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Enbridge (ENB - Free Report) is expected to deliver a year-over-year decline in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended June 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook gives a good sense of the company's earnings picture, but how the actual results compare to these estimates is a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price.

The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 31. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.

While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it's worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise.

Zacks Consensus EstimateThis oil and natural gas transportation and power transmission company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.43 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -8.5%.

Revenues are expected to be $10.85 billion, up 0.9% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 2.5% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. This insight is at the core of our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction).

The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.

Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.

A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.

Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Enbridge?For Enbridge, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -0.59%.

On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #4.

So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Enbridge will beat the consensus EPS estimate.

Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?While calculating estimates for a company's future earnings, analysts often consider to what extent it has been able to match past consensus estimates. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Enbridge would post earnings of $0.69 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.71, delivering a surprise of +2.90%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates three times.

Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.

That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

Enbridge doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.

Expected Results of an Industry PlayerEnbridge (ENB - Free Report) , another stock in the Zacks Oil and Gas - Production and Pipelines industry, is expected to report earnings per share of $0.43 for the quarter ended June 2026. This estimate points to a year-over-year change of -8.5%. Revenues for the quarter are expected to be $10.85 billion, up 0.9% from the year-ago quarter.

The consensus EPS estimate for Enbridge has been revised 2.5% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. However, a lower Most Accurate Estimate has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -0.59%.

This Earnings ESP, combined with its Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Enbridge will beat the consensus EPS estimate. Over the last four quarters, the company surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times.

Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.

Enbridge (ENB +0.73%) is one of North America's largest energy infrastructure companies, operating in the midstream part of the ecosystem, which is responsible for transporting and storing oil, natural gas, and other energy products.

At the end of the first quarter, Enbridge served over 75% of North American oil refineries, transported 20% of all natural gas consumed in North America, and served over 7 million utility customers. It might not be a household name, but it's an important part of the country's energy infrastructure, and its growth will continue as its project backlog expands.

Image source: The Motley Fool.

Enbridge has plenty of future commitments locked in Enbridge's growth capital backlog is essentially its to-do list of projects. The company has committed to the projects, but they haven't been fully completed or put into service yet. Enbridge's backlog currently includes the following:

Expanding its current natural gas and liquids pipelines Developing utility networks Developing offshore wind farms Improving its carbon capture and storage abilities A backlog may not be ideal from a short-term standpoint, but it's a visible way for investors to assess Enbridge's future revenue. And given that much of the appeal of Enbridge's stock lies in its dividend, it should be reassuring to investors that the company continues to secure cash-generating projects.

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Enbridge's dividend works a bit differently from that of U.S. companies Typically, when a company declares a dividend amount, you know that's the exact amount you can expect. If it's $1 quarterly, you can expect $1 paid out.

Enbridge is a Canadian company, so it pays dividends in Canadian Dollars (CAD), but when it pays them out to American investors, it automatically converts them to USD. Since the CAD-USD exchange rate fluctuates, the exact dividend payout amount will vary. It's likely not by much, but it will fluctuate nonetheless.

You should also expect the dividend to be subject to a 15% upfront withholding tax in Canada, but you can recoup it on the back end by claiming the Foreign Tax Credit (IRS Form 1116), which will reduce your tax liability by the amount Canada withheld. This prevents you from paying taxes twice on the dividend you receive.

ENB Dividend data by YCharts

Know what you are and aren't getting with Enbridge's stock Enbridge isn't a stock you should buy expecting consistent market-beating returns (although it is outperforming the S&P 500 this year through July 11), but it's hard to deny its effectiveness as a reliable income source. It has increased its annual dividend for 31 consecutive years, and with its current backlog and growth capital projects, I don't see that streak ending anytime soon.

The company has a minor red flag -- its high debt -- but that isn't an issue that should cause investors to lose sleep. It remains a great buy for income investors and has plenty of cash flow to remain shareholder-friendly.

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NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE | NEE Price Prediction) and Enbridge (NYSE: ENB) both just reported, and the contrast matters. Big Tech wants uninterrupted power for AI training, and these two answer that demand from opposite ends of the energy system. NextEra builds the plants. Enbridge moves the fuel. The quarter shows why investors leaning on a pure renewables story may need to recalibrate.

Renewables Backlog Swells. Pipelines Stay Booked Solid. NextEra posted Q1 adjusted EPS of $1.09, up 10% YoY, on revenue of $6.701 billion. Energy Resources added 4 gigawatts to backlog, lifting the total to roughly 33 gigawatts including 1.3 gigawatts of battery storage. CEO John Ketchum said FPL is fielding “about 21 gigawatts of large load interest”, with around 12 gigawatts in advanced talks. The Department of Commerce tapped NextEra to build 9.5 gigawatts of new gas-fired generation in Texas and Pennsylvania.

Enbridge reported adjusted EPS of $0.98, down from $1.03, while distributable cash flow rose to $3.85 billion. Mainline volumes averaged 3.2 million barrels per day, with CEO Greg Ebel noting the system has been “apportioned all year.” Enbridge sanctioned the 300 MW Cone onshore wind project in Texas, extending its Meta partnership past 1 gigawatt of combined power generation.

Build the Power Plant vs. Move the Fuel Lens NextEra Enbridge Core bet Renewables, nuclear restart, new gas Gas pipelines, storage, select renewables AI hook Google nuclear PPA, 40 data center hubs 10 Bcf/d takeaway opportunity Dividend yield ~2.7% ~6.8% Forward P/E 22 27 The intermittency problem sits behind every NextEra bull case. AI training models and data center campuses require continuous, 100% stable, always-on baseline power, and wind and solar do not deliver that without cost-prohibitive utility-scale storage. Ketchum clearly knows it, which is why NextEra is restarting Duane Arnold’s 615 MW reactor under a 25-year Google PPA and accepting a federal mandate to build gas. Enbridge sidesteps that debate, earning take-or-pay fees on fuel that fires plants other companies build.

The AI Baseload Test Comes Next Watch whether NextEra converts that 21 GW of FPL large load interest into signed tariffs by year-end, and whether Duane Arnold stays on its Q4 2028 to Q1 2029 restart timeline. For Enbridge, the 50+ data center opportunities targeting new takeaway capacity are the swing factor. Ebel’s C$40 billion sanctioned backlog already supports the 31st consecutive annual dividend increase, so execution risk feels lower.

Why I Lean Toward Enbridge for AI-Era Income For a defensive way to play surging AI power demand, Enbridge looks more durable. The 6.8% yield is backed by contracted cash flows, leverage at 5.0x debt-to-EBITDA sits at the top of the target range but stays manageable, and the gas-as-baseload narrative strengthens as hyperscalers chase 24/7 reliability. NextEra remains the higher-growth story, with 8%+ EPS CAGR through 2032 and visible hyperscaler wins. Yet the premium valuation, the $24.6 billion 2025 capex pace, and the Q4 2025 EPS of $0.54 against a $0.92 consensus tell me the execution bar is high. For investors prioritizing capital preservation in an AI grid that punishes intermittency, ENB screens as the more defensive profile.