SmarterDividends
XEL

Xcel Energy (XEL) Dividend

22 yrs growth

Xcel Energy Inc. · Utilities · Utilities - Regulated Electric · quarterly payer

$79.91

Fairly valued · +1% Add to Portfolio

As of Nov 5, 2026, Xcel Energy (XEL) pays a quarterly dividend of $0.5930 per share, or $2.37 a year, a 2.94% yield at its $79.91 share price. It pays every quarter, usually in January, April, July and October. It has raised its dividend 22 years in a row and has a dividend safety grade of A.

Forward Yield

2.94%

Annual Dividend

$2.37

Payout Ratio

55%

5-Yr Growth

5.6%

Ex-Date

Sep 15, 2026

Frequency

Quarterly

Key facts about XEL's dividend

Data as of · Source: SmarterDividends data

  • As of Nov 5, 2026, Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) has a forward dividend yield of 2.94%, based on an annual dividend of $2.37 per share and a share price of $79.91.
  • As of Nov 5, 2026, XEL's dividend safety grade from SmarterDividends is A (89 out of 100), which rates the dividend as very safe.
  • By SmarterDividends' count, Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) has raised its dividend for 22 consecutive years as of Nov 5, 2026.
  • XEL last cut its regular dividend in 2003.
  • XEL's most recent ex-dividend date was Sep 15, 2026, for a dividend of $0.59 per share.
  • As of Nov 5, 2026, XEL pays out 55% of its trailing 12-month earnings as dividends (its payout ratio).
  • XEL's dividend has grown at an average rate of 5.6% a year over the past five years.
  • As of Nov 5, 2026, SmarterDividends' blended fair-value estimate for XEL is $80.44 per share, 1% above the $79.91 share price, so XEL screens as fairly valued.
  • Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) pays its dividend quarterly, 4 times a year.
  • Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) has raised its regular dividend 40 times and cut it 2 times across the 167 payments on record since 1973. Its most recent change was a 4.0% increase to $0.593 per share, going ex-dividend on Mar 13, 2026. The last cut went ex-dividend on Oct 3, 2002.
  • Xcel Energy (XEL) has declared its first higher dividend of the year in February in 5 of the last 5 years; its most recent raise, 4.0%, was declared on Feb 25, 2026.
Cite this page

SmarterDividends, "XEL Dividend: Yield, Safety Grade & Next Ex-Date," updated Nov 5, 2026, https://smarterdividends.com/stocks/XEL

Is XEL a good dividend stock?

Yes

Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) pays a quarterly dividend yielding 2.94% ($2.37/yr), with 22 years of growth and a dividend-safety grade of A. It scores well across payout coverage, growth history and safety — a dependable income holding.

Advantages

  • 22 consecutive years of dividend growth
  • Comfortable payout ratio (55%)
  • Strong 5.6% 5-yr dividend growth
  • Top-tier dividend safety score

Risks

  • Cut its dividend in 2003

Key Data

Dividend Yield
2.94%
Payout Ratio
55%
Annual Dividend
$2.37
5-Yr Avg Growth
5.6%
Ex-Dividend Date
Sep 15, 2026
Years of Growth
22
Frequency
quarterly
Beta
0.34
Market Cap
$51.3B
P/E Ratio
18.6
5-Yr Total Return
25%
52-Week Range
$68.72 – $84.23
Dividend Safety
A · 89/100
Ever Cut?
Yes (2003)

XEL dividend raises and cuts

Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) has raised its regular dividend 40 times and cut it 2 times across the 167 payments on record since 1973. Its most recent change was a 4.0% increase to $0.593 per share, going ex-dividend on Mar 13, 2026. The last cut went ex-dividend on Oct 3, 2002.

