During times of turbulence and uncertainty in the markets, many investors turn to dividend-yielding stocks. These are often companies that have high free cash flows and reward shareholders with a high dividend payout.
Benzinga readers can review the latest analyst takes on their favorite stocks by visiting Analyst Stock Ratings page. Traders can sort through Benzinga’s extensive database of analyst ratings, including by analyst accuracy.
Below are the ratings of the most accurate analysts for three high-yielding stocks in the utilities sector.
Dominion Energy Inc (NYSE:D) Dividend Yield: 4.04% Morgan Stanley analyst Stephen Byrd maintained an Equal-Weight rating and cut the price target from $71 to $68 on Aug. 21, 2026. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 60%. TD Cowen analyst Shelby Tucker upgraded the stock from Hold to Buy and raised the price target from $69 to $80 on Aug. 19, 2026. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 64%. Recent News: On July 31, Dominion Energy posted upbeat results for the second quarter. Benzinga Pro’s real-time newsfeed alerted to latest D news. FirstEnergy Corp (NYSE:FE) Dividend Yield: 4.06% Morgan Stanley analyst David Arcaro maintained an Overweight rating and cut the price target from $53 to $52 on Aug. 21, 2026. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 65%. Barclays analyst Nicholas Campanella maintained an Overweight rating and lowered the price target from $55 to $54 on July 31, 2026. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 64%. Recent News: On July 28, FirstEnergy posted mixed results for the second quarter. Benzinga Pro’s real-time newsfeed alerted to latest FE news Eversource Energy (NYSE:ES) Dividend Yield: 4.49% Mizuho analyst Paul Fremont maintained a Neutral rating and raised the price target from $70 to $74 on Aug. 3, 2026. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 60%. BMO Capital analyst James Thalacker maintained a Market Perform rating and cut the price target from $73 to $72 on July 22, 2026. This analyst has an accuracy rate of 72% Recent News: On July 30, Eversource Energy posted downbeat results for the second quarter. Benzinga Pro’s real-time newsfeed alerted to latest ES news Photo via Shutterstock
Trending
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
Key Takeaways Eversource plans to invest $26.5B through 2030 in transmission, distribution and grid modernization.
Eversource sees transmission spending as a growth driver as New England electricity demand increases.
Grid investments are expected to support 5-7% long-term EPS growth, moving toward the upper half by 2028.
Eversource Energy (ES - Free Report) is strengthening its electric grid through modernization and advanced metering initiatives to enhance operational efficiency. These investments can also improve service quality and support growing customer demand.
Eversource operates an extensive electric network comprising nearly 59,900 distribution miles and 4,500 transmission miles, which allows the company to efficiently meet demand and provide high-quality services to its customers.
The company plans to invest nearly $26.5 billion through 2030, which includes $7.14 billion for transmission and $11.42 billion for the electric distribution network. ES also sees $1.7 billion of potential incremental investments, including $1 billion for Connecticut advanced metering infrastructure and $700 million related to the longer-term transmission planning process.
Transmission spending could become an important growth driver as electricity demand rises across New England. ISO-New England has preliminarily selected Eversource and Avangrid’s $2.2 billion transmission proposal, with ES’ share expected to be about $700 million. The project is intended to increase transmission capacity and reduce congestion costs, although final approval remains pending.
The investment program provides a strong opportunity to expand Eversource’s regulated rate base and generate earnings growth. The company is targeting 5-7% long-term earnings per share growth, with growth expected to move toward the upper half of this range by 2028.
Overall, rising power demand, transmission opportunities and sustained grid spending are expected to strengthen ES’ regulated rate base and support long-term earnings (EPS) growth. These investments also position the company to capitalize on increasing electricity needs.
Strategic Expenditures Drive Grid ModernizationA strategic capital program enhances the grid through targeted investments in transmission, distribution and modernization initiatives. The investments improve grid reliability, replace aging assets, increase system capacity, accommodate growing power demand, expand the regulated rate base and support long-term earnings growth.
FirstEnergy Corp. (FE - Free Report) is advancing grid modernization through its multi-year Energize365 program, aimed at strengthening infrastructure, enhancing customer service and supporting affordability. The company plans to invest $36 billion from 2026 to 2030.
PPL Corporation (PPL - Free Report) aims to invest $23 billion through 2029, which includes grid hardening, smart-grid technology, automation and transmission expansion, supporting reliability and approximately 10.3% annual rate-base growth.
