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NGG vs. XEL: National Grid vs. Xcel Energy Stock Comparison

How do National Grid (NGG) 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

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

Xcel Energy (XEL) trades as ordinary local shares, while National Grid (NGG) trades as an ADR — compare with FX exposure, depositary-program fees, and dividend-withholding-tax differences in mind.

Company profile comparison for National Grid (NGG) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
Profile ItemNGGXEL
NameNational Grid plc Sponsored ADRXcel Energy Inc.
Country/RegionUnited KingdomUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryMulti-UtilitiesElectric Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryMulti-UtilitiesElectric Utilities
Market Capitalization83.60 billion USD51.14 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateAugust 10, 2005February 21, 1973
Security TypeADRCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

NGG
XEL
GSPC
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National Grid (NGG) 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 National Grid (NGG) and Xcel Energy (XEL). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for National Grid (NGG) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricNGGXEL
Total Return (1Y)13.00%2.65%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)19.82%14.93%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)12.34%8.26%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for National Grid (NGG) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricNGGXEL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)22.32%19.49%
Beta (5Y)0.730.33
Max Drawdown (5Y)-39.20%-34.41%
Avg. Volume (3M)911.70K5.83M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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NGG 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 National Grid (NGG) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricNGGXEL
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.39-0.08
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.54-0.12

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both National Grid (NGG) at 10.31% 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.

NGG

Utilities industry group

10.31%

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
NGG
10.31%
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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National Grid (NGG) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both National Grid (NGG) at 21.15% 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.

NGG

Utilities industry group

21.15%

Max
28.78%
NGG
21.15%
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%
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National Grid (NGG) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both National Grid (NGG) at 28.64% and Xcel Energy (XEL) at 28.50% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

NGG

Utilities industry group

28.64%

Max
53.83%
Q3
31.12%
NGG
28.64%
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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National Grid (NGG) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for National Grid (NGG) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricNGGXEL
ROE (TTM)10.31%11.44%
ROA (TTM)3.33%2.37%
Net Margin (TTM)21.15%17.95%
Operating Margin (TTM)28.64%28.50%
Gross Margin (TTM)100.00%47.27%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Xcel Energy (XEL) at 9.14% is around its peer norm for revenue growth, while National Grid (NGG) at -3.76% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker demand or pricing momentum.

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

EPS Growth

Only one side can be read here: Xcel Energy (XEL) reports EPS growth of -0.58%, ranked against its industry; National Grid (NGG) has no EPS growth figure this period.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for National Grid (NGG) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricNGGXEL
Revenue Growth (YoY)-3.76%9.14%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-6.53%-1.42%
EPS Growth (YoY)---0.58%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-30.59%2.56%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Xcel Energy (XEL) at 0.69 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while National Grid (NGG) at 0.62 runs in the tighter-liquidity quartile — a thinner cushion against current liabilities for NGG.

NGG

Utilities industry group

0.62

Max
1.90
Q3
1.17
Median
0.88
Q1
0.66
NGG
0.62
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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National Grid (NGG) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both National Grid (NGG) at 1.32 and Xcel Energy (XEL) at 1.68 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

NGG

Utilities industry group

1.32

Max
2.63
Q3
1.77
Median
1.35
NGG
1.32
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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National Grid (NGG) 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 National Grid (NGG) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricNGGXEL
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.620.69
Debt / Equity (MRQ)1.321.68
Net Debt / EBITDA6.326.35

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Xcel Energy (XEL) at 2.92% pays a yield in its industry’s typical range, while National Grid (NGG) at 0.57% falls in the bottom quartile of its peers.

NGG

Utilities industry group

0.57%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
Median
2.85%
Q1
0.66%
NGG
0.57%
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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National Grid (NGG) 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 National Grid (NGG) at 71.97% distributes more than its industry norm — less retained, thinner cover.

NGG

Utilities industry group

71.97%

Max
113.04%
NGG
71.97%
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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National Grid (NGG) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for National Grid (NGG) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricNGGXEL
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.57%2.92%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)71.97%54.72%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both National Grid (NGG) at 15.54 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.

NGG

Utilities industry group

15.54

Max
31.22
Q3
23.30
Median
19.64
NGG
15.54
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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National Grid (NGG) 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 National Grid (NGG) at 4.46 sits in the pricier quartile — NGG costs more per dollar of sales.

NGG

Utilities industry group

4.46

Max
6.35
NGG
4.46
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
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National Grid (NGG) 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 sits near its industry’s typical P/B ratio, while National Grid (NGG) at 9.36 prices above its benchmark range — NGG looks rich relative to book.

NGG

Utilities industry group

9.36

NGG
9.36
Max
3.12
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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National Grid (NGG) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for National Grid (NGG) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricNGGXEL
P/E Ratio (TTM)15.5418.57
P/S Ratio (TTM)4.463.44
P/B Ratio (MRQ)9.361.98
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-5.94%-16.32%