Vanguard Utilities ETF Analysis: The Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU) has an implied analyst target price of $210.74 per unit, indicating a potential upside of 9.85% from its recent trading price of $191.85.
Notable Holdings with Upside: Key underlying holdings of VPU, such as Consolidated Water Co Ltd (CWCO), Evergy Inc (EVRG), and Xcel Energy Inc (XEL), show significant upside potential based on analyst target prices, with expected increases of 15.63%, 11.37%, and 10.50% respectively.
Analyst Target Justification: The article raises questions about whether analysts' target prices are justified or overly optimistic, suggesting that high targets could lead to future downgrades if they do not align with market realities.
Investor Research Importance: Investors are encouraged to conduct further research to assess the validity of analyst targets in light of recent developments in the companies and the industry.
Wall Street analysts forecast XEL stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for XEL is 88.86 USD with a low forecast of 79.00 USD and a high forecast of 97.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
14 Analyst Rating
Wall Street analysts forecast XEL stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for XEL is 88.86 USD with a low forecast of 79.00 USD and a high forecast of 97.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
12 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 76.510
Low
79.00
Averages
88.86
High
97.00
Current: 76.510
Low
79.00
Averages
88.86
High
97.00
Morgan Stanley
David Arcaro
Equal Weight
maintain
$79 -> $84
2026-01-21
New
Reason
Morgan Stanley
David Arcaro
Price Target
$79 -> $84
AI Analysis
2026-01-21
New
maintain
Equal Weight
Reason
Morgan Stanley analyst David Arcaro raised the firm's price target on Xcel Energy to $84 from $79 and keeps an Equal Weight rating on the shares. The firm is updating its Regulated & Diversified Utilities / IPPs in North America under its coverage, noting utilities underperformed the S&P's return in December, the analyst tells investors.
Mizuho
Anthony Crowdell
Outperform
maintain
$81 -> $86
2026-01-09
Reason
Mizuho
Anthony Crowdell
Price Target
$81 -> $86
2026-01-09
maintain
Outperform
Reason
Mizuho analyst Anthony Crowdell raised the firm's price target on Xcel Energy to $86 from $81 and keeps an Outperform rating on the shares. The firm updated the company's model.
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UBS
William Appicelli
Neutral
downgrade
$86 -> $81
2025-12-17
Reason
UBS
William Appicelli
Price Target
$86 -> $81
2025-12-17
downgrade
Neutral
Reason
UBS analyst William Appicelli lowered the firm's price target on Xcel Energy to $81 from $86 and keeps a Neutral rating on the shares.
Morgan Stanley
Equal Weight
downgrade
$84 -> $79
2025-12-16
Reason
Morgan Stanley
Price Target
$84 -> $79
2025-12-16
downgrade
Equal Weight
Reason
Morgan Stanley lowered the firm's price target on Xcel Energy to $79 from $84 and keeps an Equal Weight rating on the shares. Utility performance will be heavily driven by data centers and growth upside in 2026, the analyst tells investors in a year-ahead note.
About XEL
Xcel Energy Inc. is an electric and natural gas delivery company. The Company provides a comprehensive portfolio of energy-related products and services to approximately 3.9 million electric customers and 2.2 million natural gas customers through four utility subsidiaries, NSP-Minnesota, NSP-Wisconsin, PSCo and SPS. The Company operates through two segments. Its regulated electric utility segment generates, purchases, transmits, distributes and sells electricity in Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin. In addition, this segment includes sales for resale and provides wholesale transmission service to various entities in the United States. The regulated electric utility segment also includes wholesale commodity and trading operations. Its regulated natural gas utility segment purchases, transports, stores, distributes and sells natural gas primarily in portions of Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