The Zacks Rundown on ESES’ Earnings EstimatesThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 EPS indicates a year-over-year decrease of 2.52%, while the estimate for 2027 EPS suggests a 6.45% increase.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
ES’ Stock Trading at a DiscountES is trading at a discount to the industry, with a forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of 14.82X versus the industry average of 15.42X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
ES’ Stock Price PerformanceIn the past three months, the company’s shares have risen 4.8% compared with the industry’s 5.3% growth.
Key Takeaways Eversource Energy's Q2 earnings fell 9.4% as transmission and natural gas results weakened. Operating expenses rose 8.6%, while operating income fell 18.4% and interest costs climbed 21.3%. ES reaffirmed 2026 EPS guidance of $4.57-$4.72 and its $26.5 billion five-year utility capital plan. Eversource Energy (ES - Free Report) reported second-quarter 2026 non-GAAP earnings of 87 cents per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 88 cents by 1.14%. Earnings declined 9.4% from 96 cents reported in the year-ago quarter, reflecting pressure in its transmission and natural gas businesses.
Total Revenues of ESRevenues of $2.90 billion missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.14 billion by 7.63%. Total revenues also increased 2.3% from the year-ago figure of $2.84 billion.
Rising Operating Costs Pressure ES’ ProfitabilityTotal operating expenses were $2.36 billion, up 8.6% year over year, including the charge associated with the Aquarion sale. The increase was primarily due to a 14.8% rise in purchased power, purchased natural gas and transmission expenses, a 2.8% increase in operations and maintenance costs, 9.9% growth in depreciation expense, a 28% jump in energy efficiency program costs and a 7.5% surge in taxes other than income taxes.
Operating income declined 18.4% year over year to $540.9 million.
Interest expenses amounted to $355.5 million, 21.3% higher than the prior-year level.
Eversource Energy Reports Mixed Segment ResultsElectric Transmission: Earnings totaled $183.7 million, down 11.7% from $208 million a year earlier. The decrease reflected the lower allowed return on equity ordered by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and higher interest expense, partly offset by continued transmission investment.
Electric Distribution: Earnings increased 5.5% to $170.4 million. Higher base distribution rates in Massachusetts and New Hampshire and ongoing system investments more than offset increased interest, depreciation and property-tax expenses.
Natural Gas Distribution: Earnings fell 15.9% to $29.7 million. The decline primarily reflected the absence of a prior-year benefit tied to previously expensed costs that were subsequently approved for recovery.
Water Distribution: Earnings decreased to $11.6 million from $14.4 million due to higher operating and maintenance expenses and depreciation.
Eversource Parent & Other Companies: The segment reported a loss of $66.3 million, narrower than the year-ago quarter’s reported loss of $66.5 million.
ES Reaffirms Earnings Growth & Capital Investment PlansEversource Energy expects 2026 earnings in the range of $4.57-$4.72 per share.
Management also maintained its long-term earnings growth target of 5-7% through 2030, using the adjusted 2026 guidance midpoint of $4.65 as the base. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 EPS is pegged at $4.64, slightly below the midpoint of the company's guided range.
The company expects cash from operations of $23.6-$23.9 billion during 2026-2030.
Eversource Eergy reaffirmed its five-year utility capital plan of $26.5 billion. Potential additions include part of the company's roughly $700 million share of a proposed New England transmission project and advanced-metering infrastructure investments in Connecticut. The preliminary transmission selection carries a total estimated cost of $2.2 billion and an expected 2032 in-service date.
Eversource Energy expects to fund $7.0-$7.5 billion of its capital program through debt and alternative financing solutions, including hybrid securities, while minimizing common equity issuances. The company also intends to use the $1.7 billion in net proceeds from the completed Aquarion divestiture to repay parent-company debt.
The company expects to distribute dividends of $6.7-$7.2 billion during 2026-2030.
ES’ Zacks RankEversource Energy currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Upcoming Utility ReleasesEvergy (EVRG - Free Report) is scheduled to report second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 6, before the market opens. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for sales is pegged at $1.47 billion, which suggests a year-over-year increase of 2.63%.
EVRG’s long-term (three to five years) earnings growth rate is 9.07%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings is pinned at $4.25 per share, which implies a year-over-year improvement of 10.97%.
