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Market Reaction to Tariffs: President Trump's newly announced tariffs have caused significant market selloffs, creating uncertainty among investors.

Investment Strategy Shift: Analyst Barry Bannister from Stifel suggests that investors should focus on "defensive value" stocks rather than "cyclical growth" stocks in light of the tariff impacts.

New Appointment at FirstEnergy: Nick Pearson has been appointed Vice President of Federal Government Affairs at FirstEnergy Corp., effective April 7, 2025, where he will manage the company's Washington, D.C. offices and federal energy policy strategy.

Pearson's Background: With over 22 years of experience in government relations and public policy, Pearson previously held significant roles at Google Cloud and the Tennessee Valley Authority, focusing on energy policy and advocacy.

Financial Results Announcement: FirstEnergy Corp. will release its first quarter 2025 financial results on April 23, followed by a conference call for analysts on April 24 at 9 a.m. EDT.

Investor Engagement: Interested parties can access the live webcast and presentation materials on FirstEnergy's Investor Information website, with replays available for up to one year.

Market Performance: Major U.S. stock indexes fell sharply on Friday, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 reaching two-week lows due to concerns over tariffs impacting economic growth and inflation, while gold prices hit an all-time high.

Economic Indicators: Mixed economic data was reported, including weaker-than-expected personal spending and a rise in inflation expectations, alongside bearish comments from Federal Reserve officials regarding the impact of tariffs on inflation and business sentiment.

FirstEnergy Corp Analysis: FirstEnergy Corp (FE) receives an 81% rating from Validea's Multi-Factor Investor model, indicating strong interest based on its fundamentals and valuation within the Electric Utilities industry.

Pim van Vliet's Strategy: The strategy emphasizes low volatility stocks with high momentum and net payout yields, showcasing that such stocks can outperform higher volatility counterparts with less risk, as researched by Pim van Vliet, head of Conservative Equities at Robeco Asset Management.

Organizational Changes: FirstEnergy Corp. is implementing internal changes to enhance efficiency and sustainability, focusing on closer responsibility to customers, employees, and regulators.

Workforce Impact: The restructuring will involve the reassignment of about 200 employees and a workforce reduction of less than three percent, aligning with the company's operational expense discipline.

Organizational Changes at FirstEnergy: FirstEnergy announced internal organizational changes aimed at enhancing efficiency and sustainability, resulting in the reassignment of approximately 200 employees and a workforce reduction of less than 3%.

Market Reactions and Ratings: Analysts have lowered FirstEnergy's price targets, with Morgan Stanley adjusting it to $48 from $52, while maintaining a hold rating due to ongoing regulatory challenges and financial uncertainties.

Organizational Changes: FirstEnergy announced a workforce reduction of less than 3% and the reassignment of approximately 200 employees to enhance efficiency and control costs as part of its new business model.

Current Employment Status: As of year-end 2024, FirstEnergy employed 12,294 workers, with the company currently trading near its year-to-date low.

Ladder Safety Tips: FirstEnergy emphasizes the importance of ladder safety during National Ladder Safety Month, providing tips such as choosing the right ladder, being aware of power lines, inspecting ladders before use, and maintaining proper climbing techniques to prevent accidents.

Company Commitment: FirstEnergy is dedicated to promoting safety and reliability in its operations, serving over six million customers across multiple states with a focus on integrity and operational excellence.

Company Overview: FirstEnergy Corp., a large-cap electric utility company based in Ohio, serves over 6 million customers and focuses on modernizing the electric grid and investing in renewable energy, but its stock has seen a decline of 12% from its 52-week high and lags behind peers like Entergy Corporation.

Market Performance: Despite a recent uptick in share price amid market declines, FirstEnergy's stock has underperformed compared to broader indices and peer companies, with analysts rating it as a "Moderate Buy" and suggesting an 11.7% upside potential from current levels.

