Minneapolis, MN-based Xcel Energy Inc. XEL firm has made a mark of its own in the electric utility space through its widespread operations and a solid customer base. The company currently operates primarily through its regulated utilities which lend a long-term growth potential.However, considering the nature of this industry, electric and natural gas utility businesses are impacted by changes in weather patterns which, in turn, weigh on their performance. In addition fluctuating commodity prices could also lead to more volatility in earnings.Estimate Trend & Surprise HistoryInvestors should note that the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the first quarter of 46 cents per share has decreased by 11.5% over the last 90 days.Coming to the earnings surprise, Xcel Energy has surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in just one of the trailing four quarters. This led to an average negative surprise of 1.38%.Zacks Rank: The company currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) but going further things could definitely change given the company’s recently released first quarter earnings results.Going below we have mentioned some of the vital information from this just-revealed announcement:Earnings: Xcel Energy beats on earnings in the first quarter. Our consensus called for EPS of 46 cents while the company reported EPS of 47 cents.Revenue: The Company lagged the revenue estimates in the reported quarter. Xcel Energy posted revenues of $2,772.3 million in the quarter, compared with Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3,030 million.Stock Price: It would be interesting to see how the market reacts to the positive earnings surprise during the trading session today.Check back later for our full write up on this Xcel Energy earnings 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 >> 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 To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research