Jefferies Maintains Buy Rating on Xcel Energy with $80 Price Target

Jefferies analyst Paul Zimbardo CFA maintains a Buy rating on Xcel Energy with a price target of $80.00. The company's shares closed at $68.45. Zimbardo CFA has a 47.62% success rate and a 1.2% average return on recommended stocks. The overall analyst consensus rating for Xcel Energy is Moderate Buy with a $76.10 average price target.

July 2, 2025 - Jefferies analyst Paul Zimbardo CFA has raised the price target for Xcel Energy (NASDAQ: XEL) to $80.00, maintaining a Buy rating on the stock. The utility company, currently trading at $68.45, has seen a significant increase in its price target, reflecting positive analyst sentiment and growth prospects.

The upward revision follows momentum on several fronts, including progress on line-of-sight capital expenditure with an additional estimated upside potential of over $16 billion. Jefferies noted that Xcel Energy's data center pipeline supports load growth of more than 5%, and the company's earnings per share compound annual growth rate guidance of 6-8% remains firm, with potential to exceed the upper end of that range. The research firm also identified a potential resolution of the Marshall Fire in the fourth quarter of 2025 as a re-rating catalyst for the stock [1].

In recent news, Xcel Energy has been active on multiple fronts. Northern States Power Company, a subsidiary of Xcel Energy, has filed a request with the South Dakota Public Utilities Commission for a $44 million annual electric rate increase, representing a 15% rise. Additionally, Northern States Power issued $250 million in 5.65% First Mortgage Bonds due in 2054. The company also appointed Ryan Long as executive vice president and chief legal and compliance officer, succeeding Rob Berntsen [1].

The overall analyst consensus rating for Xcel Energy is Moderate Buy, with an average price target of $76.10, based on 11 analysts' forecasts. This consensus is supported by the company's stable financial performance and strategic corporate events [2].

References:

[1] https://www.investing.com/news/analyst-ratings/jefferies-raises-xcel-energy-stock-price-target-to-80-on-growth-outlook-93CH-4131733
[2] https://www.tipranks.com/stocks/xel/forecast