Is AEP or XEL cheaper?

On trailing earnings, AEP is cheaper: AEP trades at a 19.09 P/E and XEL at 22.63.

Which has grown faster, AEP or XEL?

Over the past five years, AEP grew revenue faster — AEP at a 7.51% CAGR versus XEL at 3.82%.

Does AEP or XEL pay a bigger dividend?

AEP yields 2.93% and XEL yields 2.19% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.

Is AEP or XEL more profitable?

AEP runs the higher net margin — AEP at 16.49% versus XEL at 14.14%.

Which has been the better investment, AEP or XEL?

Over the past 10-year, AEP delivered the higher annualized total return — AEP at 10.61% versus XEL at 9.68%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

American Electric Power Company, Inc. (AEP) vs Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL)

AEP leads on 13 of 15 compared metrics.

A side-by-side comparison of American Electric Power Company, Inc. and Xcel Energy Inc. across valuation, profitability, dividends, and growth — built entirely from reported fundamentals, as of June 13, 2026. The ● marks the stronger figure on each row (cheaper multiple, higher margin/return).

AEP

American Electric Power Company, Inc.

Total return — AEP vs XEL

growth of $100 · last 30y

AEP +221.1%XEL +243.5%XEL compounded faster

AEP XEL

AEP vs XEL: by the numbers

•AEP is the larger company ($70.31B vs $49.45B market cap).
•AEP trades at the lower earnings multiple (19.09 vs 22.63 P/E).
•AEP converts more revenue to profit (16.49% vs 14.14% net margin).
•AEP grew revenue faster over the past five years (7.51% vs 3.82% CAGR).
•AEP pays the higher dividend yield (2.93% vs 2.19%).

Which is better, AEP or XEL?

Metric tally: AEP 13 · XEL 2

It depends on what you're optimizing for:

ValueAEP(lower P/E)

GrowthAEP(faster 5Y revenue CAGR)

IncomeAEP(higher dividend yield)

QualityAEP(higher ROIC)

Valuation

Metric	AEP	XEL
P/E ratio	19.09●	22.63
Forward P/E	18.86	17.45●
P/S ratio	3.19●	3.35
P/B ratio	2.22	2.08●
PEG ratio	0.88●	5.39
EV / EBITDA	14.05	13.77
FCF yield	8.73%	—

Profitability

Metric	AEP	XEL
Gross margin	40.39%●	18.91%
Operating margin	23.47%●	19.85%
Net margin	16.49%●	14.14%
ROE	11.49%●	8.78%
ROIC	4.71%●	3.77%

Dividends

Metric	AEP	XEL
Dividend yield	2.93%●	2.19%
Payout ratio	56.76%	50.36%

Growth (annualized)

Metric	AEP	XEL
Revenue CAGR (5Y)	7.51%●	3.82%
EPS CAGR (5Y)	8.45%●	4.20%
FCF CAGR (5Y)	38.55%●	-15.80%
Total return CAGR (5Y)	12.78%●	5.94%

Frequently asked

Which is better, AEP or XEL?: It depends on your goal. value: AEP (lower P/E); growth: AEP (faster 5Y revenue CAGR); income: AEP (higher dividend yield); quality: AEP (higher ROIC). Across all compared metrics, AEP leads 13 to 2.
Is AEP or XEL cheaper?: On trailing earnings, AEP is cheaper: AEP trades at a 19.09 P/E and XEL at 22.63.
Which has grown faster, AEP or XEL?: Over the past five years, AEP grew revenue faster — AEP at a 7.51% CAGR versus XEL at 3.82%.
Does AEP or XEL pay a bigger dividend?: AEP yields 2.93% and XEL yields 2.19% based on trailing dividends and the latest price.
Is AEP or XEL more profitable?: AEP runs the higher net margin — AEP at 16.49% versus XEL at 14.14%.
Which has been the better investment, AEP or XEL?: Over the past 10-year, AEP delivered the higher annualized total return — AEP at 10.61% versus XEL at 9.68%. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

Go deeper

Full AEP analysis Full XEL analysis Interactive comparison tool

Dig into the metrics

American Electric Power P/E ratio Xcel Energy P/E ratio American Electric Power dividend yield Xcel Energy dividend yield American Electric Power ROE Xcel Energy ROE American Electric Power operating margin Xcel Energy operating margin American Electric Power revenue growth Xcel Energy revenue growth American Electric Power free cash flow Xcel Energy free cash flow

American Electric Power & Xcel Energy appear in these rankings

Highest Dividend Yield Stocks Highest FCF Yield Stocks

Figures are sourced from reported fundamentals and the latest end-of-day price. This comparison is informational only and is not investment advice. Past performance does not predict future results. See our methodology. Compiled by TGMCharts Research · data verified June 13, 2026.