Xcel Energy names Ryan Long as chief legal and compliance officer

MINNEAPOLIS - Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL), a $38.6 billion utility company whose stock has delivered a robust 30% return over the past year, has appointed Ryan Long as executive vice president and chief legal and compliance officer, effective immediately, according to a company press release issued Monday.

Long, who currently serves as president of Xcel Energy’s Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota operations, replaces Rob Berntsen, who has accepted a position outside the company. According to InvestingPro data, Xcel Energy maintains a FAIR financial health rating and has consistently paid dividends for 54 consecutive years, demonstrating strong corporate governance.

In his new role, Long will oversee the utility’s legal, compliance, and federal affairs teams. He will continue to manage the Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota jurisdiction while the company conducts a search for his replacement in that position.

Long previously served as interim general counsel in late 2023 and early 2024. He joined Xcel Energy in 2015 as a principal attorney and was promoted to vice president and deputy general counsel in May 2021, where he managed the Federal and State Regulatory, Environmental and Real Estate legal teams.

Before joining Xcel Energy, Long worked as an attorney at Faegre Baker Daniels (now Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath) in Minneapolis and at Cravath, Swaine & Moore in New York City. He currently serves on the board of directors of the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis.

"Ryan has an extensive legal background as well as demonstrating tremendous leadership in strategic planning, operational considerations and financial results in his current role as president," said Bob Frenzel, Xcel Energy’s chairman, president and CEO, in the press release.

Xcel Energy provides electricity and natural gas services to customers across eight states: Minnesota, Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, New Mexico, and Texas. Analysts maintain a positive outlook on the company, with multiple upward earnings revisions for the upcoming period. For detailed analysis and additional insights, including Fair Value estimates and comprehensive financial metrics, check out the full research report available on InvestingPro.

In other recent news, Xcel Energy announced a quarterly dividend of 57 cents per share, demonstrating its commitment to returning value to shareholders. This dividend is payable on July 20, 2025, to shareholders on record as of June 13, 2025. Meanwhile, Mizuho Securities raised its price target for Xcel Energy to $74, maintaining an Outperform rating, despite the company’s first-quarter earnings falling short of analyst expectations. The earnings per share were reported at $0.84, below the consensus estimate of $0.92, with Mizuho attributing the shortfall to timing issues expected to be resolved later in the year. Additionally, Evercore ISI also adjusted its price target for Xcel Energy, increasing it to $77 and maintaining an Outperform rating. This adjustment reflects a detailed scenario analysis of potential wildfire liabilities, with a base case target incorporating various risk assessments. In corporate governance news, Xcel Energy shareholders approved executive compensation and ratified the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent auditor. These developments highlight a period of active financial and operational management for Xcel Energy.

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