Ex-dateChangeOld → newMove
Mar 13, 2026Raise$0.570 → $0.593+4.0%
Mar 14, 2025Raise$0.548 → $0.570+4.0%
Mar 14, 2024Raise$0.520 → $0.548+5.4%
Mar 14, 2023Raise$0.488 → $0.520+6.6%
Mar 14, 2022Raise$0.458 → $0.488+6.6%
Mar 12, 2021Raise$0.430 → $0.458+6.5%
Mar 12, 2020Raise$0.405 → $0.430+6.2%
Mar 14, 2019Raise$0.380 → $0.405+6.6%
Mar 14, 2018Raise$0.360 → $0.380+5.6%
Mar 13, 2017Raise$0.340 → $0.360+5.9%
Mar 11, 2016Raise$0.320 → $0.340+6.3%
Mar 13, 2015Raise$0.300 → $0.320+6.7%
Show all 42 changes since 1986
Ex-dateChangeOld → newMove
Mar 18, 2014Raise$0.280 → $0.300+7.1%
Jun 18, 2013Raise$0.270 → $0.280+3.7%
Jun 19, 2012Raise$0.260 → $0.270+3.8%
Jun 21, 2011Raise$0.253 → $0.260+2.8%
Jun 22, 2010Raise$0.245 → $0.253+3.3%
Jun 23, 2009Raise$0.238 → $0.245+2.9%
Jun 24, 2008Raise$0.230 → $0.238+3.5%
Jun 26, 2007Raise$0.223 → $0.230+3.1%
Jun 27, 2006Raise$0.215 → $0.223+3.7%
Jun 28, 2005Raise$0.208 → $0.215+3.4%
Jun 30, 2004Raise$0.188 → $0.208+10.6%
Oct 3, 2002Cut$0.375 → $0.188−49.9%
Dec 28, 2000Raise$0.218 → $0.375+72.0%
Oct 4, 2000Raise$0.159 → $0.218+37.1%
Aug 21, 2000Cut$0.368 → $0.159−56.8%
Jul 11, 2000Raise$0.363 → $0.368+1.4%
Jul 6, 1999Raise$0.358 → $0.363+1.4%
Jul 7, 1998Raise$0.353 → $0.358+1.6%
Jul 7, 1997Raise$0.345 → $0.353+2.2%
Jul 9, 1996Raise$0.338 → $0.345+2.2%
Jul 11, 1995Raise$0.330 → $0.338+2.3%
Jul 1, 1994Raise$0.323 → $0.330+2.3%
Jul 1, 1993Raise$0.315 → $0.323+2.4%
Jul 2, 1992Raise$0.303 → $0.315+4.1%
Jul 5, 1991Raise$0.290 → $0.303+4.3%
Jul 3, 1990Raise$0.278 → $0.290+4.5%
Jul 3, 1989Raise$0.265 → $0.278+4.7%
Jun 28, 1988Raise$0.253 → $0.265+5.0%
Jun 25, 1987Raise$0.238 → $0.253+6.3%
Jun 26, 1986Raise$0.220 → $0.238+8.0%
XEL ex-dividend date & scheduleNext ex-date Sep 15, 2026 · full ex-dividend historyView →XEL dividend historyEvery payment, totals by year, raises and cutsView →XEL dividend calculator100 shares pay $237.00 a year, $59.25 each quarterCalculate →XEL total return calculatorWhat $10,000 became, with dividends reinvested or taken as cashSee →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is XEL a good dividend stock?

Yes. Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) pays a quarterly dividend yielding 2.94% ($2.37/yr), with 22 years of growth and a dividend-safety grade of A. It scores well across payout coverage, growth history and safety — a dependable income holding.

Is XEL undervalued?

Based on a blend of discounted cash flow, a dividend-discount model and an earnings-multiple estimate, XEL's fair value is about $80.44 versus a $79.91 share price — so it looks fairly valued (+1% vs. fair value).

Is XEL's dividend safe?

XEL has a dividend-safety grade of A (89/100), based on its payout coverage, free-cash-flow, 22-year growth streak, a dividend cut in 2003, debt and yield-versus-history.

What is XEL's fair value?

Our blended fair-value estimate for XEL is about $80.44 per share, roughly 1% above the current $79.91 price — combining a discounted cash flow, a dividend-discount model and an earnings multiple.

Is XEL a buy, hold, or sell?

We don't issue formal ratings, but on the data XEL screens as "yes" and fairly valued. Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) pays a quarterly dividend yielding 2.94% ($2.37/yr), with 22 years of growth and a dividend-safety grade of A. It scores well across payout coverage, growth history and safety — a dependable income holding. This is research for your own analysis, not investment advice.

Will XEL cut its dividend?

XEL earns a dividend-safety grade of A (89/100), and has cut its dividend before (last in 2003). A higher score means lower cut risk based on payout coverage, cash flow and history — but no score guarantees a dividend.

Does XEL pay a dividend?

Yes. Xcel Energy Inc. pays a quarterly dividend of about $2.37 per share annually, a forward yield of roughly 2.94%.

How much dividend does 100 shares of XEL pay?

At $2.37 per share a year, 100 shares of XEL pay $237.00 a year in dividends before tax, about $59.25 each quarter. Buying them costs about $7,991 at the Nov 5, 2026 price.

What is XEL's dividend yield?

As of Nov 5, 2026, XEL's forward dividend yield is 2.94%, based on a $2.37 annual dividend and a $79.91 share price.

What is XEL's dividend per share?

As of Nov 5, 2026, XEL pays $2.37 per share per year, distributed on a quarterly basis.

What is XEL's dividend payout ratio?

As of Nov 5, 2026, XEL's payout ratio is 55% of trailing 12-month earnings — a comfortable level that leaves room to keep raising the dividend.

How many years has XEL grown its dividend?

As of Nov 5, 2026, XEL has increased its dividend for 22 consecutive years.

When is the next XEL ex-dividend date?

As of Nov 5, 2026, XEL's next ex-dividend date hasn't been announced. The most recent was Sep 15, 2026, for $0.59 per share.