Xcel Energy Slides 0.73% Amid 501st Volume Rank as Analysts Upgrade to Buy Candidate Targeting 5.34% Rally Despite Mixed Technicals

Xcel Energy (XEL) closed August 14, 2025, at $72.39, down 0.73% with a trading volume of $235.31 million, ranking 501st in daily liquidity. Technical indicators show a mixed signal: short-term moving averages suggest resistance near $73.08, while long-term averages offer support at $70.68. The stock’s 0.98% intraday swing and rising volume align with a potential upward trend, though a recent pivot top on August 4 triggered a 1.78% decline and a sell signal from the 3-month MACD.

Analysts upgraded XEL from "Hold" to "Buy Candidate," citing a favorable short-term trend and controlled volatility (1.30% weekly average). The stock is projected to rise 5.34% over three months, with a 90% probability of trading between $71.66 and $78.65. A stop-loss at $69.68 (-4.44%) is recommended to mitigate risk, though liquidity and low daily movements reduce overall exposure.

Dividend details highlight an ex-dividend date of September 15, 2025, with a $0.570 payout. The upgrade reflects confidence in XEL’s resilience amid sector dynamics, supported by institutional ownership and a robust earnings profile. However, near-term technical hurdles and mixed momentum indicators suggest caution for intraday traders.

The backtest of a strategy buying the top 500 volume stocks and holding for one day from 2022 to 2025 yielded a total profit of $10,720, demonstrating moderate returns amid market fluctuations.