PPL vs. XEL: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at PPL and XEL, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Profile
| Symbol | PPL | XEL |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | PPL Corporation | Xcel Energy Inc. |
| Country | United States | United States |
| GICS Sector | Utilities | Utilities |
| GICS Industry | Electric Utilities | Electric Utilities |
| Market Capitalization | 27.25 billion USD | 47.56 billion USD |
| Exchange | NYSE | NasdaqGS |
| Listing Date | March 17, 1980 | February 21, 1973 |
| Security Type | Common Stock | Common Stock |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of PPL and XEL by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period. Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Historical Performance at a Glance
| Symbol | PPL | XEL |
|---|---|---|
| 5-Day Price Return | 1.63% | -1.46% |
| 13-Week Price Return | 1.54% | 10.63% |
| 26-Week Price Return | 1.40% | 12.67% |
| 52-Week Price Return | 13.91% | 21.45% |
| Month-to-Date Return | 0.88% | -0.95% |
| Year-to-Date Return | 13.49% | 19.08% |
| 10-Day Avg. Volume | 5.21M | 5.79M |
| 3-Month Avg. Volume | 5.76M | 4.34M |
| 3-Month Volatility | 13.57% | 18.57% |
| Beta | 0.72 | 0.47 |
Profitability
Return on Equity (TTM)
PPL
6.96%
Electric Utilities Industry
- Max
- 25.46%
- Q3
- 14.70%
- Median
- 10.64%
- Q1
- 6.99%
- Min
- 0.02%
PPL’s Return on Equity of 6.96% is in the lower quartile for the Electric Utilities industry. This indicates a less efficient generation of profit from its equity base when compared to its competitors.
XEL
9.40%
Electric Utilities Industry
- Max
- 25.46%
- Q3
- 14.70%
- Median
- 10.64%
- Q1
- 6.99%
- Min
- 0.02%
XEL’s Return on Equity of 9.40% is on par with the norm for the Electric Utilities industry, indicating its profitability relative to shareholder equity is typical for the sector.
Net Profit Margin (TTM)
PPL
21.66%
Electric Utilities Industry
- Max
- 29.56%
- Q3
- 16.54%
- Median
- 11.20%
- Q1
- 7.30%
- Min
- 0.01%
A Net Profit Margin of 21.66% places PPL in the upper quartile for the Electric Utilities industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
XEL
13.51%
Electric Utilities Industry
- Max
- 29.56%
- Q3
- 16.54%
- Median
- 11.20%
- Q1
- 7.30%
- Min
- 0.01%
XEL’s Net Profit Margin of 13.51% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Electric Utilities industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
Operating Profit Margin (TTM)
PPL
38.77%
Electric Utilities Industry
- Max
- 38.77%
- Q3
- 25.54%
- Median
- 18.87%
- Q1
- 14.12%
- Min
- 0.02%
An Operating Profit Margin of 38.77% places PPL in the upper quartile for the Electric Utilities industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.
XEL
16.58%
Electric Utilities Industry
- Max
- 38.77%
- Q3
- 25.54%
- Median
- 18.87%
- Q1
- 14.12%
- Min
- 0.02%
XEL’s Operating Profit Margin of 16.58% is around the midpoint for the Electric Utilities industry, indicating that its efficiency in managing core business operations is typical for the sector.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | PPL | XEL |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | 6.96% | 9.40% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | 2.38% | 2.58% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | 21.66% | 13.51% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | 38.77% | 16.58% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | -- | 40.44% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio (MRQ)
PPL
0.59
Electric Utilities Industry
- Max
- 1.82
- Q3
- 1.23
- Median
- 0.98
- Q1
- 0.72
- Min
- 0.13
PPL’s Current Ratio of 0.59 falls into the lower quartile for the Electric Utilities industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.
XEL
0.79
Electric Utilities Industry
- Max
- 1.82
- Q3
- 1.23
- Median
- 0.98
- Q1
- 0.72
- Min
- 0.13
XEL’s Current Ratio of 0.79 aligns with the median group of the Electric Utilities industry, indicating that its short-term liquidity is in line with its sector peers.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ)
PPL
1.25
Electric Utilities Industry
- Max
- 3.72
- Q3
- 1.90
- Median
- 1.27
- Q1
- 0.62
- Min
- 0.00
PPL’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 1.25 is typical for the Electric Utilities industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
XEL
1.64
Electric Utilities Industry
- Max
- 3.72
- Q3
- 1.90
- Median
- 1.27
- Q1
- 0.62
- Min
- 0.00
XEL’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 1.64 is typical for the Electric Utilities industry, indicating its use of leverage is in line with the sector norm. This suggests a balanced approach to its capital structure.
Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM)
PPL
2.58
Electric Utilities Industry
- Max
- 18.68
- Q3
- 9.89
- Median
- 3.33
- Q1
- 2.62
- Min
- -3.31
In the lower quartile for the Electric Utilities industry, PPL’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 2.58 indicates a tighter cushion for servicing debt, suggesting less financial flexibility than many of its competitors.
XEL
2.32
Electric Utilities Industry
- Max
- 18.68
- Q3
- 9.89
- Median
- 3.33
- Q1
- 2.62
- Min
- -3.31
In the lower quartile for the Electric Utilities industry, XEL’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 2.32 indicates a tighter cushion for servicing debt, suggesting less financial flexibility than many of its competitors.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | PPL | XEL |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (MRQ) | 0.59 | 0.79 |
| Quick Ratio (MRQ) | 0.45 | 0.53 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (MRQ) | 1.25 | 1.64 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 2.58 | 2.32 |
Growth
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield (TTM)
PPL
2.85%
Electric Utilities Industry
- Max
- 6.61%
- Q3
- 4.66%
- Median
- 3.55%
- Q1
- 2.23%
- Min
- 0.00%
PPL’s Dividend Yield of 2.85% is consistent with its peers in the Electric Utilities industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
XEL
2.64%
Electric Utilities Industry
- Max
- 6.61%
- Q3
- 4.66%
- Median
- 3.55%
- Q1
- 2.23%
- Min
- 0.00%
XEL’s Dividend Yield of 2.64% is consistent with its peers in the Electric Utilities industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)
PPL
78.14%
Electric Utilities Industry
- Max
- 140.33%
- Q3
- 84.46%
- Median
- 60.94%
- Q1
- 31.83%
- Min
- 0.00%
PPL’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 78.14% is within the typical range for the Electric Utilities industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
XEL
65.69%
Electric Utilities Industry
- Max
- 140.33%
- Q3
- 84.46%
- Median
- 60.94%
- Q1
- 31.83%
- Min
- 0.00%
XEL’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 65.69% is within the typical range for the Electric Utilities industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | PPL | XEL |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 2.85% | 2.64% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 78.14% | 65.69% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM)
PPL
27.45
Electric Utilities Industry
- Max
- 34.39
- Q3
- 21.23
- Median
- 15.47
- Q1
- 10.17
- Min
- 3.08
A P/E Ratio of 27.45 places PPL in the upper quartile for the Electric Utilities industry. This high valuation relative to peers suggests the market holds elevated expectations for the company’s future growth.
XEL
24.88
Electric Utilities Industry
- Max
- 34.39
- Q3
- 21.23
- Median
- 15.47
- Q1
- 10.17
- Min
- 3.08
A P/E Ratio of 24.88 places XEL in the upper quartile for the Electric Utilities industry. This high valuation relative to peers suggests the market holds elevated expectations for the company’s future growth.
Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM)
PPL
6.71
Electric Utilities Industry
- Max
- 6.03
- Q3
- 3.06
- Median
- 1.89
- Q1
- 1.06
- Min
- 0.00
With a P/S Ratio of 6.71, PPL trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Electric Utilities industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.
XEL
3.36
Electric Utilities Industry
- Max
- 6.03
- Q3
- 3.06
- Median
- 1.89
- Q1
- 1.06
- Min
- 0.00
XEL’s P/S Ratio of 3.36 is in the upper echelon for the Electric Utilities industry. This means the company is valued richly on its revenue stream compared to its peers, suggesting the stock is priced for a high level of future performance.
Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ)
PPL
1.75
Electric Utilities Industry
- Max
- 2.97
- Q3
- 1.86
- Median
- 1.46
- Q1
- 1.01
- Min
- 0.27
PPL’s P/B Ratio of 1.75 is within the conventional range for the Electric Utilities industry. This shows a balanced market view, where the stock’s price is neither at a significant premium nor a discount to the book value of its peers.
XEL
2.25
Electric Utilities Industry
- Max
- 2.97
- Q3
- 1.86
- Median
- 1.46
- Q1
- 1.01
- Min
- 0.27
XEL’s P/B Ratio of 2.25 is in the upper tier for the Electric Utilities industry. This indicates that investors are paying a premium relative to the company’s net assets, a valuation that hinges on its ability to generate superior profits.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | PPL | XEL |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (TTM) | 27.45 | 24.88 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (TTM) | 6.71 | 3.36 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (MRQ) | 1.75 | 2.25 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (TTM) | 136.96 | 90.06 |