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SRE vs. XEL: Sempra vs. Xcel Energy Stock Comparison

How do Sempra (SRE) 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

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

Company profile comparison for Sempra (SRE) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
Profile ItemSREXEL
NameSempraXcel Energy Inc.
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorUtilitiesUtilities
GICS Industry GroupUtilitiesUtilities
GICS IndustryMulti-UtilitiesElectric Utilities
GICS Sub-IndustryMulti-UtilitiesElectric Utilities
Market Capitalization51.13 billion USD51.14 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENasdaq
Listing DateJune 29, 1998February 21, 1973
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

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

Calendar-Year Returns

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

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for Sempra (SRE) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricSREXEL
Total Return (1Y)-13.10%2.65%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)7.68%14.93%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)8.14%8.26%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

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

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for Sempra (SRE) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricSREXEL
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)21.00%19.49%
Beta (5Y)0.570.33
Max Drawdown (5Y)-31.62%-34.41%
Avg. Volume (3M)3.90M5.83M

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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SRE 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 Sempra (SRE) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricSREXEL
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)-0.83-0.08
Sortino Ratio (1Y)-1.07-0.12

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Both Sempra (SRE) at 8.73% 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.

SRE

Utilities industry group

8.73%

Max
17.99%
Q3
12.01%
Median
9.44%
SRE
8.73%
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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Sempra (SRE) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their ROE against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Net Margin (TTM)

For every dollar of sales, both Sempra (SRE) at 22.53% 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.

SRE

Utilities industry group

22.53%

Max
28.78%
SRE
22.53%
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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Sempra (SRE) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their net margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

Both Sempra (SRE) at 21.06% and Xcel Energy (XEL) at 28.50% run core operations about as efficiently as their industries’ norm — neither stands out on operating profitability.

SRE

Utilities industry group

21.06%

Max
53.83%
Q3
31.12%
Median
23.62%
SRE
21.06%
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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Sempra (SRE) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their operating margin against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for Sempra (SRE) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricSREXEL
ROE (TTM)8.73%11.44%
ROA (TTM)1.99%2.37%
Net Margin (TTM)22.53%17.95%
Operating Margin (TTM)21.06%28.50%
Gross Margin (TTM)44.81%47.27%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both Sempra (SRE) at 3.92% 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.

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Sempra (SRE) 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 Sempra (SRE) at -37.78% drops into the bottom quartile, signaling weaker earnings momentum.

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

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for Sempra (SRE) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricSREXEL
Revenue Growth (YoY)3.92%9.14%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)-1.73%-1.42%
EPS Growth (YoY)-37.78%-0.58%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)-5.99%2.56%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Xcel Energy (XEL) at 0.69 keeps current ratio within its industry’s typical mid-range, while Sempra (SRE) at 1.61 sits above its industry’s typical mid-range — comfortable liquidity, though possibly with more idle current assets relative to peers.

SRE

Utilities industry group

1.61

Max
1.90
SRE
1.61
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
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Sempra (SRE) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their current ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Both Sempra (SRE) at 0.85 and Xcel Energy (XEL) at 1.68 fund their balance sheets with roughly industry-typical debt-to-equity mixes.

SRE

Utilities industry group

0.85

Max
2.63
Q3
1.77
Median
1.35
SRE
0.85
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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Sempra (SRE) 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 Sempra (SRE) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricSREXEL
Current Ratio (MRQ)1.610.69
Debt / Equity (MRQ)0.851.68
Net Debt / EBITDA6.186.35

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both Sempra (SRE) at 3.27% and Xcel Energy (XEL) at 2.92% pay solid, industry-typical yields, sitting squarely within their peers’ usual range.

SRE

Utilities industry group

3.27%

Max
6.66%
Q3
3.58%
SRE
3.27%
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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Sempra (SRE) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both Sempra (SRE) at 56.05% 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.

SRE

Utilities industry group

56.05%

Max
113.04%
Q3
68.72%
Median
56.38%
SRE
56.05%
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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Sempra (SRE) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for Sempra (SRE) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricSREXEL
Dividend Yield (TTM)3.27%2.92%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)56.05%54.72%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

Both Sempra (SRE) at 16.74 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.

SRE

Utilities industry group

16.74

Max
31.22
Q3
23.30
Median
19.64
SRE
16.74
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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Sempra (SRE) 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 Sempra (SRE) at 3.76 sits in the pricier quartile — SRE costs more per dollar of sales.

SRE

Utilities industry group

3.76

Max
6.35
SRE
3.76
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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Sempra (SRE) 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 Sempra (SRE) at 1.53 and Xcel Energy (XEL) at 1.98 are valued close to their industries’ norm against book — neither stands out from peers.

SRE

Utilities industry group

1.53

Max
3.12
Q3
2.21
Median
1.83
SRE
1.53
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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Sempra (SRE) vs. Xcel Energy (XEL): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Utilities industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for Sempra (SRE) and Xcel Energy (XEL)
MetricSREXEL
P/E Ratio (TTM)16.7418.57
P/S Ratio (TTM)3.763.44
P/B Ratio (MRQ)1.531.98
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)-22.35%-16.32%