Xcel Energy Raises Dividend Amid Strong Growth and Expanding Power Demand
The hike marks Xcel Energy's 22nd consecutive year of dividend increases. CEO Bob Frenzel stated that the increase reflects the board's confidence in the utility's long-term growth strategy and continued operational excellence. The dividend boost follows strong Q1 2025 performance. The company posted $0.84 per share in earnings and invested $2.3 billion in energy infrastructure.
A close-up of an electrical power line with a bright blue sky in the background, highlighting the company's selection of electricity and natural gas services.
Frenzel said in the Q1 2025 earnings call that the company stares at immense growth opportunities as electric demand surges across its service territories. Xcel Energy anticipates needing to deliver between 15,000 and 29,000 megawatts of new generation by 2031 to serve customers. To that end, the company has obtained regulatory approvals for various projects, including a Minnesota settlement for nearly 5,000 megawatts of power generation.
Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL) is an American electric and natural gas utility company. It serves millions of customers (residential, commercial, and industrial) across eight US states.
While we acknowledge the potential of Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL) as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than XEL and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about the .
READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires.
Disclosure: None.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
23 minutes ago
- Yahoo
UMB Financial Corp (UMBF) Q2 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Strong Loan Growth and Strategic ...
Net Income: $215.4 million, including $13.5 million of acquisition expense. Net Operating Income: $225.4 million or $2.96 per share. Pre-Tax Gain on Investments: $37.7 million, including $29.4 million from Voyager technologies. Net Charge-Offs: $9 million or 13 basis points of average UMB loans. Non-Performing Loans Ratio: Improved by 2 basis points to 26 basis points. CET1 Ratio: 10.39%, a 28 basis point increase from March 31st. Average Loans Growth: Increased 12.7% to $36.4 billion. Average Deposits Growth: Increased 10.7% to $55.6 billion. Net Accretion to Net Interest Income: $42.2 million, with a 27 basis point margin benefit. Assets Under Administration: Grew to $543 billion in fund services, $600 billion in institutional banking. Credit and Debit Card Purchase Volumes: $5.6 billion, driving a 10.4% increase in fees. Operating Expenses: $23.4 million in acquisition-related amortization of intangibles. Preferred Stock Offering: Netting $294 million of Tier 1 capital. Effective Tax Rate: Expected between 19% and 21% for the full year 2025. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 2 Warning Sign with UMBF. Release Date: July 30, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Positive Points UMB Financial Corp (NASDAQ:UMBF) reported strong net income available for common shareholders of $215.4 million, with a significant pre-tax gain of $37.7 million from prior investments. The company achieved a notable 8 basis point expansion in net interest margin and double-digit balance sheet growth. Average loans increased by 12.7% to $36.4 billion, and average deposits rose by 10.7% to $55.6 billion, reflecting solid organic growth. UMB Financial Corp (NASDAQ:UMBF) successfully executed a pilot conversion of Heartland's Minnesota franchise, positioning well for a full conversion in October. The company completed an offering of Series B preferred stock, netting $294 million of Tier 1 capital, enhancing its capital position. Negative Points The company incurred $13.5 million in acquisition expenses, impacting overall net income. Total net charge-offs for the quarter were 17 basis points, with credit card charge-offs being a significant contributor. Operating expenses included $23.4 million in acquisition-related amortization of intangibles, adding to the cost burden. UMB Financial Corp (NASDAQ:UMBF) anticipates third-quarter operating expenses to be slightly higher, driven by merit increases and incentive accruals. The cost of interest-bearing deposits remained flat, but total deposit costs increased, reflecting a mixed shift. Q & A Highlights Q: Can you provide more details on the significant loan growth this quarter and how much of it is attributed to Heartland? A: Mariner Kemper, Chairman and CEO, explained that the loan growth aligns with expectations, with strong production from both Heartland and UMB's legacy team. The quarter saw nearly $2 billion in top-line production, and similar numbers are expected in the next quarter across all categories and regions. Q: How are you managing the alignment of the UMB and Heartland portfolios, and what impact do you expect from payoffs and paydowns? A: Mariner Kemper noted that while some credits may not align with UMB's standards and could be phased out, the overall impact on the balance sheet will be immaterial. The focus is on maintaining a stable payoff level on a combined basis. Q: What is the expected impact of the HSA changes under the new budget bill on long-term growth in deposits and fees? A: Jim Rine, President and CEO of UMB Bank, stated that while the changes could open up eligibility to around 