Entergy (ETR) vs Xcel Energy (XEL)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
Entergy (ETR) has outperformed Xcel Energy (XEL) over the past year, gaining 7.1% versus a loss of 11.5%. Over five years, ETR leads with a +101.1% price change compared with +9.8% for XEL. Entergy is the larger company by market cap ($49.12 billion vs $45.24 billion), about 1.1 times the size, while Xcel Energy is growing revenue faster (+9.1% vs +9.0%).
On valuation, Xcel Energy trades at a lower forward P/E (16.0x vs 20.1x for Entergy). Xcel Energy offers the higher dividend yield (3.21% vs 2.45%). Xcel Energy converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 13.8% versus 13.7%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | ETR | XEL |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $102.80 | $72.42 |
| Market cap | $49.12B | $45.24B |
| 1-day change | -0.44% | -0.43% |
| YTD return | +11.22% | -1.95% |
| 1-year return | +7.11% | -11.52% |
| 5-year return | +101.08% | +9.84% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 26.29 | 19.84 |
| Forward P/E | 20.14 | 15.96 |
| EPS (TTM) | $3.91 | $3.65 |
| Dividend yield | 2.45% | 3.21% |
| Annual dividend | $2.52 | $2.33 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $12.95B | $14.67B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +8.98% | +9.14% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $1.77B | $2.02B |
| Operating margin | 24.73% | 17.61% |
| Net margin | 13.70% | 13.76% |
| 52-week high | $118.45 | $84.23 |
| 52-week low | $90.87 | $68.72 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -13.21% | -14.02% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | strong_buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +18.95% | +25.12% |
| Average volume | 2.67M | 5.30M |
| Shares outstanding | 477.78M | 624.63M |
| Employees | 12,000 | 11,534 |
| Sector | Utilities | Utilities |
| Industry | Electric Utilities: Central | Power Generation |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- ETR has outperformed XEL by 18.6 percentage points over the past year.
- Entergy trades at a higher earnings multiple (26.3x vs 19.8x trailing P/E).
About Entergy
ETR stock →Entergy Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the production and retail distribution of electricity in the United States. It generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electric power in portions of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, including the City of New Orleans.
Utilities · Electric Utilities: Central · 12,000 employees
About Xcel Energy
XEL stock →Xcel Energy Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as an electric and natural gas delivery company in the United States. It operates through Regulated Electric Utility and Regulated Natural Gas Utility segments.
Utilities · Power Generation · 11,534 employees
ETR vs XEL FAQ
Which is bigger, Entergy or Xcel Energy?
Entergy (ETR) is larger, with a market capitalization of $49.12B compared with $45.24B for Xcel Energy (XEL).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ETR or XEL?
ETR returned +7.11% over the past 12 months, compared with -11.52% for XEL (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, ETR or XEL?
XEL has the lower trailing P/E at 19.8, versus 26.3 for ETR. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Entergy or Xcel Energy?
Xcel Energy has the higher yield at 3.21%, compared with 2.45% for Entergy.
Are Entergy and Xcel Energy in the same industry?
Both are in the Utilities sector, but in different industries: Electric Utilities: Central for Entergy and Power Generation for Xcel Energy.