Consolidated Edison (ED - Free Report) is slated to report second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 6, after market close. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at 74 cents per share, which implies a year-over-year increase of 10.45%.
ED’s long-term earnings growth rate is 6.32%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings is pinned at $6.09 per share, which implies a year-over-year improvement of 6.84%.
Vistra (VST - Free Report) is scheduled to report second-quarter 2026 results on Aug. 7, before the market opens. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at $2.02 per share, which implies year-over-year growth of 100%.
VST's dividend yield is 0.92%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings is pinned at $9.39 per share, which implies a year-over-year improvement of 78.52%.
Why Elastic Could Be the Next AI Winner in 2026Eversource Energy NYSE: ES reported second-quarter 2026 GAAP earnings of $0.14 per share, down from $0.96 per share a year earlier, as the company recorded charges tied to the completed sale of Aquarion Water Company and its remaining offshore-wind-related contingent liability.
Excluding those items, recurring earnings were $0.87 per share for the quarter, compared with $0.96 per share in the second quarter of 2025. Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Joe Nolan said the result was in line with the company’s expectations. Eversource reaffirmed its 2026 non-GAAP earnings guidance of $4.57 to $4.72 per share and its long-term EPS growth target of 5% to 7%.
Get Eversource Energy alerts:
Buyback Boom: 3 Companies Betting Big on ThemselvesChief Financial Officer John Moreira said the decline in recurring earnings from the prior-year period primarily reflected lower results in electric transmission and gas distribution. Transmission earnings were affected by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s March decision reducing the base return on equity, while gas distribution results faced a comparison with a prior-year benefit related to recoverable expenses. Higher electric distribution revenue partly offset those pressures.
Aquarion Sale and Revolution Wind Charges Eversource completed the sale of Aquarion on June 30, generating $1.7 billion of net proceeds. Nolan said the transaction advances the company’s strategy to operate as a pure-play regulated electric and natural gas utility, with the proceeds slated to reduce parent-company debt.
3 Big Dividend Plays With Strong Earnings to Back ThemThe quarter’s GAAP results included a non-cash, after-tax charge of $111.4 million, or $0.30 per share, related to Aquarion’s carrying value at closing. The company also recorded an after-tax charge of $164 million, or $0.43 per share, to increase its estimated offshore wind contingent liability associated with its sale of Revolution Wind.
Nolan said revised Revolution Wind construction-cost estimates included higher costs resulting from two stop-work orders. He said the project is approximately 97% complete, is currently delivering more than 300 megawatts to the ISO New England grid, and remains expected to reach commercial operation later this year. Nolan said the stop-work orders caused the project to lose a vessel that had to be remobilized, but he expressed confidence that the remaining installation work is straightforward.
Transmission Opportunity and FERC Proceedings ISO New England has preliminarily selected a joint Eversource and Avangrid proposal as its preferred solution in a longer-term transmission planning process. The approximately $2.2 billion project would expand capacity between Maine and New Hampshire and strengthen transmission between northern and southern New England. Eversource’s share is expected to be about $700 million, with an anticipated in-service date of 2032.
Nolan said stakeholder comments are expected Aug. 14, followed by ISO New England’s review and a potential final recommendation in September. Moreira said roughly half of Eversource’s anticipated $700 million share could fall within the company’s current five-year capital forecast through 2030 if the project moves forward.
The company continues to challenge FERC’s March decision that reduced the base transmission return on equity and ordered refunds extending back more than a decade. Moreira said FERC approved an extension delaying refunds until mid-2027, while Eversource has also petitioned the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit for review and sought a stay.
Eversource has separately filed for a prospective transmission ROE of 11.39%, based on FERC’s existing methodology and current market conditions. Briefs in that proceeding are due Aug. 28 and Sept. 28, and the company expects a new rate to take effect Nov. 30. Its current earnings outlook assumes a 9.57% base transmission ROE.
Connecticut Rates and Storm-Cost Recovery Eversource’s Connecticut Light & Power unit filed its first general rate request since 2017 on July 14. The filing seeks to address a $451 million revenue deficiency and proposes a 10.25% ROE. The proposed increase would raise total customer bills by about 11%, according to Moreira.
About 90% of the requested deficiency is tied to capital investment, storm resiliency, storm restoration costs, depreciation and taxes, while 11% relates to operating and maintenance costs, Moreira said. The filing also includes a proposed multiyear performance-based ratemaking mechanism, economic development and heat-pump rates, and a plan for advanced metering infrastructure.
