Head-To-Head Comparison: Alternus Clean Energy (NASDAQ:ALCE) versus Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL)

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL) and Alternus Clean Energy (NASDAQ:ALCE) are both utilities companies, but which is the better stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, institutional ownership, valuation, earnings, dividends, analyst recommendations and risk.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Xcel Energy and Alternus Clean Energy’s gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Xcel Energy	$14.21 billion	2.09	$1.77 billion	$3.33	16.04
Alternus Clean Energy	$20.08 million	1.49	-$69.46 million	N/A	N/A

Xcel Energy has higher revenue and earnings than Alternus Clean Energy.

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for Xcel Energy and Alternus Clean Energy, as provided by MarketBeat.com.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Xcel Energy	0	5	6	0	2.55
Alternus Clean Energy	0	0	0	0	N/A

Xcel Energy presently has a consensus price target of $62.00, suggesting a potential upside of 16.08%. Given Xcel Energy’s higher probable upside, research analysts clearly believe Xcel Energy is more favorable than Alternus Clean Energy.

Profitability

This table compares Xcel Energy and Alternus Clean Energy’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Xcel Energy	13.36%	11.03%	3.02%
Alternus Clean Energy	N/A	N/A	N/A

Risk & Volatility

Xcel Energy has a beta of 0.38, indicating that its share price is 62% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Alternus Clean Energy has a beta of -0.58, indicating that its share price is 158% less volatile than the S&P 500.

Insider & Institutional Ownership

78.4% of Xcel Energy shares are held by institutional investors. 0.1% of Xcel Energy shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 24.3% of Alternus Clean Energy shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, hedge funds and large money managers believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.

Summary

Xcel Energy beats Alternus Clean Energy on 10 of the 11 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Xcel Energy

Xcel Energy Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, purchasing, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity. It operates through Regulated Electric Utility, Regulated Natural Gas Utility, and All Other segments. The company generates electricity through wind, nuclear, hydroelectric, biomass, and solar energy sources, as well as coal, natural gas, oil, wood, and refuse-derived fuels. It also purchases, transports, distributes, and sells natural gas to retail customers, as well as transports customer-owned natural gas. In addition, the company develops and leases natural gas pipelines, and storage and compression facilities; and invests in rental housing projects and nonregulated assets, as well as procures equipment for the construction of renewable generation facilities. It serves residential, commercial, and industrial customers in the portions of Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin. The company was incorporated in 1909 and is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

About Alternus Clean Energy

Alternus Energy Group Plc operates as an international vertically integrated independent power producer. It owns, develops, installs, and operates midsized utility scale solar parks. The company was incorporated in 2019 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.