Utilities Sector Surges with Strong Dividend Prospects
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 2 days ago
0mins
Source: CNBC
- Utilities Sector Performance: The utilities sector in the S&P 500 has shown remarkable performance in 2026, rising over 2% on Friday, marking its longest winning streak since July 2024, indicating strong market confidence.
- American Electric Power Earnings: American Electric Power reported adjusted earnings of $1.19 per share for Q4, exceeding the market expectation of $1.15, with revenue of $5.31 billion, showcasing effective execution under new management and growth potential.
- Entergy's Outlook: Entergy's adjusted earnings came in at 51 cents per share for Q4, slightly below expectations, yet its 2026 guidance indicates robust growth prospects with an 8% CAGR for retail sales, reflecting a conservative approach to new projects.
- Analyst Ratings Optimistic: Analysts are generally bullish on both American Electric Power and Entergy, with 10 out of 24 analysts rating AEP as buy or strong buy, and 19 out of 25 analysts giving similar ratings to Entergy, reflecting strong confidence in utility stocks.
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Analyst Views on AEP
Wall Street analysts forecast AEP stock price to rise
16 Analyst Rating
7 Buy
8 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 126.430
Low
107.00
Averages
127.27
High
139.00
Current: 126.430
Low
107.00
Averages
127.27
High
139.00
About AEP
American Electric Power Company, Inc. is an electric public utility holding company. Its electric utility operating companies provide generation, transmission and distribution services to more than five million retail customers in Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. Its segments include Vertically Integrated Utilities, Transmission and Distribution Utilities, AEP Transmission Holdco and Generation & Marketing. The Vertically Integrated Utilities is engaged in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity for sale to retail and wholesale customers. The Transmission and Distribution Utilities consists of the transmission and distribution of electricity for sale to retail and wholesale customers. The AEP Transmission Holdco is engaged in development, construction and operation of transmission facilities. The Generation & Marketing segment conducts Marketing, risk management and retail activities.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Rising Electricity Prices: With electricity prices spiking 6.9% year-over-year in 2025, public anxiety about the economy is increasing, as Navarro attempts to blame former President Biden, indicating the current administration's challenges in addressing inflation.
- Policy Response Measures: The Trump administration has signed a pact with several states urging major tech companies to finance $15 billion for new power plants to alleviate the strain data centers place on the grid, demonstrating proactive government intervention in energy policy.
- Election Outlook Impact: As the November 2026 midterms approach, polls show Democrats leading by 5.2 points, reflecting voter concerns over economic issues that could affect Trump's and the Republican Party's electoral prospects.
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- Utilities Sector Performance: The utilities sector in the S&P 500 has shown remarkable performance in 2026, rising over 2% on Friday, marking its longest winning streak since July 2024, indicating strong market confidence.
- American Electric Power Earnings: American Electric Power reported adjusted earnings of $1.19 per share for Q4, exceeding the market expectation of $1.15, with revenue of $5.31 billion, showcasing effective execution under new management and growth potential.
- Entergy's Outlook: Entergy's adjusted earnings came in at 51 cents per share for Q4, slightly below expectations, yet its 2026 guidance indicates robust growth prospects with an 8% CAGR for retail sales, reflecting a conservative approach to new projects.
- Analyst Ratings Optimistic: Analysts are generally bullish on both American Electric Power and Entergy, with 10 out of 24 analysts rating AEP as buy or strong buy, and 19 out of 25 analysts giving similar ratings to Entergy, reflecting strong confidence in utility stocks.
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- Dividend Increase: The company raised its quarterly dividend to $0.95 per share in October 2025, reflecting confidence in future cash flows, while achieving a total shareholder return of 29% in 2025, further enhancing investor confidence.
- Contract Load Doubling: AEP reported a doubling of contracted load to 56 gigawatts, up from 28 gigawatts last fall, with all load backed by signed customer agreements, showcasing robust market demand and the company's competitive position in the industry.
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See More
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- Cost Internalization for Data Centers: White House trade advisor Peter Navarro stated that data center builders must absorb costs related to electricity and water usage, highlighting the government's concern over economic pressures that could impact companies like Meta.
- Rising Electricity Prices: With electricity prices spiking 6.9% year-over-year in 2025, public anxiety about the economy is increasing, as Navarro attempts to blame former President Biden, indicating the current administration's challenges in addressing inflation.
- Policy Response Measures: The Trump administration has signed a pact with several states urging major tech companies to finance $15 billion for new power plants to alleviate the strain data centers place on the grid, demonstrating proactive government intervention in energy policy.
- Election Outlook Impact: As the November 2026 midterms approach, polls show Democrats leading by 5.2 points, reflecting voter concerns over economic issues that could affect Trump's and the Republican Party's electoral prospects.