7 million more people, the impact is expected to be marginal. The company is prepared to provide education to newly eligible individuals but does not anticipate a significant windfall. Q: How should we think about expense growth after the integration of Heartland, and what are the expectations for cost savings? A: Ram Shankar, CFO, mentioned that the second phase of cost savings from the Heartland transaction will occur in the fourth and first quarters. The focus is on achieving positive operating leverage, and while specific expense growth rates are not provided, the company aims to achieve all targeted cost savings from the transaction. Q: Can you elaborate on the credit quality at Heartland and the expected path for non-performing loans (NPLs) and net charge-offs (NCOs)? A: Mariner Kemper indicated that NPLs have started to decrease and are expected to continue improving month over month. The company anticipates that charge-offs will remain at or near historical averages for the second half of the year, reflecting confidence in the portfolio's performance. Q: What are you seeing in terms of deposit competition, and how do you expect deposit pricing to evolve? A: Mariner Kemper explained that commercial and institutional deposits are competitive but manageable, with growth possible at institutional money market rates. The consumer segment has seen 1% to 2% growth, and with an expanded branch network and marketing campaigns, UMB expects to capture more consumer deposits. Q: Are there any synergies being realized on the fee revenue side from the HTLF acquisition? A: Mariner Kemper noted that while it's early, there is positive momentum with activities such as credit card sales and mortgage loan applications. The company anticipates more opportunities for corporate trust referrals, with energy levels and pipelines building. Q: How is the Heartland team contributing to balance sheet growth, and is there more capacity for growth? A: Mariner Kemper stated that the Heartland team is just beginning to show its potential, with significant opportunities for future contributions to balance sheet growth. The current results are only the start of what the team can achieve. Q: What is the outlook for the core margin, and how might it be affected by potential Fed rate cuts? A: Ram Shankar explained that the core margin is expected to remain flat in the third quarter. If the Fed cuts rates, it could positively impact the margin as indexed deposits would reprice down. The company is prepared for various scenarios, with fixed asset repricing and other factors providing potential tailwinds. Q: How sustainable is the growth rate in fund services revenue, and what are the prospects for this business line? A: Mariner Kemper expressed confidence in the fund services business, citing strong client service ratings and a robust technology stack. The business benefits from industry disruption and a strong pipeline, with expectations for continued growth driven by both existing client success and new business acquisition. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data


Boston Globe
24 minutes ago
- Boston Globe
Thailand and Cambodia reach Trump trade deals, US official says
Thailand and Cambodia were both facing a potential tariff rate of 36% on their goods to the United States, which is one of the largest export markets for both countries. They have been rushing to avert the steep tariffs before a deadline Friday, especially after neighboring Indonesia and the Philippines secured rates of 19% and Vietnam 20%. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up The senior Cambodian official involved in the negotiations said Cambodia would be pleased if the rate was 15%. The official said that Prime Minister Hun Manet had asked Trump for 'a good tariff so we can rebuild our economy because Cambodia had been at war for decades and only obtained peace in 1998.' Advertisement Trump 'acknowledged and understood,' said the official, citing information from Hun Manet. As part of the deal, Cambodia has offered to improve market access to American goods and buy 10 Boeing planes, with the option to buy 10 more, according to the official. Advertisement On Saturday, Trump said he told the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia that he would stop negotiating with them on trade if they did not agree to a ceasefire. After a truce was reached in Malaysia on Monday, Trump called the leaders of both countries and told his trade team to restart talks. Pichai said negotiators had proposed to the Trump administration 'conditions acceptable to Thailand, with the goal of protecting the country's best interests.' This article originally appeared in
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Microsoft, Meta surge after blowout results
LONDON (Reuters) -Shares in artificial intelligence heavyweights Microsoft and Meta Platforms both surged in European trading on Thursday, after blowout quarterly results after-market on Wednesday. Meta shares surged 12.2% in Frankfurt after it forecast quarterly revenue well ahead of Wall Street expectations. Microsoft shares jumped 9%, as surging Azure cloud computing revenue above analysts' expectations, showcasing the growing return on its AI bets. The jump in shares lifted futures on Wall Street, with S&P futures up 1% and futures on the technology-heavy Nasdaq up 1.3%.