Compare NRG Energy Inc (NRG) vs Xcel Energy Inc (XEL) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
NRG Energy Inc vs Xcel Energy Inc — how do they compare? NRG Energy Inc trades at $121.17 (market cap $24.83B), while Xcel Energy Inc trades at $77.47 (market cap $48.51B). The key difference: Xcel Energy Inc is the larger of the two by market cap, and Xcel Energy Inc pays the higher dividend (3.05%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| NRG | XEL | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $24.83B | $48.51B |
Sector | Utilities | Utilities |
52-Week High | $184.03 | $83.91 |
52-Week Low | $117.04 | $71.75 |
Enterprise Value | $48.79B | $86.82B |
Dividend Yield | 1.61% | 3.05% |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
NRG Energy trades at $120.37, down 1.23% with a bearish technical signal. Recent Q2 2026 earnings missed estimates at $1.49 EPS versus $1.69 expected, though revenue grew 11% year-over-year. The company is advancing a 1.2 GW Texas data-center power project to capitalize on AI-driven electricity demand, supported by a 69% analyst buy rating and a $207.83 consensus price target. Cash flow from operations was $1.91B in 2025, but net income margin compressed to 2.56%.
Outlook is mixed: growth initiatives in data center power present upside, but execution risks and rising interest costs pressure margins. The stock offers a 1.6% dividend yield, yet high debt-to-asset ratio of 56.42% in 2025 warrants caution. Near-term support lies at $119, with resistance at $122.
Xcel Energy (XEL) trades at $78.33, up 1.9% on the day, with a bearish technical signal from moving averages but neutral oscillators. The company reported strong Q2 2026 earnings of $0.93 per share, beating estimates, driven by infrastructure investment recovery. Revenue for 2025 was $14.67 billion with a net income margin of 15.28%. Analysts maintain a consensus buy rating with a $93.80 price target, highlighting growth from a $60 billion capital plan through 2030.
The outlook for XEL is positive due to projected EPS growth and rising electricity demand, but risks include regulatory pushback on rate increases and high capital expenditure. The stock offers stability with a dividend yield, yet valuation remains near historical highs, requiring careful monitoring of execution against its expansive investment strategy.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
About NRG Energy Inc
NRG Energy is one of the largest retail energy providers in the U.S., with 7 million customers, including its 2021 acquisition of Direct Energy. It also is one of the largest U.S. independent power producers, with 16 gigawatts of nuclear, coal, gas, and oil power generation capacity primarily in Texas. Since 2018, NRG has divested its 47% stake in NRG Yield, among other renewable energy and conventional generation investments. NRG exited Chapter 11 bankruptcy as a stand-alone entity in December 2003.
Read more on NRG →About Xcel Energy Inc
Xcel Energy manages utilities serving 3.7 million electric customers and 2.1 million natural gas customers in eight states. Its utilities are Northern States Power, which serves customers in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Michigan
Read more on XEL →