See More
Utilities Sector Surges with Strong Dividend Prospects
- Utilities Sector Performance: The utilities sector in the S&P 500 has shown remarkable performance in 2026, rising over 2% on Friday, marking its longest winning streak since July 2024, indicating strong market confidence.
- American Electric Power Earnings: American Electric Power reported adjusted earnings of $1.19 per share for Q4, exceeding the market expectation of $1.15, with revenue of $5.31 billion, showcasing effective execution under new management and growth potential.
- Entergy's Outlook: Entergy's adjusted earnings came in at 51 cents per share for Q4, slightly below expectations, yet its 2026 guidance indicates robust growth prospects with an 8% CAGR for retail sales, reflecting a conservative approach to new projects.
- Analyst Ratings Optimistic: Analysts are generally bullish on both American Electric Power and Entergy, with 10 out of 24 analysts rating AEP as buy or strong buy, and 19 out of 25 analysts giving similar ratings to Entergy, reflecting strong confidence in utility stocks.
See More
Market Sentiment Declines Further as Fear Index Drops to Low Levels
- Sentiment Shift: The CNN Money Fear & Greed Index dropped to 36.9 on Thursday, entering the 'Fear' zone from a previous reading of 48.4, indicating a significant deterioration in investor sentiment that could lead to further declines in the stock market.
- Weak Market Performance: U.S. stocks closed lower on Thursday, with the Nasdaq Composite falling 2% and the Dow Jones dropping around 669 points to 49,451.98, reflecting concerns over economic outlook, particularly in the technology, energy, and financial sectors.
- Jobless Claims Data: Initial jobless claims in the U.S. fell by 5,000 to 227,000 in the first week of February, although below market expectations of 222,000, indicating underlying weakness in the labor market that could impact consumer confidence and spending.
- Sector Performance Divergence: While most S&P 500 sectors closed negatively, utilities and consumer staples stocks rose, suggesting that investors are seeking defensive investments in uncertain market conditions, which may influence future capital flows.
See More
American Electric Power Reports Strong Q4 Earnings and Expands Capital Spending
- Earnings Beat: American Electric Power (AEP) saw its stock rise 3.8% to an all-time high of $128.92 on Thursday after reporting Q4 adjusted net profit of $638 million, or $1.19 per share, which, despite a decline from $660 million, exceeded analyst expectations of $1.14.
- Significant Revenue Growth: AEP's Q4 revenues increased by 13.2% year-over-year to $5.31 billion, surpassing the FactSet analyst consensus estimate of $4.89 billion, indicating strong performance and demand in the electricity market.
- Doubling Power Agreements: AEP's agreements to supply power to data centers have doubled to 56 GW since October, highlighting the company's potential to meet future electricity demands, even though not all requests are expected to materialize.
- Expanded Capital Spending Plans: AEP has identified an additional $5 billion to $8 billion in transmission and generation projects beyond its current $72 billion capex plan, demonstrating confidence in future growth and plans to partner with Texas's ERCOT to build necessary infrastructure.
See More
American Electric Power Q4 2025 Earnings Highlights
- Earnings Beat: American Electric Power reported Q4 2025 operating earnings of $1.19 per share, with full-year earnings reaching $5.97 per share, exceeding the upper end of guidance, indicating strong financial performance and growth potential.
- Dividend Increase: The company raised its quarterly dividend to $0.95 per share in October 2025, reflecting confidence in future cash flows, while achieving a total shareholder return of 29% in 2025, further enhancing investor confidence.
- Contract Load Doubling: AEP reported a doubling of contracted load to 56 gigawatts, up from 28 gigawatts last fall, with all load backed by signed customer agreements, showcasing robust market demand and the company's competitive position in the industry.
- Capital Plan Expansion: AEP reaffirmed its $72 billion five-year capital plan and announced plans to purchase $2.65 billion in fuel cells for a facility near Cheyenne, Wyoming, indicating a long-term strategic investment in infrastructure and renewable energy.
See More
U.S. Stocks Decline Midway, Nasdaq Drops Over 350 Points
- Market Performance: U.S. stocks traded lower midway through Thursday, with the Nasdaq Composite falling over 350 points, and the S&P 500 dropping 1.18% to 6,859.69, indicating a weakening market sentiment amid growing investor concerns about the economic outlook.
- Sector Dynamics: Utility stocks rose by 2.4%, while information technology stocks fell by 1.5%, reflecting a market preference for defensive sectors as investors seek stable returns in light of economic uncertainty.
- Stock Highlights: American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:AEP) shares gained around 5% after reporting adjusted earnings of $1.19 per share, down from $1.24 a year ago but exceeding the Street estimate of $1.15, demonstrating the company's resilience in challenging conditions.
- Economic Data: U.S. initial jobless claims fell by 5,000 to 227,000, although slightly above market estimates of 222,000, indicating labor market resilience that could positively impact economic recovery.
See More
