Analysts Recommend Low-Beta, High-Yield Stocks Amid Market Volatility
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 5 days ago
0mins
Source: NASDAQ.COM
- Market Volatility Factors: The U.S. stock market has shown mixed performance in 2026, primarily influenced by concerns over AI investment sustainability, Trump's tariffs, and geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East, which have heightened the appeal of low-beta stocks for investors seeking stability.
- Hershey's Performance: Hershey (HSY) is projected to achieve revenue and earnings growth rates of 4.8% and 29.3% for 2026, respectively, with the Zacks consensus estimate for earnings improving by 16.7% over the past 30 days, indicating strong performance and innovation in the snack market.
- BHP Group Dynamics: BHP (BHP) reported a 1% decline in iron ore output but a 4% increase in copper production in Q1 2026, with projected iron ore production between 258-269 million tons, reflecting stability in the global mining market and confidence in future growth.
- Atmos Energy Outlook: Atmos Energy (ATO) expects revenue and earnings growth rates of 18.8% and 9% for 2026, respectively, and has enhanced profitability and shareholder value through strategic acquisitions and new customer additions, showcasing strong potential amid rising natural gas demand.
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Analyst Views on ETR
Wall Street analysts forecast ETR stock price to fall
15 Analyst Rating
11 Buy
4 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 104.700
Low
86.00
Averages
103.87
High
115.00
Current: 104.700
Low
86.00
Averages
103.87
High
115.00
About ETR
Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. The Company operates primarily through a single segment, Utility. The Utility segment includes the generation, transmission, distribution, and sale of electric power in portions of Arkansas, Mississippi, Texas, and Louisiana, including the City of New Orleans. The Utility segment includes five retail electric utility subsidiaries: Entergy Arkansas, LLC, Entergy Louisiana, LLC, Entergy Mississippi, LLC, Entergy New Orleans, LLC, and Entergy Texas, Inc. These companies generate, transmit, distribute, and sell electric power to retail and wholesale customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. The Company owns and operates power plants with approximately 25,000 MW of electric generating capacity. It delivers electricity to approximately three million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.
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.
Entergy Announces $5 Billion Savings for Customers in Three States
- Significant Customer Savings: Entergy announced approximately $5 billion in savings over the next 20 years for 2.3 million customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, stemming from customer agreements with data centers, which are expected to significantly reduce customer electricity bills.
- Surge in Economic Investment: The data center projects are projected to generate around $47 billion in new investments for the region, creating thousands of high-tech jobs and providing millions in new tax revenues, thereby driving transformative economic and community development.
- State-Specific Savings Details: Customers in Mississippi will save over $2 billion, Arkansas customers will benefit from up to $1.7 billion in savings, and Louisiana customers will enjoy approximately $800 million in savings, achieved through cost-sharing from grid infrastructure projects and new power generation facilities.
- Regulatory Support Assurance: The oversight from state public service commissions ensures that data center projects do not negatively impact existing customers' electricity prices and reliability, with Entergy's agreements designed to protect customer interests, showcasing strong market competitiveness.
See More
Tech Executives Inform Trump They Are Willing to Cover Electricity Costs
AI and Electricity Costs: President Donald Trump and tech executives discussed strategies to prevent AI data centers from increasing consumer electricity bills.
White House Event: The meeting took place at the White House, highlighting the collaboration between government and tech leaders on energy concerns.
See More
Analysts Recommend Low-Beta, High-Yield Stocks Amid Market Volatility
- Market Volatility Factors: The U.S. stock market has shown mixed performance in 2026, primarily influenced by concerns over AI investment sustainability, Trump's tariffs, and geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East, which have heightened the appeal of low-beta stocks for investors seeking stability.
- Hershey's Performance: Hershey (HSY) is projected to achieve revenue and earnings growth rates of 4.8% and 29.3% for 2026, respectively, with the Zacks consensus estimate for earnings improving by 16.7% over the past 30 days, indicating strong performance and innovation in the snack market.
- BHP Group Dynamics: BHP (BHP) reported a 1% decline in iron ore output but a 4% increase in copper production in Q1 2026, with projected iron ore production between 258-269 million tons, reflecting stability in the global mining market and confidence in future growth.
- Atmos Energy Outlook: Atmos Energy (ATO) expects revenue and earnings growth rates of 18.8% and 9% for 2026, respectively, and has enhanced profitability and shareholder value through strategic acquisitions and new customer additions, showcasing strong potential amid rising natural gas demand.
See More
Trump Pushes Energy Commitment from Data Centers
- Political Commitment: In his State of the Union address, Trump mentioned securing a pledge from major tech companies to supply power for data centers, although details remain unclear, this could impact future electricity supply and cost structures.
- Growing Power Demand: NextEra Energy plans to build 15 gigawatts of new power capacity to meet data center demands, indicating a shift towards gas generation while emphasizing renewable energy, reflecting changing policy directions.
- Market Dynamics: With accelerated data center construction, the U.S. is expected to face a net negative power supply by 2029, tightening the electricity market and boosting market share for independent power producers.
- Investment Opportunities: Wells Fargo has named Constellation Energy as its top pick among independent power producers, projecting a 40% stock price increase, while other independent producers like NRG and Talen are also viewed positively, indicating optimistic sentiment towards data center-related investments.
See More
Tech Giants Like Alphabet and Amazon Cover AI's Energy Costs, Boosting Utility Stocks.
