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On Thursday, Barclays (LON:BARC) analysts upgraded OGE Energy (NYSE: NYSE:OGE) stock from Equalweight to Overweight, raising the price target to $47 from $45. The analysts cited recent legislative developments as a key factor in their decision, noting improvements in OGE’s ability to accelerate its capital expenditure program. With a market capitalization of $8.8 billion and a PEG ratio of 0.83, InvestingPro data suggests the stock is trading at an attractive valuation relative to its growth potential.
The analysts highlighted the impact of SB 998 legislation, which they believe enhances OGE’s capacity to expedite its CapEx initiatives. This legislative change is expected to result in less frequent rate filings and better cash recovery for large gas investments in the latter half of the decade. The analysts expressed confidence following a recent meeting with OGE management in New York City. InvestingPro data reveals the company’s strong dividend history, having maintained payments for 55 consecutive years and raised dividends for 18 straight years, currently offering a 3.85% yield.
OGE shares have underperformed compared to the XLU index, declining by 6.25% since the company’s first-quarter earnings call on April 30. Despite trading at a 17% price-to-earnings premium to small-cap peers, the analysts noted that OGE’s premium is only about 7% compared to large-cap counterparts. They also emphasized the company’s strong balance sheet and absence of major general rate case risks for the remainder of 2025. According to InvestingPro data, the stock has shown resilience with an 8.21% year-to-date return and impressive revenue growth of 15.56% over the last twelve months.
Looking ahead, the analysts are optimistic about OGE’s growth prospects in the second half of 2025. They anticipate positive data points indicating an acceleration of regulated asset base (RAB) growth, which could increase from the current 7.5% to 9.5% based on announced and pending projects. They also see potential for earnings per share (EPS) growth, with every $1 billion of incremental CapEx potentially powering 400 megawatts of new load, translating to a 3-4% lift in long-term EPS. The company’s current P/E ratio stands at 18.61x, with analysts forecasting continued profitability for the year ahead.
The analysts concluded that OGE Energy stands out as one of the few small-cap companies in their coverage with a tangible earnings revision thesis, bolstered by recent legislative changes.
In other recent news, OGE Energy has reported a strong performance for the first quarter of 2025, with net income rising to $63 million from $19 million in the same period last year. The company’s earnings per share (EPS) stood at $0.31, surpassing the consensus estimate of $0.23. OGE Energy has reaffirmed its full-year EPS guidance range of $2.21 to $2.33, indicating confidence in its financial outlook. Mizuho (NYSE:MFG) Securities has responded to these results by raising its price target for OGE Energy from $44.00 to $45.00, while maintaining a Neutral rating on the stock.
Meanwhile, Jefferies has reiterated an Underperform rating with a $52.00 price target, highlighting the company’s strategic focus on new generation capacities and regulatory developments. At the company’s recent annual meeting, OGE Energy elected its board of directors and maintained its dividend, declaring a third-quarter dividend of $0.42125 per share. The company continues to focus on grid reliability and customer growth, with ongoing discussions about data center projects, including a notable partnership with Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL). Moody’s has recently downgraded the outlook on OGE Energy’s balance sheet, but the company remains committed to strengthening its financial position through strategic initiatives and regulatory filings.
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