Utilities Offer Stability Amid War Outbreak: 4 High Dividend Yield and Growth Stocks.
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Mar 13 2026
0mins
Source: Barron's
Market Volatility: Investors are seeking stable investment options amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Utility Stocks Appeal: Companies like PSEG and FirstEnergy are considered attractive for their potential safety and growth during turbulent times.
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Analyst Views on FE
Wall Street analysts forecast FE stock price to rise
10 Analyst Rating
4 Buy
6 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 47.070
Low
46.00
Averages
49.25
High
54.00
Current: 47.070
Low
46.00
Averages
49.25
High
54.00
About FE
FirstEnergy Corp. and its subsidiaries are involved in the transmission, distribution, and generation of electricity through its segments: Distribution, Integrated and Stand-Alone Transmission. The Distribution Segment, which consists of the Ohio Companies and FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric Company (FE PA), distributes electricity in Ohio and Pennsylvania. The Integrated segment includes the distribution and transmission operations under Jersey Central Power & Light Company (JCP&L), Monongahela Power Company (MP) and The Potomac Edison Company (PE), as well as MP's regulated generation operations. The segment distributes electricity in New Jersey, West Virginia and Maryland, provides transmission infrastructure, and operates over 3,610 megawatts of regulated generation capacity. The Stand-Alone Transmission segment consists of its ownership in FET and KATCo, which includes transmission infrastructure owned and operated by the Transmission Companies and used to transmit electricity.
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.
- Earnings Release Schedule: FirstEnergy will release its Q2 2026 financial results after market close on July 28, followed by a conference call with analysts at 9 a.m. EDT on July 29, aimed at enhancing investor transparency regarding its financial performance.
- Investor Engagement: The company invites investors, customers, and other interested parties to listen to the live webcast of the call and view presentation slides via its Investor Information website, ensuring broad dissemination and access to information while enhancing interaction with stakeholders.
- Performance Materials Preparation: The second quarter presentation and supporting materials will be posted to the investor section of the website after market close on July 28, ensuring that investors can access the latest financial information in a timely manner, thereby improving their understanding of the company's operational status.
- Service Network Coverage: FirstEnergy's electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving over 6 million customers and operating approximately 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions, showcasing its significant influence in the power industry.
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- Rising Electricity Demand: FirstEnergy is enhancing its long-term growth opportunities due to increasing electricity demand driven by data center development across its service territories, with expectations for sustained growth in electricity consumption supporting sustainable earnings.
- Pipeline Expansion: In West Virginia, FirstEnergy has identified nearly 1.8 GW of credible data center projects, representing a 50% increase from earlier expectations, and is advancing negotiations for over 6 GW of potential load, with nearly 4 GW expected to be contracted soon, providing strong visibility into future demand growth.
- Infrastructure Investment Plan: The company plans to invest $6 billion in 2026 and $36 billion from 2026 to 2030 to modernize grid infrastructure, enhance customer experience, and maintain competitive electricity rates, thereby accommodating the growing demand from data centers.
- Long-term Investment Outlook: The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure is making data centers a major growth catalyst for electric utilities, enhancing FirstEnergy's investment outlook and expected to drive growth in electricity sales and infrastructure investments.
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- Earnings Release Schedule: FirstEnergy will announce its Q2 2026 financial results after market close on July 28, followed by a conference call with financial analysts at 9 a.m. EDT on July 29, aimed at enhancing investor engagement and transparency regarding its financial performance.
- Investor Participation Opportunity: Investors, customers, and other interested parties are invited to listen to the live webcast of the call and view presentation slides via FirstEnergy's Investor Information website, with the content available for replay for up to one year, reflecting the company's commitment to information disclosure.
- Company Operational Scale: FirstEnergy is one of the largest investor-owned electric systems in the U.S., serving over 6 million customers across Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland, and New York, showcasing its extensive influence in the electric distribution sector.
- Transmission Network Coverage: The company's transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of transmission lines connecting the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions, ensuring reliability and safety of power supply, further solidifying its leadership position in the energy sector.
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- Energy Budget Support: FirstEnergy provides various tools and programs to help users manage energy usage year-round, with resources available at firstenergycorp.com/saveenergy, thereby effectively managing energy costs and enhancing customer satisfaction.
- Heat Safety Measures: During extreme heat, FirstEnergy offers safety tips to help users stay safe and reduce the risk of heat-related illnesses, demonstrating the company's commitment to customer health and safety.
- Outage Reporting and Updates: Users can text REG to 544487 to sign up for outage alerts, ensuring they receive timely information on service restoration during outages, which enhances the overall customer service experience.
- Extensive Service Network: FirstEnergy's electric distribution companies serve over six million customers across multiple states and operate more than 24,000 miles of transmission lines, strengthening the company's market position and influence in the energy sector.
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- Energy-Saving Tips: FirstEnergy offers various energy-saving tips, including using fans to ease the load on air conditioning and turning off window AC units and lights in unoccupied rooms, helping customers manage energy costs during extreme heat.
- Safety Precautions: During heat waves, FirstEnergy advises staying hydrated, avoiding outdoor activities during peak heat hours, and utilizing community cooling centers to ensure residents' safety and health.
- Bill Assistance Programs: The company provides several bill assistance options, including budget billing, aimed at helping customers better manage their monthly energy expenses, especially during high-temperature periods.
- Outage Reporting and Updates: FirstEnergy offers multiple ways for customers to report outages and receive updates, including calling a hotline, texting, and online access to outage reporting pages, ensuring quick service restoration.
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- Transformer Delivery: FirstEnergy successfully delivered its first new 55-ton transformer to the Lakewood Substation, marking a key milestone in enhancing electric reliability for nearly 11,000 customers, which is crucial for maintaining service quality.
- Investment Scale: Each transformer represents an investment of approximately $1.85 million, covering equipment, transportation, and installation, which will bolster the local electric system's resilience and ensure reliable power supply during peak demand periods.
- Reduced Outage Times: Recent upgrades have led to a 98% reduction in outage durations for customers in the Lakewood area in December 2025 compared to December 2024, demonstrating significant improvements in service quality and reliability.
- Future Plans: The second transformer is expected to be installed later this summer and energized by early next year, further enhancing backup capacity at the substation and strengthening overall system reliability to support power restoration in surrounding communities.
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