Minneapolis-based Xcel Energy Inc. XEL recorded first-quarter operating earnings of 47 cents per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate and the year-ago earnings by a penny.Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) Street EPS & Surprise Percent - Last 5 Quarters | FindTheCompanyTotal RevenueXcel Energy’s first-quarter revenues of $2,772.3 million lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3,030 million by 8.5%. Revenues decreased 6.4% year over year due to lower contribution from its Electrical and Natural Gas segments.Segment RevenueElectric: Revenues decreased 1.8% year over year to $2,185.1 million.Natural Gas: Quarterly revenues decreased 21.0% to nearly $565.7 million.Other: Segment revenues of $21.5 million in the reported quarter increased 0.5% from the year-ago period.Quarterly HighlightsTotal operating expenses decreased 12.6% year over year to $2,282.4 million. Costs shrunk primarily due to lower cost of natural gas sold and transported and reduced expenses from electric fuel and purchased power.Operating income in the reported quarter increased 39.6% year over year to $489.9 million.Financial HighlightsTotal debt as of Mar 31, 2016, was $14 billion, out of which long-term debt was $13.1 billion.2016 GuidanceXcel Energy maintained the 2016 operating earnings guidance in the range of $2.12–$2.27 per share and projects long-term earnings growth of 4–6% per year.Xcel Energy expects retail electric utility sales to grow 0.5% and natural gas sales to remain flat.Peer ReleasesNiSource Inc. NI reported first-quarter 2016 operating earnings of 60 cents per share, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 58 cents by 3.4%.PPL Corporation PPL reported first-quarter 2016 adjusted earnings of 67 cents per share, falling short of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 75 cents by 10.7%.Edison International EIX reported first-quarter 2016 results, wherein adjusted earnings of 82 cents per share came in below of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 89 cents by 7.9%.Zacks RankXcel Energy currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report XCEL ENERGY INC (XEL): Free Stock Analysis Report NISOURCE INC (NI): Free Stock Analysis Report EDISON INTL (EIX): Free Stock Analysis Report PPL CORP (PPL): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here.