The AMI proposal includes nearly $1 billion of capital investment and $300 million in operating expense. Moreira said Eversource is seeking an expedited decision this fall and, if approved, could begin mobilizing the Connecticut project next year. He said full implementation would take about five years, with part of the capital spending falling outside the current forecast period.
Connecticut regulators also issued a final storm-cost decision. Of roughly $975 million requested, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority approved about $870 million, including approximately $200 million already recovered through rates. Eversource expects to securitize about $670 million. PURA deferred approximately $60 million pending a third-party audit and excluded about $40 million, while declining recovery of requested carrying charges.
Moreira said Eversource is evaluating its options regarding the carrying charges. The company expects to submit its financing plan in early fall, receive a final financing decision in the first quarter of next year, and potentially receive securitization proceeds about a year from now.
Capital Plan and Balance Sheet The company reaffirmed its $26.5 billion five-year capital plan through 2030, while identifying potential additions from the preliminary transmission selection and Connecticut AMI proposal. Eversource said its five-year equity needs remain $800 million to $1.1 billion and that it does not expect to issue equity during the remainder of 2026.
Moreira said Eversource’s March 31 funds-from-operations-to-debt metrics were 14.3% under S&P’s methodology and 15.7% under Moody’s methodology, each more than 100 basis points above downgrade thresholds. Moody’s recently revised the outlooks for Eversource and NSTAR Electric to stable from negative.
Management said it expects earnings growth to move toward the upper half of its 5% to 7% long-term target range by 2028, supported by regulatory outcomes, storm-cost securitization efforts, the Aquarion sale and planned utility investment.
About Eversource Energy (NYSE:ES)Eversource Energy NYSE: ES is a publicly traded, regulated energy company headquartered in Hartford, Connecticut. The company's core business is the delivery and transmission of electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial and industrial customers across parts of New England. Eversource operates transmission and distribution networks, maintains electrical infrastructure, responds to outages and storms, and manages natural gas pipeline and distribution systems in the regions it serves.
Eversource serves customers primarily in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, operating through locally regulated utility subsidiaries that administer customer service, billing, meter reading and localized operations.
This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].
Should You Invest $1,000 in Eversource Energy Right Now?Before you consider Eversource Energy, you'll want to hear this.
MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and Eversource Energy wasn't on the list.
While Eversource Energy currently has a Hold rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys.
View The Five Stocks Here
Nuclear energy is entering a new growth cycle as rising power demand, expanding data centers, and renewed policy support bring the sector back into focus. After strong gains in recent years, the most impactful phase of nuclear investment may still be ahead. This report highlights seven nuclear energy stocks positioned across the value chain—combining near-term revenue with long-term upside as next-generation technologies scale. Click the link below to unlock the full list.
Eversource Energy (ES - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.87 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.88 per share. This compares to earnings of $0.96 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.
This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of -1.14%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this New England power provider would post earnings of $1.59 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.73, delivering a surprise of +8.81%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times.
Eversource, which belongs to the Zacks Utility - Electric Power industry, posted revenues of $2.9 billion for the quarter ended June 2026, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 7.63%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $2.84 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates just once over the last four quarters.
The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.
Eversource shares have added about 11% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 6.9%.
What's Next for Eversource?While Eversource has outperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?
There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.
Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.
Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Eversource was unfavorable. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to underperform the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $1.02 on $3.49 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $4.64 on $14.56 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.
Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Utility - Electric Power is currently in the bottom 34% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
Consolidated Edison (ED - Free Report) , another stock in the same industry, has yet to report results for the quarter ended June 2026. The results are expected to be released on August 6.
This utility is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.74 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +10.5%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 6.8% higher over the last 30 days to the current level.
Consolidated Edison's revenues are expected to be $3.74 billion, up 4.2% from the year-ago quarter.
HARTFORD, Conn. and BOSTON, July 30, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eversource Energy (“Eversource” or the “Company”) (NYSE: ES) today reported GAAP earnings of $53.7 million, or $0.14 per share, for the second quarter of 2026, compared with GAAP and non-GAAP earnings of $352.7 million, or $0.96 per share, for the second quarter of 2025. Non-GAAP recurring earnings totaled $329.1 million1, or $0.87 per share1, in the second quarter of 2026.
