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On Monday, UBS analysts provided an update on the North American Power and Utilities sector, revealing a positive outlook on capital expenditures (capex) and rate base growth. Leading utility provider Entergy Corporation (NYSE:ETR), with its $36.12 billion market capitalization and $11.88 billion in annual revenue, exemplifies the sector’s robust fundamentals. According to InvestingPro data, ETR has demonstrated strong market performance with a 68.51% return over the past year. The comprehensive review of annual reports (10-Ks) indicates that utility companies are expected to increase their capex budgets by 15%, amounting to an additional $124 billion over the next five years, compared to a 14% increase in 2024.
The report suggests that the increase in capex will drive rate base growth to an average of 8.9%, up from 8.1% in 2024. The sector is anticipated to experience a particularly strong surge in growth capex in 2025, with a projected increase of 29%. Utility companies are considered to be well capitalized to support this growth, maintaining average credit ratings of BBB/Baa2. For instance, ETR has maintained dividend payments for 38 consecutive years, reflecting strong financial stability despite its current ratio of 0.72. Moreover, customer affordability remains stable, with utility costs accounting for a reasonable 1% of disposable income. Discover more insights about ETR and other utilities in InvestingPro’s comprehensive Research Reports, covering 1,400+ top stocks.
The steady rise in investment opportunities for utilities is attributed to a higher forecast for sales growth. The Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) short-term energy outlook, released earlier this month, predicts a 2-3% increase in sales for 2025 and 2026. This prospect is expected to contribute to an upward trend in the earnings per share (EPS) growth rates for regulated utilities, which have already seen consensus estimates for out-year earnings rise by 7% since early 2024.
The UBS report underscores the strength and potential for continued growth within the North American Power and Utilities sector. As investment rises, the sector appears poised for robust expansion in the coming years, backed by solid financial health and favorable market conditions. ETR’s overall Financial Health score of FAIR (2.36) from InvestingPro aligns with this positive sector outlook, though investors should note its relatively high P/E ratio of 34.24. InvestingPro subscribers have access to 10 additional key insights about ETR, helping make more informed investment decisions.
In other recent news, Entergy Corporation reported its fourth-quarter 2024 earnings, with earnings per share (EPS) at $0.66, surpassing the consensus estimate of $0.64. However, the company’s revenue fell short of expectations, coming in at $3.01 billion against a projected $3.24 billion. Despite the revenue miss, Entergy’s stock saw a positive response, reflecting investor confidence in the company’s future prospects. Scotiabank (TSX:BNS) analysts raised their price target for Entergy to $89, citing the company’s strong market position and regulatory mechanisms, although they maintained a Sector Perform rating. Mizuho (NYSE:MFG) Securities also adjusted its price target for Entergy to $95, maintaining an Outperform rating, following Entergy’s announcement of an expanded capital investment plan totaling $37 billion through 2028. Guggenheim Securities similarly increased its price target to $95, reiterating a Buy rating, as Entergy introduced its 2025 EPS guidance and noted a shift in its EPS growth forecast to 8% or higher. Entergy’s capital expenditure forecast has been increased to $37 billion, primarily for new generation projects, and the company anticipates industrial sales growth of 12-13% from 2024 to 2028. These developments have contributed to a positive outlook from analysts, despite some caution regarding Entergy’s premium valuation.
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