Xcel Energy: A Potential AI Data-Center Play With A Wildfire Overhang

  • Xcel Energy is a diversified utility with strong AI data center growth prospects, but recent wildfire litigation clouds near-term outlook. Despite a solid long-term track record, XEL has underperformed utilities sector peers over the last five years and posted a rather lackluster Q1 earnings report in April. I rate XEL a HOLD due to ongoing legal risks and limited upside, but see it as a watch-list candidate for opportunistic entry on pullbacks.