- AI in Financial Markets: AI is significantly impacting financial markets, providing smaller utilities with advantages over much larger tech companies.
- Investment Opportunities: This technological edge allows investors to capitalize on the unique advantages that these utilities have gained through AI.
See More
Amazon to Invest $12 Billion in Louisiana Data Centers
- Massive Investment: Amazon announced plans to invest $12 billion in new data centers in Louisiana, aimed at bolstering its artificial intelligence and cloud computing infrastructure, reflecting its ambitious strategy in the AI sector.
- Job Creation: The new data centers are expected to create 540 full-time jobs and support around 1,700 related roles, such as electricians and HVAC technicians, thereby boosting the local economy significantly.
- Capital Expenditure Plans: Amazon anticipates a capital expenditure of $200 billion this year, surpassing other major tech companies, although Wall Street remains skeptical, leading to a market value loss of over $450 billion following its earnings report.
- Environmental Responsibility Commitment: Amazon has committed to using only surplus water from the local area and plans to invest up to $400 million in public water infrastructure to ensure that the new facilities do not strain local water resources.
See More
Entergy Announces $5 Billion Savings for Customers in Three States
- Significant Customer Savings: Entergy announced approximately $5 billion in savings over the next 20 years for 2.3 million customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, stemming from customer agreements with data centers, which are expected to significantly reduce customer electricity bills.
- Surge in Economic Investment: The data center projects are projected to generate around $47 billion in new investments for the region, creating thousands of high-tech jobs and providing millions in new tax revenues, thereby driving transformative economic and community development.
- State-Specific Savings Details: Customers in Mississippi will save over $2 billion, Arkansas customers will benefit from up to $1.7 billion in savings, and Louisiana customers will enjoy approximately $800 million in savings, achieved through cost-sharing from grid infrastructure projects and new power generation facilities.
- Regulatory Support Assurance: The oversight from state public service commissions ensures that data center projects do not negatively impact existing customers' electricity prices and reliability, with Entergy's agreements designed to protect customer interests, showcasing strong market competitiveness.
See More
Tech Executives Inform Trump They Are Willing to Cover Electricity Costs
AI and Electricity Costs: President Donald Trump and tech executives discussed strategies to prevent AI data centers from increasing consumer electricity bills.
White House Event: The meeting took place at the White House, highlighting the collaboration between government and tech leaders on energy concerns.
See More
Analysts Recommend Low-Beta, High-Yield Stocks Amid Market Volatility
- Market Volatility Factors: The U.S. stock market has shown mixed performance in 2026, primarily influenced by concerns over AI investment sustainability, Trump's tariffs, and geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East, which have heightened the appeal of low-beta stocks for investors seeking stability.
- Hershey's Performance: Hershey (HSY) is projected to achieve revenue and earnings growth rates of 4.8% and 29.3% for 2026, respectively, with the Zacks consensus estimate for earnings improving by 16.7% over the past 30 days, indicating strong performance and innovation in the snack market.
- BHP Group Dynamics: BHP (BHP) reported a 1% decline in iron ore output but a 4% increase in copper production in Q1 2026, with projected iron ore production between 258-269 million tons, reflecting stability in the global mining market and confidence in future growth.
- Atmos Energy Outlook: Atmos Energy (ATO) expects revenue and earnings growth rates of 18.8% and 9% for 2026, respectively, and has enhanced profitability and shareholder value through strategic acquisitions and new customer additions, showcasing strong potential amid rising natural gas demand.
See More
Trump Pushes Energy Commitment from Data Centers
- Political Commitment: In his State of the Union address, Trump mentioned securing a pledge from major tech companies to supply power for data centers, although details remain unclear, this could impact future electricity supply and cost structures.
- Growing Power Demand: NextEra Energy plans to build 15 gigawatts of new power capacity to meet data center demands, indicating a shift towards gas generation while emphasizing renewable energy, reflecting changing policy directions.
- Market Dynamics: With accelerated data center construction, the U.S. is expected to face a net negative power supply by 2029, tightening the electricity market and boosting market share for independent power producers.
- Investment Opportunities: Wells Fargo has named Constellation Energy as its top pick among independent power producers, projecting a 40% stock price increase, while other independent producers like NRG and Talen are also viewed positively, indicating optimistic sentiment towards data center-related investments.
See More
Tech Giants Like Alphabet and Amazon Cover AI's Energy Costs, Boosting Utility Stocks.
- AI in Financial Markets: AI is significantly impacting financial markets, providing smaller utilities with advantages over much larger tech companies.
- Investment Opportunities: This technological edge allows investors to capitalize on the unique advantages that these utilities have gained through AI.
See More
Amazon to Invest $12 Billion in Louisiana Data Centers
- Massive Investment: Amazon announced plans to invest $12 billion in new data centers in Louisiana, aimed at bolstering its artificial intelligence and cloud computing infrastructure, reflecting its ambitious strategy in the AI sector.
- Job Creation: The new data centers are expected to create 540 full-time jobs and support around 1,700 related roles, such as electricians and HVAC technicians, thereby boosting the local economy significantly.
- Capital Expenditure Plans: Amazon anticipates a capital expenditure of $200 billion this year, surpassing other major tech companies, although Wall Street remains skeptical, leading to a market value loss of over $450 billion following its earnings report.
- Environmental Responsibility Commitment: Amazon has committed to using only surplus water from the local area and plans to invest up to $400 million in public water infrastructure to ensure that the new facilities do not strain local water resources.
See More
