Unpleasant Surprises Could Be In Store For Xcel Energy Inc.'s (NASDAQ:XEL) Shares
When close to half the companies in the United States have price-to-earnings ratios (or "P/E's") below 18x, you may consider Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL) as a stock to potentially avoid with its 24.9x P/E ratio. Nonetheless, we'd need to dig a little deeper to determine if there is a rational basis for the elevated P/E.
With its earnings growth in positive territory compared to the declining earnings of most other companies, Xcel Energy has been doing quite well of late. The P/E is probably high because investors think the company will continue to navigate the broader market headwinds better than most. You'd really hope so, otherwise you're paying a pretty hefty price for no particular reason.
View our latest analysis for Xcel Energy
Keen to find out how analysts think Xcel Energy's future stacks up against the industry? In that case, our free report is a great place to start.
Is There Enough Growth For Xcel Energy?
The only time you'd be truly comfortable seeing a P/E as high as Xcel Energy's is when the company's growth is on track to outshine the market.
Taking a look back first, we see that the company managed to grow earnings per share by a handy 9.1% last year. The latest three year period has also seen a 18% overall rise in EPS, aided somewhat by its short-term performance. Therefore, it's fair to say the earnings growth recently has been respectable for the company.
Looking ahead now, EPS is anticipated to climb by 6.6% per annum during the coming three years according to the eleven analysts following the company. With the market predicted to deliver 13% growth per year, the company is positioned for a weaker earnings result.
With this information, we find it concerning that Xcel Energy is trading at a P/E higher than the market. Apparently many investors in the company are way more bullish than analysts indicate and aren't willing to let go of their stock at any price. Only the boldest would assume these prices are sustainable as this level of earnings growth is likely to weigh heavily on the share price eventually.
The Bottom Line On Xcel Energy's P/E
Generally, our preference is to limit the use of the price-to-earnings ratio to establishing what the market thinks about the overall health of a company.
Our examination of Xcel Energy's analyst forecasts revealed that its inferior earnings outlook isn't impacting its high P/E anywhere near as much as we would have predicted. Right now we are increasingly uncomfortable with the high P/E as the predicted future earnings aren't likely to support such positive sentiment for long. This places shareholders' investments at significant risk and potential investors in danger of paying an excessive premium.
Don't forget that there may be other risks. For instance, we've identified 2 warning signs for Xcel Energy (1 is potentially serious) you should be aware of.
If you're unsure about the strength of Xcel Energy's business, why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals for some other companies you may have missed.
This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
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