Should I Buy XEL? XEL 2026 Analysis

Should You Buy Xcel Energy Inc (XEL) Today? Analysis, Price Targets, and 2026 Outlook.

Conclusion

Hold

Latest Price

75.970

1 Day change

-0.05%

52 Week Range

83.010

Analysis Updated At

2026/01/26

Xcel Energy Inc (XEL) is not a strong buy at the moment for a beginner, long-term investor with $50,000-$100,000 available. The stock lacks significant positive catalysts, has mixed financial performance, and shows cautious sentiment from hedge funds and Congress trading data. While the technical indicators are neutral to slightly bullish, the lack of strong proprietary trading signals and the recent pre-market price dip further support a hold recommendation.

Technical Analysis

The MACD is positive at 0.302 but contracting, indicating weakening momentum. RSI is neutral at 45.022, and moving averages are bullish (SMA_5 > SMA_20 > SMA_200). Key support and resistance levels are S1: 73.956, Pivot: 75.314, and R1: 76.672. The pre-market price of $74.82 is below the pivot, suggesting mild bearish sentiment. Overall, technicals are neutral to slightly bullish.

Options Data

Bullish

Open Interest Put-Call Ratio

Bullish

Option Volume Put-Call Ratio

The low Put-Call ratios suggest bullish sentiment in the options market, but the volume is relatively low, limiting its impact on the overall outlook.

Technical Summary

Sell

Buy

Positive Catalysts

Analysts maintain confidence in Xcel's leadership in renewables and its long-term rate base opportunity.
The company's gross margin increased YoY, reflecting operational efficiency.
The stock is trading at a discount compared to peers, as noted by KeyBanc.

Neutral/Negative Catalysts

Hedge funds are aggressively selling, with a 1252.85% increase in selling activity last quarter.
Congress members sold shares recently, indicating cautious sentiment.
Financial performance in Q3 2025 showed a significant decline in net income (-23.17%) and EPS (-27.27%) YoY.
Pre-market price is down 0.25%, reflecting weak short-term sentiment.

Financial Performance

In Q3 2025, revenue increased by 7.44% YoY to $3.915 billion, but net income dropped by 23.17% YoY to $524 million, and EPS fell by 27.27% YoY to $0.88. Gross margin improved slightly to 51.11%, up 1.39% YoY. The financials show mixed results, with growth in revenue but declining profitability.

Growth

Profitability

Efficiency

Analyst Ratings and Price Target Trends

Analysts have mixed views. RBC Capital lowered the price target to $95 but maintained an Outperform rating. Morgan Stanley raised the price target to $84 with an Equal Weight rating. KeyBanc sees the stock as undervalued compared to peers, maintaining an Overweight rating. The average price target is around $85, suggesting a modest upside from the current price.

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 USD and a high forecast of 97 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: 76.010

Low

Averages

88.86

High

Current: 76.010

Low

Averages

88.86

High

RBC Capital

Stephen D'Ambrisi

Outperform

maintain

$97 -> $95

AI Analysis

2026-01-23

Reason

RBC Capital

Stephen D'Ambrisi

Price Target

$97 -> $95

AI Analysis

2026-01-23

maintain

Outperform

Reason

RBC Capital analyst Stephen D'Ambrisi lowered the firm's price target on Xcel Energy to $95 from $97 and keeps an Outperform rating on the shares as part of a broader research note previewing Q4 earnings in Utilities. As has been the trend across the space over the last 18 months given the rapidly changing capital deployment landscape, a number of utilities that are typically Q4 roll-forward companies gave off-cycle or early previews of updated capital plans, prompting the firm to revise its model in the sector, the analyst tells investors in a research note.

Morgan Stanley

David Arcaro

Equal Weight

maintain

$79 -> $84

2026-01-21

Reason

Morgan Stanley

David Arcaro

Price Target

$79 -> $84

2026-01-21

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.

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XEL Should I Buy

XEL Should I Buy

Should You Buy Xcel Energy Inc (XEL) Today? Analysis, Price Targets, and 2026 Outlook.

Technical Analysis

Options Data

Technical Summary

Positive Catalysts

Neutral/Negative Catalysts

Financial Performance

Growth

Profitability

Efficiency

Analyst Ratings and Price Target Trends

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