Exelon Rated Among Top Utility Stocks for Dividends in 2026
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 15 hours ago
0mins
Should l Buy EXC?
Source: Yahoo Finance
- Price Target Increase: Evercore ISI raised Exelon Corporation's price target from $55 to $58 while maintaining an 'Outperform' rating, indicating over 17% upside potential from current levels, reflecting optimistic market sentiment towards the utility sector.
- Earnings Beat: Exelon exceeded earnings estimates in its recent Q4 report, driven by higher electricity rates and increased power demand, with an adjusted EPS target of $2.81 to $2.91 for FY 2026, showcasing the company's sustained profitability.
- Capital Expenditure Plans: The company plans to invest $41.3 billion in capital expenditures over the next four years, aiming for annual earnings growth near the top end of its 5%-7% guidance range, indicating confidence in future growth and strategic positioning.
- High Dividend Yield: With an annual dividend yield of 3.40%, Exelon ranks among the best high-yield utility stocks to buy in 2026, attracting attention from income-seeking investors.
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Analyst Views on EXC
Wall Street analysts forecast EXC stock price to rise
15 Analyst Rating
7 Buy
6 Hold
2 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 48.840
Low
39.00
Averages
49.46
High
57.00
Current: 48.840
Low
39.00
Averages
49.46
High
57.00
About EXC
Exelon Corporation is a utility services holding company engaged in the energy transmission and distribution businesses through its subsidiaries, Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd), PECO Energy Company (PECO), Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE), Potomac Electric Power Company (Pepco), Delmarva Power & Light Company (DPL) and Atlantic City Electric Company (ACE). Its segments include ComEd, PECO, BGE, Pepco, DPL and ACE. ComEd segment is engaged in purchasing and regulating the retail sale of electricity. PECO segment is engaged in purchasing and regulating the retail sale of electricity and natural gas. Through its business services subsidiary, Exelon Business Services Company, LLC (BSC), it provides its subsidiaries with a variety of support services at cost, including legal, human resources, finance, information technology and supply management services. BGE segment is focused on transmission and distribution of electricity and distribution of natural gas to retail customers.
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.
Exelon Rated Among Top Utility Stocks for Dividends in 2026
- Price Target Increase: Evercore ISI raised Exelon Corporation's price target from $55 to $58 while maintaining an 'Outperform' rating, indicating over 17% upside potential from current levels, reflecting optimistic market sentiment towards the utility sector.
- Earnings Beat: Exelon exceeded earnings estimates in its recent Q4 report, driven by higher electricity rates and increased power demand, with an adjusted EPS target of $2.81 to $2.91 for FY 2026, showcasing the company's sustained profitability.
- Capital Expenditure Plans: The company plans to invest $41.3 billion in capital expenditures over the next four years, aiming for annual earnings growth near the top end of its 5%-7% guidance range, indicating confidence in future growth and strategic positioning.
- High Dividend Yield: With an annual dividend yield of 3.40%, Exelon ranks among the best high-yield utility stocks to buy in 2026, attracting attention from income-seeking investors.
See More
High Dividend Stocks Favored Amid Market Turbulence
- Investor Preference: During turbulent and uncertain market conditions, many investors gravitate towards high dividend-yielding stocks, which typically possess strong free cash flows and reward shareholders with substantial dividends, thereby bolstering investor confidence.
- Sector Focus: High-yield stocks in the utilities sector, such as WEC Energy Group Inc, Exelon Corp, and Evergy Inc, are highlighted by analysts for their stable cash flows and reliable dividend payments, indicating strong market trust in these companies.
- Analyst Ratings: The ratings from the most accurate analysts suggest that these high-yield stocks are performing well in the current market environment, reflecting a growing investor appetite for stable income, which may attract more capital into these firms.
- Market Trends: As market uncertainty intensifies, the demand for high dividend stocks is likely to continue rising, which not only helps elevate the stock prices of these companies but may also drive growth across the entire utilities sector.
See More
Utility Stocks as a Hedge Against Geopolitical Risks and AI Growth
- Defensive Investment Strategy: Wells Fargo analysts highlight that utility stocks like American Water Works and Exelon can serve as strong defensive plays amid escalating market volatility due to the U.S.-Iran conflict, with expectations of continued relative outperformance in both down and up markets.
- Historical Performance Advantage: The utilities sector has historically outperformed the S&P 500 by approximately 780 basis points during global conflicts and recessions, indicating its stability and risk mitigation capabilities during uncertain times, a trend expected to persist amid the current conflict in Iran.
- AI Demand Driving Growth: With a surge in data center construction, utility companies like American Water Works are poised to benefit as they provide essential water resources for AI facility operations, with the stock rising about 8% over the past month and a current dividend yield of 2.4%.
- Exelon's Growth Potential: Exelon's business structure allows it to complete reliability upgrades in the coming years, with load growth expected to reach 3.3% from 2026 to 2029, while its stock has jumped 10% in the past month, currently yielding 3.5% in dividends.
See More
Trump Pushes Tech Firms for Self-Powered AI Data Centers
- Self-Power Commitment: Trump is set to sign an agreement with major tech firms like Amazon, Google, and Meta, mandating them to supply their own power for AI data centers, addressing rising public anger over electricity prices, although the specifics of the commitment remain unclear.
- Rising Electricity Pressure: Average residential electricity prices in the U.S. increased by 6% in 2025, contrasting Trump's promise to halve prices during his term, highlighting the government's challenges in controlling energy costs, which could impact his support in the midterm elections.
- Implementation Challenges: The decentralized nature of electric grid regulations across states poses significant hurdles for the Trump administration in converting the pledge into actionable policy, with experts indicating that new federal legislation is necessary to address power supply shortages.
