WEC vs XEL: which was the better investment?
WEC Energy Group, Inc. against Xcel Energy Inc. on real daily total-return data — every dividend reinvested, from Mar 17, 1980 to Jul 13, 2026.
Set up your comparison
What are you comparing?
Pick one investment — or add several to build a portfolio.
Compare against
The benchmark your investment has to beat.
Time & money
When the money goes in, and how much.
Leave empty for earliest
Leave empty for today
0 for a one-time investment
Daily total-return data — dividends reinvested. Monthly additions buy on the first trading day.
Track your entire portfolio in one free Google Sheet
Enter your trades once and values update automatically. We'll send it straight to your inbox.
Related comparisons
Browse all match-ups on the comparison hub, build your own in the Compare Investments tool, or check a single asset's exact-date returns with the Investment Calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Did WEC beat XEL?
Yes — measured from Mar 17, 1980 to Jul 13, 2026 with dividends reinvested, WEC came out ahead: $2,570,316 versus $1,180,106 from a $10,000 start. That gap compounds from a 12.7% annual return against 10.8%.
What would $10,000 in WEC be worth today?
$10,000 invested in WEC Energy Group, Inc. (WEC) on Mar 17, 1980 would be worth about $2,570,316 as of Jul 13, 2026, a total return of 25603.2% (12.7% per year). The same $10,000 in XEL would be worth $1,180,106.
Which was riskier — WEC or XEL?
WEC swung with an annualized volatility of 19.3% and a worst peak-to-trough drop of -45.0%; XEL ran at 22.6% volatility with a -80.6% maximum drawdown. Risk-adjusted (Sharpe ratio), that is 0.56 for WEC vs 0.39 for XEL.
What data is this comparison based on?
Daily adjusted closing prices covering Mar 17, 1980 through Jul 13, 2026 — the full period where both assets have price history. Adjusted prices include dividends and splits, so these are total returns. The page refreshes with new market data every day.
Can I change the dates, amounts, or add monthly investing?
Yes — the interactive tool on this page is pre-loaded with WEC vs XEL. You can set any start and end date, change the starting amount, add monthly contributions, or build a multi-asset portfolio and compare it against any benchmark.