Dividend Increase Announcement: FirstEnergy Corp. will raise its dividend to $0.445 on June 1, a 4.7% increase from last year, aligning its yield with the industry average at 4.3%. However, concerns arise as the dividend payout previously constituted 99% of earnings and the company has been generating negative free cash flows.

Sustainability Concerns: Despite a forecasted 75.8% growth in EPS over the next year, the high current payout ratio raises doubts about the long-term sustainability of the dividend. The company's slow earnings growth and high payout ratio suggest it may not be a strong income stock moving forward.

BXP and FirstEnergy Dividend Announcements: BXP declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.98 per share for Q1 2025, while FirstEnergy announced a quarterly dividend of $0.445 per share, marking its third increase since September 2023 and projecting a total of $1.78 per share in 2025.

CVS Health and Apple Hospitality REIT Dividends: CVS Health approved a quarterly dividend of $0.665 per share payable on May 1, 2025, and Apple Hospitality REIT declared a monthly distribution of $0.08 per share, with an annual yield of approximately 7.1%.

Infrastructure Improvement Project: FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric Company is replacing over five miles of underground electric cable in Butler County to enhance service reliability, utilizing modern materials that are expected to last 40 years and minimize service interruptions.

Long-Term Investment Plan: This project is part of a $133 million initiative under the Long Term Infrastructure Improvement Plan (LTIIP III), which aims to improve the electric distribution system and is part of a broader $28 billion investment program focused on creating a smarter, more secure grid.

Dividend Announcement: FirstEnergy Corp. declared a quarterly dividend of $0.445 per share, with an expected annual rate of $1.78 for 2025, reflecting an increase from $1.70 in 2024.

Commitment to Shareholders: The Board Chair emphasized the company's dedication to enhancing shareholder value through consistent dividend increases and maintaining a payout ratio of 60 to 70 percent of core earnings.

Dividend Announcement: FirstEnergy has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.445 per share, marking a 4.7% increase from the previous dividend of $0.425.

Payment Details: The dividend is payable on June 1 to shareholders of record as of May 7, with an ex-dividend date also set for May 7.

Power Outages Due to Severe Weather: Over 311,000 FirstEnergy customers experienced power outages due to high winds and heavy rain from storms on March 16-17, 2025.

Restoration Efforts: As of now, power has been restored to nearly 261,000 customers, with crews working in 16-hour shifts to expedite repairs.

Market Performance: Major U.S. stock indexes, including the S&P 500, Dow Jones, and Nasdaq, fell to six-month lows due to escalating trade tensions and President Trump's tariff threats, despite positive labor market data showing a decline in jobless claims.

Stock Movements: Notable declines were seen in tech stocks like Meta and Apple, while defensive utility stocks rose; Intel gained significantly after announcing a new CEO, and mining stocks benefited from rising gold prices.

Market Performance: Major US stock indexes, including the S&P 500, Dow Jones, and Nasdaq, fell to six-month lows due to escalating trade tensions and President Trump's tariff threats, despite positive labor market data showing a decline in jobless claims.

Stock Movements: The overall market was pressured by declines in major tech stocks, with notable losses from Meta Platforms and Adobe, while defensive utility stocks rose. Additionally, mining stocks gained as gold prices reached record highs.

Project Overview: Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) has initiated a $5.1 million project to upgrade electric service in Morris and Sussex counties, which includes both overhead and underground improvements.

Completion Timeline: The construction is expected to last for one year, with an anticipated completion date in November 2025, benefiting approximately 1,700 customers.

Covered Call Strategy: Investors can purchase FirstEnergy (FE) stock at $39.41 and sell a covered call at a $40 strike price, potentially earning a total return of 2.89% by June 2026, excluding dividends and commissions.

Risk and Potential Outcomes: The $40 strike is out-of-the-money by approximately 2%, with a 49% chance that the call contract could expire worthless, allowing investors to keep both their shares and the premium collected, which would enhance returns by 1.40%.