Futures slip, bank earnings ahead, Powell to speak - what’s moving markets
Investing.com - Ladenburg Thalmann has upgraded WEC Energy Group (NYSE:WEC) from Neutral to Buy, citing growing demand from artificial intelligence and data centers. The stock, which has delivered an impressive 25.58% return year-to-date, currently trades near its 52-week high of $115.90. According to InvestingPro data, WEC maintains a "GOOD" overall financial health score.
The research firm raised its earnings per share (EPS) estimates for WEC Energy for the years 2026 through 2028, reflecting increased confidence in the utility company’s growth prospects.
Ladenburg Thalmann also introduced a 2029 EPS estimate of $6.97 for the energy provider, representing a four-year compound annual growth rate of 7.5%.
This projected growth rate exceeds WEC Energy’s own target EPS growth rate of 6.5% to 7%, suggesting the company may outperform its stated financial goals.
The upgrade highlights the emerging trend of energy companies benefiting from the power demands of expanding artificial intelligence infrastructure and data center operations across their service territories.
In other recent news, WEC Energy Group reported impressive financial results for the second quarter of 2025. The company achieved earnings per share of $0.76, surpassing the forecast of $0.72, and generated revenue of $2.01 billion, exceeding the anticipated $1.88 billion. Mizuho responded to these strong utility results by raising its price target for WEC Energy Group to $117, maintaining an Outperform rating. Meanwhile, KeyBanc reiterated its Overweight rating and set a price target of $110, following investor meetings with WEC’s management. Discussions during these meetings centered on datacenters and upcoming growth opportunities related to the company’s capital refresh. These developments indicate continued interest and confidence from analysts in WEC Energy Group’s future prospects.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.