DUK vs XEL: Duke Energy and Xcel Energy compared
The short version
From the latest prices and each company's SEC filings. Who's ahead on each measure, not which to buy.
- Duke Energy is the larger company, worth $91.4B, about 2.0 times Xcel Energy.
- Duke Energy grew revenue faster over the last year (+11.3% vs -5.1%).
- Duke Energy keeps more of each dollar of revenue as operating profit (27.2% vs 19.1%).
- On earnings, Duke Energy is the cheaper stock (18.0x vs 21.2x).
Side by side
The stronger figure is shaded where higher (or, for valuation multiples, lower) reads as better. How the implied growth works.
| Measure | DUK | XEL |
|---|---|---|
| Market cap | $91.4B | $46.0B |
| Share price | $116.65 | $73.78 |
| Revenue (last fiscal year) | $32.2B | $14.7B |
| Free cash flow (last fiscal year) | -$1.7B | -$6.8B |
| Revenue growth, last year | +11.3% | -5.1% |
| Revenue growth per year, last 5 fiscal years | +7.0% | +2.2% |
| Operating margin | 27.2% | 19.1% |
| Net margin | 15.5% | 15.3% |
| Return on equity | 9.4% | 9.3% |
| P/E (trailing) | 18.0x | 21.2x |
| Price / free cash flow | — | 8.75x |
| EV / EBITDA | 10.7x | 12.7x |
| FCF growth the price implies | — | — |
| Dividend yield | 3.7% | 3.2% |
| Debt / equity | 2.60x | 2.62x |
| Fundamental grade | C | D |
| Superinvestors holding it | 4 | 5 |
| Insider purchases, last 12 months | 2 | 4 |
Results from SEC filings
Revenue and free cash flow by fiscal year, from each company's 10-K filings.
Duke Energy
| Year | Revenue | Free cash flow | Op. margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $24.6B | -$1.4B | 22.3% |
| 2022 | $28.8B | -$5.4B | 20.9% |
| 2023 | $29.1B | -$2.7B | 24.3% |
| 2024 | $30.4B | $48M | 26.1% |
| 2025 | $32.2B | -$1.7B | 26.8% |
Xcel Energy
| Year | Revenue | Free cash flow | Op. margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $13.4B | -$2.1B | 16.4% |
| 2022 | $15.3B | -$706M | 15.9% |
| 2023 | $14.2B | -$527M | 17.5% |
| 2024 | $13.4B | -$2.7B | 17.8% |
| 2025 | $14.7B | -$6.8B | 17.6% |
Where the revenue comes from
Duke Energy · by segments, 2025
Electric Utilities and Infrastructure$28.9B91%
Gas Utilities and Infrastructure$2.9B9%
Other$28M0%
Xcel Energy · by segments, 2018
Regulated Electric$9.7B84%
Regulated Natural Gas$1.7B15%
All Other$79M1%
Compare them in fullFifteen years of statements, quarterly results, DCF and IRR models, and any number of peers side by side.
Open DUK in InvestinglyQuestions
Which is bigger, Duke Energy or Xcel Energy?
Duke Energy (DUK), at $91.4B against $46.0B.
Is DUK or XEL cheaper?
By trailing P/E, Duke Energy (18.0x) is cheaper than Xcel Energy (21.2x). A lower multiple can also mean the market expects less growth.
Which grows faster, DUK or XEL?
Duke Energy: revenue grew +11.3% over the last year, against -5.1%.
Prices and ratios as of the last daily update; statements from SEC filings. Information only, not investment advice.