industry group

9.79%

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
ATO
9.79%
Median
9.44%
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…
Atmos Energy (ATO) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Atmos Energy (ATO) at 28.50% and Xcel Energy (XEL) at 17.95% retain more as net profit than most peers, landing in the top net margin quartile of their industries.

ATO

Utilities industry group

28.50%

Max
28.78%
ATO
28.50%
Q3
17.30%
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…
Atmos Energy (ATO) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Atmos Energy (ATO) at 37.22% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of Xcel Energy (XEL) at 28.50%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

ATO

Utilities industry group

37.22%

Max
53.83%
ATO
37.22%
Q3
31.12%
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…
Atmos Energy (ATO) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Atmos Energy (ATO) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricATOXEL
ROE (TTM)9.79%11.44%
ROA (TTM)3.89%2.37%
Net Margin (TTM)28.50%17.95%
Operating Margin (TTM)37.22%28.50%
Gross Margin (TTM)62.21%47.27%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Atmos Energy (ATO) at 12.91% and Xcel Energy (XEL) at 9.14% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

EPS Growth

Both Atmos Energy (ATO) at 9.22% and Xcel Energy (XEL) at -0.58% land near their industries' usual EPS growth ranges, so bottom-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Atmos Energy (ATO) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricATOXEL
Revenue Growth (YoY)12.91%9.14%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)3.83%-1.42%
EPS Growth (YoY)9.22%-0.58%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)10.03%2.56%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both Atmos Energy (ATO) at 0.81 and Xcel Energy (XEL) at 0.69 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

ATO

Utilities industry group

0.81

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
Median
0.88
ATO
0.81
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…
Atmos Energy (ATO) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Atmos Energy (ATO) at 0.68 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Xcel Energy (XEL) at 1.68 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

ATO

Utilities industry group

0.68

Max
2.63
Q3
1.77
Median
1.35
Q1
0.84
ATO
0.68
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…
Atmos Energy (ATO) 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 Atmos Energy (ATO) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricATOXEL
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.810.69
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.681.68
Net Debt / EBITDA3.746.35

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Atmos Energy (ATO) at 2.21% and Xcel Energy (XEL) at 2.92% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

ATO

Utilities industry group

2.21%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
Median
2.85%
ATO
2.21%
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…
Atmos Energy (ATO) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Atmos Energy (ATO) at 46.13% and Xcel Energy (XEL) at 54.72% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

ATO

Utilities industry group

46.13%

Max
113.04%
Q3
68.72%
Median
56.38%
ATO
46.13%
Q1
32.38%
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…
Atmos Energy (ATO) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Atmos Energy (ATO) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricATOXEL
Dividend Yield (TTM)2.21%2.92%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)46.13%54.72%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Atmos Energy (ATO) at 20.65 and Xcel Energy (XEL) at 18.57 land around their industries’ usual P/E ratio levels — neither is getting a clear earnings-multiple discount or premium versus peers.

ATO

Utilities industry group

20.65

Max
31.22
Q3
23.30
ATO
20.65
Median
19.64
Q1
15.17
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…
Atmos Energy (ATO) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Xcel Energy (XEL) at 3.44 is priced about in line with its industry on P/S ratio, while Atmos Energy (ATO) at 5.95 sits in the pricier quartile — ATO costs more per dollar of sales.

ATO

Utilities industry group

5.95

Max
6.35
ATO
5.95
Q3
3.63
Median
2.63
Q1
1.52
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…
Atmos Energy (ATO) 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 Atmos Energy (ATO) at 1.92 and Xcel Energy (XEL) at 1.98 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

ATO

Utilities industry group

1.92

Max
3.12
Q3
2.21
ATO
1.92
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…
Atmos Energy (ATO) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Atmos Energy (ATO) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricATOXEL
P/E Ratio (TTM)20.6518.57
P/S Ratio (TTM)5.953.44
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.921.98
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-7.59%-16.32%