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CEG vs. XEL: Constellation Energy vs. Xcel Energy Stock Comparison

How do Constellation Energy (CEG) 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

Constellation Energy (CEG) and Xcel Energy (XEL) are both classified in the Electric Utilities sub-industry within the broader Electric Utilities industry, placing them in the closest GICS peer bucket.

Xcel Energy (XEL) has more than two decades of public-market history since February 21, 1973, whereas Constellation Energy (CEG) listed on January 19, 2022 and has a much shorter record to draw on.

Company profile comparison for Constellation Energy (CEG) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
Profile ItemCEGXEL
NameConstellation Energy CorporationXcel Energy Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryElectric UtilitiesElectric Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryElectric UtilitiesElectric Utilities
Market Capitalization88.56 billion USD51.14 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNasdaqNasdaq
Listing DateJanuary 19, 2022February 21, 1973
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CEG
XEL
GSPC
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Constellation Energy (CEG) 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

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Trailing total returns for Constellation Energy (CEG) and Xcel Energy (XEL). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for Constellation Energy (CEG) and Xcel Energy (XEL). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Constellation Energy (CEG) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricCEGXEL
Total Return (1Y)-23.27%2.65%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)32.21%14.93%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)--8.26%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CEG
XEL
GSPC
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Constellation Energy (CEG) 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

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Distribution of monthly total returns for Constellation Energy (CEG) and Xcel Energy (XEL). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Constellation Energy (CEG) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricCEGXEL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)49.44%19.49%
Beta (5Y)1.110.33
Max Drawdown (5Y)-50.70%-34.41%
Avg. Volume (3M)3.37M5.83M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CEG 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 Constellation Energy (CEG) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricCEGXEL
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.56-0.08
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.78-0.12

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Constellation Energy (CEG) at 15.06% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Xcel Energy (XEL) at 11.44% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for CEG.

CEG

Utilities industry group

15.06%

Max
17.99%
CEG
15.06%
Q3
12.01%
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%
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Constellation Energy (CEG) 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 Constellation Energy (CEG) at 11.08%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

CEG

Utilities industry group

11.08%

Max
28.78%
Q3
17.30%
Median
12.73%
CEG
11.08%
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%
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Constellation Energy (CEG) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Xcel Energy (XEL) at 28.50% runs core operations around its industry’s norm, while Constellation Energy (CEG) at 8.66% operates in the bottom quartile.

CEG

Utilities industry group

8.66%

Max
53.83%
Q3
31.12%
Median
23.62%
Q1
15.45%
CEG
8.66%
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%
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Constellation Energy (CEG) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Constellation Energy (CEG) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricCEGXEL
ROE (TTM)15.06%11.44%
ROA (TTM)3.89%2.37%
Net Margin (TTM)11.08%17.95%
Operating Margin (TTM)8.66%28.50%
Gross Margin (TTM)22.11%47.27%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Constellation Energy (CEG) at 8.34% 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.

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Constellation Energy (CEG) 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 Constellation Energy (CEG) at -37.76% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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Constellation Energy (CEG) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Constellation Energy (CEG) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricCEGXEL
Revenue Growth (YoY)8.34%9.14%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)1.47%-1.42%
EPS Growth (YoY)-37.76%-0.58%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)--2.56%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Xcel Energy (XEL) at 0.69 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Constellation Energy (CEG) at 1.46 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets relative to peers.

CEG

Utilities industry group

1.46

Max
1.90
CEG
1.46
Q3
1.17
Median
0.88
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
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Constellation Energy (CEG) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Constellation Energy (CEG) at 0.76 keeps leverage in the lower industry quartile, while Xcel Energy (XEL) at 1.68 runs a more typical debt-to-equity mix.

CEG

Utilities industry group

0.76

Max
2.63
Q3
1.77
Median
1.35
Q1
0.84
CEG
0.76
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
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Constellation Energy (CEG) 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 Constellation Energy (CEG) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricCEGXEL
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.460.69
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.761.68
Net Debt / EBITDA3.026.35

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Constellation Energy (CEG) at 0.68% and Xcel Energy (XEL) at 2.92% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

CEG

Utilities industry group

0.68%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
Median
2.85%
CEG
0.68%
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%
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Constellation Energy (CEG) 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; Constellation Energy (CEG) at 15.92% pays out less than peers usually do, retaining more of its earnings — a policy difference more than a quality gap.

CEG

Utilities industry group

15.92%

Max
113.04%
Q3
68.72%
Median
56.38%
Q1
32.38%
CEG
15.92%
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%
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Constellation Energy (CEG) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Constellation Energy (CEG) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricCEGXEL
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.68%2.92%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)15.92%54.72%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Xcel Energy (XEL) at 18.57 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Constellation Energy (CEG) at 24.43 sits in the richer quartile — CEG needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

CEG

Utilities industry group

24.43

Max
31.22
CEG
24.43
Q3
23.30
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
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Constellation Energy (CEG) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

On P/S ratio, both Constellation Energy (CEG) at 2.83 and Xcel Energy (XEL) at 3.44 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

CEG

Utilities industry group

2.83

Max
6.35
Q3
3.63
CEG
2.83
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
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Constellation Energy (CEG) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Xcel Energy (XEL) at 1.98 is valued about in line with its industry on P/B ratio, while Constellation Energy (CEG) at 2.78 carries an above-peer premium to book — CEG is pricier on assets.

CEG

Utilities industry group

2.78

Max
3.12
CEG
2.78
Q3
2.21
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
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Constellation Energy (CEG) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Constellation Energy (CEG) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricCEGXEL
P/E Ratio (TTM)24.4318.57
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.833.44
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.781.98
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-7.48%-16.32%