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Motley Fool CAPSto monitor the collective opinions of
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demonstrate better investing insight than published analysts
do.
After spending most of the past six months at a
less-than-enviable three-star
rank, enough top-performing CAPS members have turned
bullish on
Xcel Energy (NYSE: XEL) recently to upgrade
it back to
four
stars. A total of 290 members have given their opinion on
Xcel Energy, with many of them offering analysis and
commentary explaining the recent optimism.
The recession brought lower electricity demand for
utilities like Xcel Energy and a supply glut for thermal coal
for producers like
Consol Energy (NYSE: CNX) and
Patriot Coal (NYSE: PCX). But while
mixed signals on demandhas left many investors puzzled,
CAPS members are optimistic about future demand going into
the winter months, and investors look for Xcel to benefit
from increasing long term power demand. Xcel is one of the
largest gas and electric utilities in the U.S., and investors
generally like the growth opportunities it sees in Xcel's
portfolio of renewable energy.
In April the company signed a deal with
SunPower (Nasdaq: SPWRA) to build a solar
plant in Colorado that will be the second-largest
high-efficiency solar PV power plant in North America and
part of a
fast growing solar utility market. Xcel also recently
received approval from regulators in Minnesota and North
Dakota for wind projects that will expand its renewable
presence and utilize turbines from
General Electric (NYSE: GE). CAPS members
like the
big potential locked in alternative energyand happily
take the two-fer of Xcel's healthy dividend similar to others
like
Progress Energy (NYSE: PGN) and
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK).
Do you think Xcel Energy deserves its raised status? Add
your thoughts in the comments box below on this page, or head
over to CAPS to
rate the
companyand check out all the information and opinions the
community offers, absolutely free.
This article was originally published as
A Big Upgrade for Xcel Energyon
Fool.com
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