On Thursday, Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL), a $39.3 billion utility company, received an improved stock rating from JPMorgan (NYSE:JPM), moving from Neutral to Overweight. The firm also raised the price target for Xcel Energy to $80.00, up from the previous target of $69.00.
The upgrade follows a positive third-quarter update in 2024, which highlighted several factors that could enhance the company's earnings prospects. InvestingPro data shows that seven analysts have recently revised their earnings estimates upward, reflecting growing confidence in the company's outlook.
According to JPMorgan, the upward revision is supported by Xcel Energy's increased capital expenditure plan, which has risen by over $6 billion. Additionally, the company has doubled its incremental capital expenditure opportunities to $10 billion.
These investments, along with a projected 5% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in five-year retail sales, are expected to drive earnings to the upper half of the company's revised 6-8% earnings per share (EPS) growth range.
The company maintains a strong dividend profile with a current yield of 3.2% and has maintained dividend payments for 53 consecutive years, as highlighted by InvestingPro data.
The analyst also noted that Xcel Energy is well-positioned to benefit from expanding data center growth and the request for proposals (RFPs) in Colorado, Minnesota, and the Southwestern Public Service (SPS) area. These factors are anticipated to lead to further capital expenditures in regulated generation and renewable energy projects, potentially resulting in earnings that exceed the targeted growth range.
Furthermore, the firm mentioned that Xcel Energy's efforts in wildfire mitigation across its service territories, along with progress in the Marshall Fire litigation, could alleviate concerns related to wildfire liabilities. The resolution of these issues may enable Xcel Energy to recover some of its historical valuation premium.
JPMorgan emphasized that Xcel Energy's path to capturing earnings upside, combined with operational and financial de-risking, presents a more attractive investment opportunity when compared to other large-cap companies with less clear potential for change in their rate of growth.
Trading at a P/E ratio of 20.3, InvestingPro analysis indicates the stock is currently trading above its Fair Value. Investors seeking deeper insights can access the comprehensive Pro Research Report, which provides detailed analysis of Xcel Energy's valuation metrics, growth prospects, and peer comparisons.
In other recent news, Xcel Energy has proposed a 19.3% rate hike in North Dakota, which if approved, would generate an additional $45 million annually. This move is part of the company's recent strategic advancements, which also include finalizing additional forward sale agreements for over 21 million shares with Barclays (LON:BARC) Bank PLC and Bank of America (NYSE:BAC).
These developments follow the company's recent financial performance, which showed an increase in ongoing earnings per share from $1.23 to $1.25 in the third quarter of 2024 and the introduction of a 2025 earnings guidance of $3.75 to $3.85 per share.
Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) and Jefferies have expressed confidence in Xcel Energy's growth, with Goldman Sachs raising the company's target to $78 and Jefferies upgrading it to Buy. These decisions come after Xcel Energy revised its load growth forecast from 2-3% to 5% and increased its five-year capital plan by $6 billion.
In addition to these financial developments, Xcel Energy announced a five-year capital investment plan of $45 billion, primarily focusing on clean energy and customer electrification. The company has also managed to settle a significant number of wildfire claims and is actively handling increased Operations & Maintenance expenses. These recent developments illustrate Xcel Energy's continuous commitment to strategic growth and financial stability.
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