For the first half of 2026, Eversource reported GAAP earnings of $660.5 million, or $1.75 per share, compared with GAAP and non-GAAP earnings of $903.5 million, or $2.45 per share, for the first half of 2025. Non-GAAP recurring earnings totaled $979.8 million1, or $2.60 per share1, in the first half of 2026.
GAAP results for the second quarter and first half of 2026 include a non-cash, after-tax charge of $111.4 million, or $0.30 per share, related to the sale of Aquarion Water Company on June 30, 2026 and an after-tax charge of $164.0 million, or $0.43 per share, related to an increase in Eversource's offshore wind contingent liability for expected future payments to Global Infrastructure Partners as part of the September 30, 2024 sale of the South Fork Wind and Revolution Wind projects. GAAP results for the first half of 2026 include an after-tax charge of $43.9 million, or $0.12 per share, related to estimated refunds associated with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) decision of March 19, 2026, that reduced the return on equity (ROE) rate for New England transmission owners from 10.57% to 9.57%.
“During the second quarter, we completed our strategic divestiture of Aquarion Water, further strengthening our balance sheet and positioning Eversource for continued success as a pure-play regulated electric and natural gas delivery company. This focused strategy has already created new opportunities, including our preliminary selection by ISO-NE to develop critical transmission infrastructure that will bring power from northern Maine to southern New England. We are very pleased that the incumbent utilities have been selected for this important project,” said Joe Nolan, Chairman, President and CEO. “As we enter the second half of the year, our priorities remain clear: operating safely and efficiently, delivering reliable service to our customers, executing on our strategic investments and maintaining the financial strength that supports long-term value creation,” said Nolan.
The Company reaffirms its revised earnings guidance for 2026 non-GAAP recurring earnings of between $4.57 per share1 and $4.72 per share1, which includes the impact of the prospective reduction to the transmission ROE rate resulting from the March 2026 FERC order and the absence of Aquarion earnings in the second half of the year. It also reaffirms its cumulative long-term earnings per share growth rate within the range of 5 to 7 percent through 2030, using the adjusted 2026 non-GAAP earnings guidance midpoint of $4.65 per share1 as the base year. Eversource expects annual earnings growth towards the upper half of its long-term guidance by 2028.
Electric Transmission
Eversource Energy’s transmission segment, excluding the FERC ROE refund charge noted above, earned $183.7 million in the second quarter of 2026 and $408.0 million1 in the first half of 2026, compared with earnings of $208.0 million in the second quarter of 2025 and $407.5 million in the first half of 2025. Transmission segment results in both periods reflect the impact from the reduction to the allowed ROE mentioned above, as well as higher interest expense, partially offset by continued investment in Eversource’s electric transmission system.
Electric Distribution
Eversource Energy’s electric distribution segment earned $170.4 million in the second quarter of 2026 and $373.1 million in the first half of 2026, compared with earnings of $161.5 million in the second quarter of 2025 and $350.0 million in the first half of 2025. Improved results in both periods were due primarily to higher revenues from base distribution rate increases at Eversource’s Massachusetts and New Hampshire electric businesses, and continued investments in the Company’s distribution system. The higher revenues were partially offset by higher interest expense, depreciation, and property taxes.
Natural Gas Distribution
Eversource Energy’s natural gas distribution segment earned $29.7 million in the second quarter of 2026 and $325.1 million in the first half of 2026, compared with earnings of $35.3 million in the second quarter of 2025 and $253.7 million in the first half of 2025. Improved results in the first half were due primarily to base distribution rate increases at all of Eversource’s gas businesses, effective November 1, 2025, to recover continued investment in the Company’s natural gas infrastructure, partially offset by higher Operations and Maintenance (O&M), depreciation, property and income taxes, and interest expense. Lower results in the quarter were due primarily to the absence of a benefit in 2025 from previously expensed costs allowed for recovery.
Water Distribution
Eversource Energy’s water distribution segment, excluding the charge related to the sale of Aquarion noted above, earned $11.6 million1 in the second quarter of 2026 and $17.9 million1 in the first half of 2026, compared with earnings of $14.4 million in the second quarter of 2025 and $17.9 million in the first half of 2025. Lower results in the second quarter were due primarily to higher O&M and depreciation expense, partially offset by higher revenues.
