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

How do CMS Energy (CMS) 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

CMS Energy (CMS) and Xcel Energy (XEL) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but CMS is classified in Multi-Utilities while XEL is classified in Electric Utilities.

Company profile comparison for CMS Energy (CMS) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
Profile ItemCMSXEL
NameCMS Energy Corporation Common StockXcel Energy Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryMulti-UtilitiesElectric Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryMulti-UtilitiesElectric Utilities
Market Capitalization21.70 billion USD51.14 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateFebruary 21, 1973February 21, 1973
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

CMS
XEL
GSPC
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CMS Energy (CMS) 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 CMS Energy (CMS) and Xcel Energy (XEL). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricCMSXEL
Total Return (1Y)-1.93%2.65%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)11.79%14.93%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)6.25%8.26%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

CMS
XEL
GSPC
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CMS Energy (CMS) 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 CMS Energy (CMS) and Xcel Energy (XEL). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricCMSXEL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)17.58%19.49%
Beta (5Y)0.310.33
Max Drawdown (5Y)-28.04%-34.41%
Avg. Volume (3M)3.84M5.83M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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CMS 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 CMS Energy (CMS) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricCMSXEL
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.35-0.08
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.49-0.12

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Xcel Energy (XEL) at 11.44% is around its peer norm for ROE, while CMS Energy (CMS) at 5.31% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker returns on shareholders’ equity.

CMS

Utilities industry group

5.31%

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
Median
9.44%
Q1
7.56%
CMS
5.31%
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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CMS Energy (CMS) 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 CMS Energy (CMS) at 9.72%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

CMS

Utilities industry group

9.72%

Max
28.78%
Q3
17.30%
Median
12.73%
CMS
9.72%
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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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both CMS Energy (CMS) at 28.45% and Xcel Energy (XEL) at 28.50% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

CMS

Utilities industry group

28.45%

Max
53.83%
Q3
31.12%
CMS
28.45%
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%
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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricCMSXEL
ROE (TTM)5.31%11.44%
ROA (TTM)3.07%2.37%
Net Margin (TTM)9.72%17.95%
Operating Margin (TTM)28.45%28.50%
Gross Margin (TTM)40.76%47.27%

Growth

Revenue Growth

CMS Energy (CMS) at 13.63% sits in the top revenue growth quartile, while Xcel Energy (XEL) at 9.14% is closer to the peer norm — faster top-line expansion for CMS.

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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both CMS Energy (CMS) at 4.19% 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.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricCMSXEL
Revenue Growth (YoY)13.63%9.14%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-0.22%-1.42%
EPS Growth (YoY)4.19%-0.58%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)6.84%2.56%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both CMS Energy (CMS) at 0.95 and Xcel Energy (XEL) at 0.69 carry current ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges, suggesting balanced short-term liquidity relative to peers.

CMS

Utilities industry group

0.95

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
CMS
0.95
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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CMS Energy (CMS) 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 CMS Energy (CMS) at 1.96 uses more debt funding than most peers.

CMS

Utilities industry group

1.96

Max
2.63
CMS
1.96
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
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CMS Energy (CMS) 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 CMS Energy (CMS) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricCMSXEL
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.950.69
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.961.68
Net Debt / EBITDA6.336.35

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both CMS Energy (CMS) at 3.21% and Xcel Energy (XEL) at 2.92% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

CMS

Utilities industry group

3.21%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
CMS
3.21%
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%
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CMS Energy (CMS) 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% pays out a band-typical share of earnings, while CMS Energy (CMS) at 80.45% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

CMS

Utilities industry group

80.45%

Max
113.04%
CMS
80.45%
Q3
68.72%
Median
56.38%
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%
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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricCMSXEL
Dividend Yield (TTM)3.21%2.92%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)80.45%54.72%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Xcel Energy (XEL) at 18.57 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while CMS Energy (CMS) at 24.71 sits in the richer quartile — CMS needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

CMS

Utilities industry group

24.71

Max
31.22
CMS
24.71
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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CMS Energy (CMS) 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 CMS Energy (CMS) at 2.42 and Xcel Energy (XEL) at 3.44 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

CMS

Utilities industry group

2.42

Max
6.35
Q3
3.63
Median
2.63
CMS
2.42
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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CMS Energy (CMS) 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 CMS Energy (CMS) at 2.28 carries an above-peer premium to book — CMS is pricier on assets.

CMS

Utilities industry group

2.28

Max
3.12
CMS
2.28
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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CMS Energy (CMS) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for CMS Energy (CMS) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricCMSXEL
P/E Ratio (TTM)24.7118.57
P/S Ratio (TTM)2.423.44
P/B Ratio (MRQ)2.281.98
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-9.54%-16.32%