Is Xcel Energy Stock Underperforming the S&P 500?

Core Insights - Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) is a large-cap utility company with a market capitalization of $45.7 billion, involved in electricity generation, transmission, and distribution, as well as natural gas services [1][2] - The company has a strong renewable energy portfolio, with over 50% of its electricity sales coming from carbon-free sources, aligning with sustainability trends [2] - XEL has experienced a 7% decline from its 52-week high of $83.01, but has gained 6.2% over the past three months, outperforming the S&P 500 Index [3][4] Financial Performance - In Q3, XEL reported an adjusted EPS of $1.24, which was below Wall Street's expectation of $1.31, and revenue of $3.92 billion, slightly missing the forecast of $3.93 billion [5] - The company expects its full-year adjusted EPS to be in the range of $3.75 to $3.85 [5] Market Position - XEL's stock has shown a 12.6% increase over the past six months and an 8.9% rise over the last 52 weeks, although it has underperformed compared to the S&P 500's gains of 15.7% and 13.1% respectively [4] - In the competitive landscape, American Electric Power Company, Inc. (AEP) has outperformed XEL with a 15.8% increase over six months and a 23% gain over the past year [6]