- Increased Political Pressure: Trump is leveraging his political influence to pressure tech companies into absorbing the costs associated with their data centers, despite the complexities arising from state-level regulation of power generation, which may complicate policy implementation.
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
Exelon Launches Customer-First Strategy to Alleviate Energy Costs
- Customer Support Initiatives: ComEd, with Exelon's backing, launched a $10 million Customer Relief Fund to address the high energy costs faced by families and small businesses, aiming to provide immediate relief while fostering long-term support.
- Long-Term Solutions: By implementing a Low-Income Discount program and Delivery Time-of-Day pricing, ComEd seeks to assist customers in managing rising energy expenses, thereby enhancing financial stability for its clientele.
- Customer Protection Measures: ComEd has introduced new Transmission Security Agreements to ensure that large energy users contribute to infrastructure costs, shielding residential and small businesses from unfair financial burdens and reinforcing the company's accountability in the market.
- Community Collaboration: ComEd collaborates with Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago to provide reliable information and resources to residents facing economic pressures, reflecting the company's commitment to supporting and strengthening local communities.
See More
Exelon Rated Among Top Utility Stocks for Dividends in 2026
- Price Target Increase: Evercore ISI raised Exelon Corporation's price target from $55 to $58 while maintaining an 'Outperform' rating, indicating over 17% upside potential from current levels, reflecting optimistic market sentiment towards the utility sector.
- Earnings Beat: Exelon exceeded earnings estimates in its recent Q4 report, driven by higher electricity rates and increased power demand, with an adjusted EPS target of $2.81 to $2.91 for FY 2026, showcasing the company's sustained profitability.
- Capital Expenditure Plans: The company plans to invest $41.3 billion in capital expenditures over the next four years, aiming for annual earnings growth near the top end of its 5%-7% guidance range, indicating confidence in future growth and strategic positioning.
- High Dividend Yield: With an annual dividend yield of 3.40%, Exelon ranks among the best high-yield utility stocks to buy in 2026, attracting attention from income-seeking investors.
See More
High Dividend Stocks Favored Amid Market Turbulence
- Investor Preference: During turbulent and uncertain market conditions, many investors gravitate towards high dividend-yielding stocks, which typically possess strong free cash flows and reward shareholders with substantial dividends, thereby bolstering investor confidence.
- Sector Focus: High-yield stocks in the utilities sector, such as WEC Energy Group Inc, Exelon Corp, and Evergy Inc, are highlighted by analysts for their stable cash flows and reliable dividend payments, indicating strong market trust in these companies.
- Analyst Ratings: The ratings from the most accurate analysts suggest that these high-yield stocks are performing well in the current market environment, reflecting a growing investor appetite for stable income, which may attract more capital into these firms.
- Market Trends: As market uncertainty intensifies, the demand for high dividend stocks is likely to continue rising, which not only helps elevate the stock prices of these companies but may also drive growth across the entire utilities sector.
See More
Utility Stocks as a Hedge Against Geopolitical Risks and AI Growth
- Defensive Investment Strategy: Wells Fargo analysts highlight that utility stocks like American Water Works and Exelon can serve as strong defensive plays amid escalating market volatility due to the U.S.-Iran conflict, with expectations of continued relative outperformance in both down and up markets.
- Historical Performance Advantage: The utilities sector has historically outperformed the S&P 500 by approximately 780 basis points during global conflicts and recessions, indicating its stability and risk mitigation capabilities during uncertain times, a trend expected to persist amid the current conflict in Iran.
- AI Demand Driving Growth: With a surge in data center construction, utility companies like American Water Works are poised to benefit as they provide essential water resources for AI facility operations, with the stock rising about 8% over the past month and a current dividend yield of 2.4%.
- Exelon's Growth Potential: Exelon's business structure allows it to complete reliability upgrades in the coming years, with load growth expected to reach 3.3% from 2026 to 2029, while its stock has jumped 10% in the past month, currently yielding 3.5% in dividends.
See More
Trump Pushes Tech Firms for Self-Powered AI Data Centers
- Self-Power Commitment: Trump is set to sign an agreement with major tech firms like Amazon, Google, and Meta, mandating them to supply their own power for AI data centers, addressing rising public anger over electricity prices, although the specifics of the commitment remain unclear.
- Rising Electricity Pressure: Average residential electricity prices in the U.S. increased by 6% in 2025, contrasting Trump's promise to halve prices during his term, highlighting the government's challenges in controlling energy costs, which could impact his support in the midterm elections.
- Implementation Challenges: The decentralized nature of electric grid regulations across states poses significant hurdles for the Trump administration in converting the pledge into actionable policy, with experts indicating that new federal legislation is necessary to address power supply shortages.
- Increased Political Pressure: Trump is leveraging his political influence to pressure tech companies into absorbing the costs associated with their data centers, despite the complexities arising from state-level regulation of power generation, which may complicate policy implementation.
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
Exelon Launches Customer-First Strategy to Alleviate Energy Costs
- Customer Support Initiatives: ComEd, with Exelon's backing, launched a $10 million Customer Relief Fund to address the high energy costs faced by families and small businesses, aiming to provide immediate relief while fostering long-term support.
- Long-Term Solutions: By implementing a Low-Income Discount program and Delivery Time-of-Day pricing, ComEd seeks to assist customers in managing rising energy expenses, thereby enhancing financial stability for its clientele.
- Customer Protection Measures: ComEd has introduced new Transmission Security Agreements to ensure that large energy users contribute to infrastructure costs, shielding residential and small businesses from unfair financial burdens and reinforcing the company's accountability in the market.
- Community Collaboration: ComEd collaborates with Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago to provide reliable information and resources to residents facing economic pressures, reflecting the company's commitment to supporting and strengthening local communities.
See More
