Xcel Energy stock falls to a 52 week low after target cut

Published on 09/23/2026 at 15:18 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

Xcel Energy stock closed at USD 71.75 on September 21, 2026, after Morgan Stanley cut its target to USD 83.00. Second quarter EPS beat by USD 0.14.

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Xcel Energy stock (ISIN US98389B1008) closed at USD 71.75 on the Nasdaq on September 21, 2026, down 0.62 percent from the prior close of USD 72.30. The utility reached a 52 week low as Morgan Stanley reduced its price target, while second quarter earnings exceeded consensus.

Morgan Stanley cuts target to USD 83

According to MarketBeat on September 21, 2026, Morgan Stanley lowered its Xcel Energy price target from USD 89.00 to USD 83.00 and retained an Equal Weight rating. The revised target remains USD 11.25 above the September 21 closing price, but the reduction adds pressure while the stock trades close to its annual floor.

The wider analyst picture is less cautious. MarketBeat reported that its average analyst price target was USD 92.06, with an overall Buy consensus, while targets in the cited coverage ranged from USD 83.00 to USD 102.00. That average stood USD 20.31 above the September 21 close, illustrating the gap between published expectations and the current quotation.

EPS beat while revenue declined

Xcel Energy reported adjusted second quarter 2026 EPS of USD 0.93, beating the USD 0.79 consensus estimate by USD 0.14, according to Investing.com on September 21, 2026. Revenue was USD 3.12 billion in the quarter, below the USD 3.61 billion estimate and down 5.1 percent from the year-earlier period.

The contrast matters for the valuation: earnings beat consensus by USD 0.14, but revenue missed the estimate by USD 490 million. Xcel Energy also reaffirmed its 2026 guidance in the same September 21 report, leaving the stock with a supportive earnings signal and a weaker top-line comparison.

Stock remains near annual floor

Nasdaq data cited by MarketBeat placed the September 21 trading range between USD 71.67 and USD 72.43, with volume of 4.32 million shares. The 52 week range was USD 71.67 to USD 84.23, putting the USD 71.75 close USD 12.48 below the annual high.

Market capitalization stood at USD 44.88 billion as of September 22, 2026, while the reported price-to-earnings ratio was 19.68 and the dividend yield was 3.30 percent. The company also declared a quarterly dividend of USD 0.5925 per share for payment on October 20, 2026, based on a September 15 record date, according to MarketBeat.

Nasdaq close stays at USD 71.75

Xcel Energy stock closed at USD 71.75 on the Nasdaq on September 21, 2026. The combination of a target cut, a revenue decline of 5.1 percent and an EPS beat of USD 0.14 leaves the market weighing earnings execution against top-line pressure and a quotation near the 52 week low.