Eversource Parent and Other Companies
Eversource Energy parent and other companies, excluding the increase in the offshore wind contingent liability noted above, had a loss of $66.3 million1 in the second quarter of 2026 and $144.3 million1 in the first half of 2026, compared with a loss of $66.5 million in the second quarter of 2025 and $125.6 million in the first half of 2025. Results in both periods were driven by higher interest expense and a higher effective tax rate.
Eversource Energy Consolidated Earnings
The following table reconciles consolidated GAAP earnings per share for the second quarter and the first half of 2026 and 2025:
Second
QuarterFirst
Half2025Reported GAAP EPS$0.96 $2.45 Electric transmission segment earnings, excluding FERC ROE Refund Charge (0.07) (0.03) Electric distribution segment earnings 0.01 0.04 Natural gas distribution segment earnings (0.02) 0.18 Water distribution segment earnings, excluding Sale of Aquarion Charge (0.01) — Parent and other companies, excluding Offshore Wind Charge — (0.04) Offshore Wind Charge (0.43) (0.43) Sale of Aquarion Charge (0.30) (0.30) FERC ROE Refund Charge — (0.12)2026Reported GAAP EPS$0.14 $1.75 Financial results for the second quarter and the first half of 2026 and 2025 for Eversource Energy’s business segments and parent and other companies are noted below:
Three months ended: (in millions, except EPS)June 30, 2026June 30, 2025Increase/
(Decrease)2026 EPS12025 EPSIncrease/
(Decrease)Electric Transmission$183.7 $208.0 $(24.3)$0.49 $0.56 $(0.07)Electric Distribution 170.4 161.5 8.9 0.45 0.44 0.01 Natural Gas Distribution 29.7 35.3 (5.6) 0.08 0.10 (0.02)Water Distribution1 11.6 14.4 (2.8) 0.03 0.04 (0.01)Parent and Other Companies1 (66.3) (66.5) 0.2 (0.18) (0.18) — Offshore Wind Charge (164.0) — (164.0) (0.43) — (0.43)Sale of Aquarion Charge (111.4) — (111.4) (0.30) — (0.30)Reported Earnings$53.7 $352.7 $(299.0)$0.14 $0.96 $(0.82) Six months ended: (in millions, except EPS)June 30, 2026June 30, 2025Increase/
(Decrease)2026 EPS12025 EPSIncrease/
(Decrease)Electric Transmission1$408.0 $407.5 $0.5 $1.08 $1.11 $(0.03)Electric Distribution 373.1 350.0 23.1 0.99 0.95 0.04 Natural Gas Distribution 325.1 253.7 71.4 0.86 0.68 0.18 Water Distribution1 17.9 17.9 — 0.05 0.05 — Parent and Other Companies1 (144.3) (125.6) (18.7) (0.38) (0.34) (0.04)Offshore Wind Charge (164.0) — (164.0) (0.43) — (0.43)Sale of Aquarion Charge (111.4) — (111.4) (0.30) — (0.30)FERC ROE Refund Charge (43.9) — (43.9) (0.12) — (0.12)Reported Earnings$660.5 $903.5 $(243.0)$1.75 $2.45 $(0.70) Eversource Energy has approximately 377 million common shares outstanding and operates New England’s largest energy delivery system. It serves more than 4 million electric and natural gas customers in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
CONTACT:
Rima Hyder (Investor Relations) [email protected]
(781) 441-8882
Note: Eversource Energy will webcast a conference call with senior management on July 31, 2026, beginning at 9 a.m. Eastern Time. The webcast and associated slides can be accessed through Eversource Energy’s website at www.eversource.com or directly on the Investor Relations website at investors.eversource.com. 1 All per-share amounts in this news release are reported on a diluted basis. The only common equity securities that are publicly traded are common shares of Eversource Energy. The earnings discussion includes financial measures that are not recognized under generally accepted accounting principles (non-GAAP) referencing 2026 earnings and EPS excluding a charge on the sale of the Aquarion water distribution business, a charge associated with increasing the offshore wind contingent liability, and a charge related to the March 2026 FERC decision in the FERC base ROE complaints. EPS by business is also a non-GAAP financial measure and is calculated by dividing the Net Income Attributable to Common Shareholders of each business by the weighted average diluted Eversource Energy common shares outstanding for the period. The earnings and EPS of each business do not represent a direct legal interest in the assets and liabilities of such business, but rather represent a direct interest in Eversource Energy’s assets and liabilities as a whole.
