Seek Returns

SBS vs. XEL: Sabesp vs. Xcel Energy Stock Comparison

How do Sabesp (SBS) 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

Sabesp (SBS) and Xcel Energy (XEL) both fall under the Utilities industry group, but SBS is classified in Water Utilities while XEL is classified in Electric Utilities.

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

Company profile comparison for Sabesp (SBS) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
Profile ItemSBSXEL
NameCompanhia de Saneamento Básico do Estado de São Paulo - SABESP ADRXcel Energy Inc.
Country/RegionBrazilUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryWater UtilitiesElectric Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryWater UtilitiesElectric Utilities
Market Capitalization16.96 billion USD51.14 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateMay 10, 2002February 21, 1973
Security TypeADRCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

SBS
XEL
GSPC
Loading price history…
Sabesp (SBS) 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 Sabesp (SBS) and Xcel Energy (XEL). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

Loading price history…
Calendar-year total returns for Sabesp (SBS) and Xcel Energy (XEL). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Sabesp (SBS) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricSBSXEL
Total Return (1Y)-3.72%2.65%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)28.33%14.93%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)32.85%8.26%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

SBS
XEL
GSPC
Loading price history…
Sabesp (SBS) 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 Sabesp (SBS) and Xcel Energy (XEL). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Sabesp (SBS) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricSBSXEL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)46.80%19.49%
Beta (5Y)0.760.33
Max Drawdown (5Y)-37.59%-34.41%
Avg. Volume (3M)11.85M5.83M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

Loading chart…
SBS 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 Sabesp (SBS) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricSBSXEL
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.17-0.08
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-0.22-0.12

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Sabesp (SBS) at 16.27% sits in the top ROE quartile, while Xcel Energy (XEL) at 11.44% is closer to the peer norm — stronger capital efficiency for SBS.

SBS

Utilities industry group

16.27%

Max
17.99%
SBS
16.27%
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%
Loading chart…
Sabesp (SBS) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Sabesp (SBS) at 17.52% 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.

SBS

Utilities industry group

17.52%

Max
28.78%
SBS
17.52%
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%
Loading chart…
Sabesp (SBS) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Sabesp (SBS) at 29.28% and Xcel Energy (XEL) at 28.50% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

SBS

Utilities industry group

29.28%

Max
53.83%
Q3
31.12%
SBS
29.28%
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%
Loading chart…
Sabesp (SBS) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Sabesp (SBS) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricSBSXEL
ROE (TTM)16.27%11.44%
ROA (TTM)8.08%2.37%
Net Margin (TTM)17.52%17.95%
Operating Margin (TTM)29.28%28.50%
Gross Margin (TTM)36.96%47.27%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Sabesp (SBS) at 5.39% 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.

Loading chart…
Sabesp (SBS) 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 Sabesp (SBS) at -11.79% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

Loading chart…
Sabesp (SBS) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Sabesp (SBS) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricSBSXEL
Revenue Growth (YoY)5.39%9.14%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)19.98%-1.42%
EPS Growth (YoY)-11.79%-0.58%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)40.65%2.56%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Xcel Energy (XEL) at 0.69 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Sabesp (SBS) at 1.22 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets relative to peers.

SBS

Utilities industry group

1.22

Max
1.90
SBS
1.22
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
Loading chart…
Sabesp (SBS) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Sabesp (SBS) at 0.99 and Xcel Energy (XEL) at 1.68 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

SBS

Utilities industry group

0.99

Max
2.63
Q3
1.77
Median
1.35
SBS
0.99
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
Loading chart…
Sabesp (SBS) 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 Sabesp (SBS) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricSBSXEL
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.220.69
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.991.68
Net Debt / EBITDA2.306.35

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Sabesp (SBS) pays no dividend (yield 0.00%) — it may be reinvesting, using buybacks, or simply not returning cash through dividends. Meanwhile Xcel Energy (XEL) reports a yield of 2.92%, ranking against industry peers normally.

SBS

Utilities industry group

0.00%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
Median
2.85%
Q1
0.66%
SBS
0.00%
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%
Loading chart…
Sabesp (SBS) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Sabesp (SBS) at 35.95% and Xcel Energy (XEL) at 54.72% keep payout ratio within their industries’ typical mid-ranges — dividend policies that share earnings without consuming too much of them.

SBS

Utilities industry group

35.95%

Max
113.04%
Q3
68.72%
Median
56.38%
SBS
35.95%
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%
Loading chart…
Sabesp (SBS) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Sabesp (SBS) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricSBSXEL
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.00%2.92%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)35.95%54.72%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Sabesp (SBS) at 11.73 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while Xcel Energy (XEL) at 18.57 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for SBS, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

SBS

Utilities industry group

11.73

Max
31.22
Q3
23.30
Median
19.64
Q1
15.17
SBS
11.73
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
Loading chart…
Sabesp (SBS) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

Sabesp (SBS) at 0.41 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while Xcel Energy (XEL) at 3.44 prices around its industry’s middle — SBS costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

SBS

Utilities industry group

0.41

Max
6.35
Q3
3.63
Median
2.63
Q1
1.52
SBS
0.41
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
Loading chart…
Sabesp (SBS) 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 Sabesp (SBS) at 1.84 and Xcel Energy (XEL) at 1.98 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

SBS

Utilities industry group

1.84

Max
3.12
Q3
2.21
SBS
1.84
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
Loading chart…
Sabesp (SBS) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Sabesp (SBS) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricSBSXEL
P/E Ratio (TTM)11.7318.57
P/S Ratio (TTM)0.413.44
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.841.98
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-62.11%-16.32%