Investments In Clean Energy Will Align With Policy Goals And Strengthen Regulatory Support

Key Takeaways

• Investments in clean energy and grid improvements aim to drive revenue and align with policy goals, enhancing regulatory support and net margins.
  
• Strong cost management and supportive regulatory outcomes contribute to operational efficiency, stable revenue, and long-term earnings growth.
  
• Financial risks emerge from regulatory challenges, rising costs, increased debt, wildfire liabilities, and uncertain insurance recoveries, potentially impacting earnings and margins.

Catalysts

Through its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, purchasing, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity.

• Xcel Energy plans significant investments in clean energy, electrification, and grid improvements, which are expected to drive new revenue streams and support robust 5% annual electric sales growth, contributing positively to future earnings.
  
• The expansion in clean energy, including wind, solar, and storage, aligns with federal and state policy goals and potentially increases regulatory support for infrastructure projects, improving net margins through enhanced rate base growth and cost recovery.
  
• Increased data center and industrial load growth presents opportunities for enhanced operational efficiency and higher utilization rates, which could elevate net margins by spreading fixed costs over larger volumes.
  
• Xcel Energy's strong record of cost management, including significant O&M cost reductions and maintaining operational expenses below inflation, supports margin improvements and operational efficiency, positively impacting overall earnings.
  
• The expected continuation of supportive regulatory outcomes, including key resource plan approvals and rate case settlements, is likely to ensure stable revenue increase and margin support, bolstering long-term earnings growth.

Xcel Energy Future Earnings and Revenue Growth

Assumptions

• Analysts are assuming Xcel Energy's revenue will grow by 8.0% annually over the next 3 years.
• Analysts assume that profit margins will increase from 13.7% today to 15.1% in 3 years time.
• Analysts expect earnings to reach $2.6 billion (and earnings per share of $4.34) by about December 2027, up from $1.9 billion today.
• In order for the above numbers to justify the analysts price target, the company would need to trade at a PE ratio of 19.8x on those 2027 earnings, down from 20.8x today. This future PE is lower than the current PE for the US Electric Utilities industry at 20.7x.
• Analysts expect the number of shares outstanding to grow by 1.59% per year for the next 3 years.
• To value all of this in today's terms, we will use a discount rate of 5.92%, as per the Simply Wall St company report.

Xcel Energy Future Earnings Per Share Growth

Risks

• The Minnesota Commission disallowed $46 million of replacement power costs, which could lead to future regulatory risks and impact earnings.
  
• Higher O&M expenses and increased costs from generation maintenance, damage prevention, wildfire mitigation, and storm expenses could place pressure on net margins.
  
• Rising interest charges and increased debt levels to fund capital investments suggest potential risks to earnings due to higher interest rates and debt servicing costs.
  
• Exposure to wildfire risks and the associated liabilities, despite ongoing mitigation efforts, could create financial volatility and impact net margins.
  
• Uncertain regulatory outcomes regarding wildfire claims and potential insurance recovery could lead to unexpected financial liabilities, affecting earnings forecasts.

Valuation

• The analysts have a consensus price target of $72.44 for Xcel Energy based on their expectations of its future earnings growth, profit margins and other risk factors. However, there is a degree of disagreement amongst analysts, with the most bullish reporting a price target of $80.0, and the most bearish reporting a price target of just $61.0.
• In order for you to agree with the analyst's consensus, you'd need to believe that by 2027, revenues will be $17.3 billion, earnings will come to $2.6 billion, and it would be trading on a PE ratio of 19.8x, assuming you use a discount rate of 5.9%.
• Given the current share price of $68.08, the analyst's price target of $72.44 is 6.0% higher. The relatively low difference between the current share price and the analyst consensus price target indicates that they believe on average, the company is fairly priced.
• We always encourage you to reach your own conclusions though. So sense check these analyst numbers against your own assumptions and expectations based on your understanding of the business and what you believe is probable.