FTS vs. XEL: Fortis vs. Xcel Energy Stock Comparison

November 11, 2026

How do Fortis (FTS) 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

Fortis (FTS) 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.

Company profile comparison for Fortis (FTS) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
Profile Item	FTS	XEL
Name	Fortis Inc.	Xcel Energy Inc.
Country/Region	Canada	United States
GICS Sector	Utilities	Utilities
GICS Industry Group	Utilities	Utilities
GICS Industry	Electric Utilities	Electric Utilities
GICS Sub-Industry	Electric Utilities	Electric Utilities
Market Capitalization	31.00 billion USD	51.14 billion USD
Currency	USD	USD
Exchange	NYSE	Nasdaq
Listing Date	January 5, 2010	February 21, 1973
Security Type	Common Stock	Common Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

FTS

XEL

GSPC

Fortis (FTS) 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 Fortis (FTS) and Xcel Energy (XEL). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Fortis (FTS) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
Metric	FTS	XEL
Total Return (1Y)	19.13%	2.65%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)	17.59%	14.93%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)	9.53%	8.26%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

FTS

XEL

GSPC

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Fortis (FTS) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
Metric	FTS	XEL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)	14.85%	19.49%
Beta (5Y)	0.40	0.33
Max Drawdown (5Y)	-30.13%	-34.41%
Avg. Volume (3M)	879.23K	5.83M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

FTS 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 Fortis (FTS) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
Metric	FTS	XEL
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)	1.00	-0.08
Sortino Ratio (1Y)	1.53	-0.12

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Xcel Energy (XEL) at 11.44% is around its peer norm for ROE, while Fortis (FTS) at 7.55% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker returns on shareholders’ equity.

FTS

Utilities industry group

7.55%

Max: 17.99%
Q3: 12.01%
Median: 9.44%
Q1: 7.56%
FTS: 7.55%
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%

Fortis (FTS) 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 Fortis (FTS) at 15.01%, which keeps about the industry-typical share.

FTS

Utilities industry group

15.01%

Max: 28.78%
Q3: 17.30%
FTS: 15.01%
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%

Fortis (FTS) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Fortis (FTS) at 30.69% and Xcel Energy (XEL) at 28.50% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

FTS

Utilities industry group

30.69%

Max: 53.83%
Q3: 31.12%
FTS: 30.69%
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%

Fortis (FTS) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Fortis (FTS) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
Metric	FTS	XEL
ROE (TTM)	7.55%	11.44%
ROA (TTM)	2.93%	2.37%
Net Margin (TTM)	15.01%	17.95%
Operating Margin (TTM)	30.69%	28.50%
Gross Margin (TTM)	45.52%	47.27%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Fortis (FTS) at 5.75% 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.

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

EPS Growth

Both Fortis (FTS) at 4.94% 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.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Fortis (FTS) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
Metric	FTS	XEL
Revenue Growth (YoY)	5.75%	9.14%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)	3.29%	-1.42%
EPS Growth (YoY)	4.94%	-0.58%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)	6.94%	2.56%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

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

FTS

Utilities industry group

0.69

Max: 1.90
Q3: 1.17
Median: 0.88
FTS: 0.69
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

Fortis (FTS) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Fortis (FTS) at 1.35 and Xcel Energy (XEL) at 1.68 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

FTS

Utilities industry group

1.35

Max: 2.63
Q3: 1.77
FTS: 1.35
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

Fortis (FTS) 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 Fortis (FTS) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
Metric	FTS	XEL
Current Ratio (MRQ)	0.69	0.69
Debt / Equity (MRQ)	1.35	1.68
Net Debt / EBITDA	6.22	6.35

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Fortis (FTS) at 4.18% delivers top-quartile income for its industry, while Xcel Energy (XEL) at 2.92% pays a more typical yield — both are credible income propositions, FTS the richer one.

FTS

Utilities industry group

4.18%

Max: 6.66%
FTS: 4.18%
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%

Fortis (FTS) 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 Fortis (FTS) at 72.73% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

FTS

Utilities industry group

72.73%

Max: 113.04%
FTS: 72.73%
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%

Fortis (FTS) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Fortis (FTS) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
Metric	FTS	XEL
Dividend Yield (TTM)	4.18%	2.92%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)	72.73%	54.72%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Xcel Energy (XEL) at 18.57 is near its industry’s usual P/E ratio, while Fortis (FTS) at 23.66 sits in the richer quartile — FTS needs stronger growth or earnings quality to justify the premium.

FTS

Utilities industry group

23.66

Max: 31.22
FTS: 23.66
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

Fortis (FTS) 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 Fortis (FTS) at 2.47 and Xcel Energy (XEL) at 3.44 are priced roughly in line with their industries — neither looks cheap nor rich on a sales basis.

FTS

Utilities industry group

2.47

Max: 6.35
Q3: 3.63
Median: 2.63
FTS: 2.47
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

Fortis (FTS) 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 Fortis (FTS) at 1.79 and Xcel Energy (XEL) at 1.98 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

FTS

Utilities industry group

1.79

Max: 3.12
Q3: 2.21
Median: 1.83
FTS: 1.79
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

Fortis (FTS) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Fortis (FTS) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
Metric	FTS	XEL
P/E Ratio (TTM)	23.66	18.57
P/S Ratio (TTM)	2.47	3.44
P/B Ratio (MRQ)	1.79	1.98
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)	-9.42%	-16.32%