We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience.
This includes personalizing content and advertising.
By pressing "Accept All" or closing out of this banner, you consent to the use of all cookies and similar technologies and the sharing of information they collect with third parties.
You can reject marketing cookies by pressing "Deny Optional," but we still use essential, performance, and functional cookies.
In addition, whether you "Accept All," Deny Optional," click the X or otherwise continue to use the site, you accept our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, revised from time to time.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
Xcel Energy to Post Q1 Earnings: What's in Store for the Stock?
Read MoreHide Full Article
Key Takeaways
Xcel Energy is expected to post Q1 EPS of 91 cents, up 8.33% year over year.
XEL may benefit from higher electric and gas demand plus new Minnesota gas rates.
Xcel Energy sees data center growth and local projects boosting demand and earnings.
Xcel Energy (XEL - Free Report) is set to report first-quarter 2026 earnings on April 30, before market open. The company reported a negative earnings surprise of 1.03% in the last reported quarter.
Let us discuss the factors that are likely to be reflected in the upcoming quarterly results.
Q1 Expectations for XEL
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at 91 cents, implying a year-over-year increase of 8.33%.
The consensus estimate for revenues is pinned at $4.21 billion, indicating an increase of 7.69% from the year-ago reported number.
Factors Likely to Impact XEL’s Q1 Earnings
Xcel Energy's first-quarter 2026 performance is likely to have benefited from a rise in electric and natural gas demand and new rates implemented in January in its Northern States Power Company. In January 2026, interim natural gas rates were implemented in the Minnesota Natural Gas service region. These new rates are expected to have boosted the revenues and support the financial performance of the to-be-reported quarter.
The company’s first-quarter earnings are likely to have benefited from an increase in load growth to serve expanding data center demand.
Last year, Xcel Energy launched 15 economic development projects across its local communities, which are expected to generate more than $7 billion in capital investment and create nearly 1,400 jobs. These initiatives are likely to have driven increased demand in the first quarter, thereby boosting earnings.
However, an expected rise in operating costs, with higher property taxes and interest, might have offset some positives on first-quarter performance.
What Our Quantitative Model Predicts for XEL
Our proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for Xcel Energy this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. That is not the case here, as you will see below.
XEL’s Earnings ESP: The company has an Earnings ESP of -2.87% at present. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
XEL’s Zacks Rank:Currently, Xcel Energy carries a Zacks Rank #3.
Investors may consider the following players from the same industry, as these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this reporting cycle.
WEC’s long-term (three to five years) earnings growth rate is 7.44%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for first-quarter EPS is pinned at $2.31, which implies a year-over-year increase of 1.76%.
Eversource Energy (ES - Free Report) is likely to come up with earnings beat when it reports first-quarter results on May 6. It has an Earnings ESP of +0.59% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present.
ES’ long-term earnings growth rate is 3.25%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for first-quarter EPS is pinned at $1.60, which implies a year-over-year increase of 6.67%.
NiSource Inc. (NI - Free Report) is likely to come up with earnings beat when it reports first-quarter results on May 6. It has an Earnings ESP of +2.34% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present.
NI’s long-term earnings growth rate is 6.11%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for first-quarter EPS is pinned at $1.03, which implies a year-over-year increase of 5.10%.
Zacks' 7 Best Strong Buy Stocks (New Research Report)
Valued at $99, click below to receive our just-released report
predicting the 7 stocks that will soar highest in the coming month.
View the Zacks #1 Rank List
Image: Bigstock
Xcel Energy to Post Q1 Earnings: What's in Store for the Stock?
Key Takeaways
Xcel Energy (XEL - Free Report) is set to report first-quarter 2026 earnings on April 30, before market open. The company reported a negative earnings surprise of 1.03% in the last reported quarter.
Let us discuss the factors that are likely to be reflected in the upcoming quarterly results.
Q1 Expectations for XEL
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at 91 cents, implying a year-over-year increase of 8.33%.
The consensus estimate for revenues is pinned at $4.21 billion, indicating an increase of 7.69% from the year-ago reported number.
Factors Likely to Impact XEL’s Q1 Earnings
Xcel Energy's first-quarter 2026 performance is likely to have benefited from a rise in electric and natural gas demand and new rates implemented in January in its Northern States Power Company. In January 2026, interim natural gas rates were implemented in the Minnesota Natural Gas service region. These new rates are expected to have boosted the revenues and support the financial performance of the to-be-reported quarter.
The company’s first-quarter earnings are likely to have benefited from an increase in load growth to serve expanding data center demand.
Last year, Xcel Energy launched 15 economic development projects across its local communities, which are expected to generate more than $7 billion in capital investment and create nearly 1,400 jobs. These initiatives are likely to have driven increased demand in the first quarter, thereby boosting earnings.
However, an expected rise in operating costs, with higher property taxes and interest, might have offset some positives on first-quarter performance.
What Our Quantitative Model Predicts for XEL
Our proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for Xcel Energy this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. That is not the case here, as you will see below.
XEL’s Earnings ESP: The company has an Earnings ESP of -2.87% at present. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
XEL’s Zacks Rank:Currently, Xcel Energy carries a Zacks Rank #3.
Xcel Energy Inc. Price and EPS Surprise
Xcel Energy Inc. price-eps-surprise | Xcel Energy Inc. Quote
Stocks to Consider
Investors may consider the following players from the same industry, as these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this reporting cycle.
WEC Energy Group (WEC - Free Report) is likely to come up with earnings beat when it reports first-quarter results on May 5. It has an Earnings ESP of +0.54% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks Rank #1 stocks here.
WEC’s long-term (three to five years) earnings growth rate is 7.44%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for first-quarter EPS is pinned at $2.31, which implies a year-over-year increase of 1.76%.
Eversource Energy (ES - Free Report) is likely to come up with earnings beat when it reports first-quarter results on May 6. It has an Earnings ESP of +0.59% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present.
ES’ long-term earnings growth rate is 3.25%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for first-quarter EPS is pinned at $1.60, which implies a year-over-year increase of 6.67%.
NiSource Inc. (NI - Free Report) is likely to come up with earnings beat when it reports first-quarter results on May 6. It has an Earnings ESP of +2.34% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present.
NI’s long-term earnings growth rate is 6.11%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for first-quarter EPS is pinned at $1.03, which implies a year-over-year increase of 5.10%.