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Investing.com -- Bank of America has double-downgraded Consolidated Edison Inc (NYSE:ED) to Underperform from Buy, citing a tougher regulatory backdrop and heightened affordability pressures in New York.
The firm also cut its price objective to $101 from $112, saying it sees “limited upside under the current regulatory and political climate.”
Shares in the energy firm slipped 1.4% in premarket trading Friday by 08:34 ET.
The downgrade follows growing concerns over the company’s latest rate case filing, which included a steep first-year increase and has drawn strong pushback.
The company’s proposal seeks an ~18% increase in electric revenue, largely driven by higher capital spending and a $434 million jump in property taxes, as well as a 10.1% allowed return on equity.
In contrast, the New York PSC staff recommended a much smaller increase and a lower return on equity (ROE), stressing that “affordability must take presence.”
BofA analysts warned that upcoming political changes could add further uncertainty. Four of the seven PSC commissioners, including the current chair, have terms ending in early 2027, meaning the 2026 gubernatorial election could reshape regulatory dynamics.
The bank trimmed its EPS forecasts for 2025-2027 to $5.60, $6.01, and $6.31, respectively, from $5.63, $6.03, and $6.33, and now projects a long-term earnings per share (EPS) compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.7%.
It also lowered valuation assumptions, applying a 10% discount to Con Edison’s electric, gas, and steam businesses, “mainly due to the significant amount of affordability issues in NYC” and the ongoing rate case risk.
While BofA acknowledged that Consolidated Edison continues to benefit from stable earnings mechanisms and a strong balance sheet, it said that the company’s targeted 8.2% rate base CAGR through 2029 looks "ambitious" given current regulatory and political conditions.
The bank also pointed out that Con Edison Transmission (CET), the company’s transmission business, retains a 20% premium for its FERC-regulated cash flows, but added that “despite these offset, downside risk outweighs reward under current policy dynamics.”