Eversource Energy uses these non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate and provide details of earnings results by business and to more fully compare and explain results without including these items. This information is among the primary indicators management uses as a basis for evaluating performance and planning and forecasting of future periods. Management believes the loss on the sale of the Aquarion water distribution business, the charge associated with increasing our offshore wind contingent liability, and the charge related to the March 2026 FERC decision in the FERC base ROE complaints are not indicative of Eversource Energy's ongoing costs and performance. Management views these charges as not directly related to the ongoing operations of the business and therefore not indicators of baseline operating performance. Due to the nature and significance of the effect of these items on Net Income Attributable to Common Shareholders and EPS, management believes that the non-GAAP presentation is a more meaningful representation of Eversource Energy's financial performance and provides additional and useful information to readers of this report in analyzing historical and future performance of the business. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as alternatives to reported Net Income Attributable to Common Shareholders or EPS determined in accordance with GAAP as indicators of Eversource Energy's operating performance.
Eversource Energy does not provide a reconciliation of guidance from non-GAAP recurring earnings or non-GAAP recurring EPS to the most directly comparable GAAP measures because it is not able to predict with reasonable certainty the amount or nature of all items that will be included in Net Income Attributable to Common Shareholders or EPS for the year ending December 31, 2026. These items are uncertain, depend on many factors and could have a material impact on Net Income Attributable to Common Shareholders and EPS for the year ending December 31, 2026, and therefore cannot be made available without unreasonable effort.
Eversource Energy makes statements concerning its expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, strategies, assumptions of future events, future financial performance or growth and other statements that are not historical facts. These statements are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of U. S. federal securities laws. Readers can generally identify these forward-looking statements through the use of words or phrases such as “estimate,” “expect,” “pending,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “project,” “believe,” “forecast,” “would,” “should,” “could” and other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations, estimates, assumptions or projections of management and are not guarantees of future performance. These expectations, estimates, assumptions or projections may vary materially from actual results. Accordingly, any such statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to, and are accompanied by, the following important factors that may cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to cyber events or breaches, including acts of war or terrorism, affecting our systems or the systems of third parties on which we rely; unauthorized access to, and the misappropriation of, confidential and proprietary Company, customer, employee, financial or system operating information; actions or inaction of local, state and federal regulatory, public policy and taxing bodies; changes in laws, regulations, Presidential executive orders or regulatory policy, including compliance with laws and regulations, which may impact the cost of compliance and strategic initiatives of the Company; adverse publicity, which can harm our reputation, influence legislative and regulatory bodies, and result in unfavorable outcomes; variability in the costs and final investment returns of the Revolution Wind and South Fork Wind offshore wind projects as it relates to the purchase price post-closing adjustment under the terms of the sale agreement for these projects; the ability to qualify for investment tax credits; extreme weather, including severe storms, due to the impacts of climate change, and fluctuations in weather patterns; physical attacks or grid disturbances that may damage and disrupt our electric transmission and electric and natural gas distribution systems; ability or inability to commence and complete our major strategic development projects and opportunities; breakdown, failure of, or damage to operating equipment, information technology systems, or processes of our transmission and distribution systems; changes in levels or timing of capital expenditures, including unplanned expenditures and increased capital expenditure requirements; changes in business conditions, which could include disruptive technology or development of alternative energy sources related to our current or future business model; substandard performance of third-party suppliers and service providers, or counterparties not meeting their obligations; limits on our access to, or increases in, the cost of capital, including disruptions in the capital markets or other events that make our access to necessary capital more difficult or costly; changes in economic conditions, including impact on interest rates, tax policies, tariffs and customer demand and payment ability; changes in accounting standards and financial reporting regulations; actions of rating agencies; and other presently unknown or unforeseen factors.
Other risk factors are detailed in Eversource Energy’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). They are updated as necessary and available on Eversource Energy’s website at investors.eversource.com and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, and management encourages you to consult such disclosures.
All such factors are difficult to predict and contain uncertainties that may materially affect Eversource Energy’s actual results, many of which are beyond our control. You should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, as each speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and, except as required by federal securities laws, Eversource Energy undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement or statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
EVERSOURCE ENERGY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited) For the Three Months
Ended June 30, For the Six Months
Ended June 30,(Thousands of Dollars, Except Share Information) 2026 2025 2026 2025 Operating Revenues$2,903,189 $2,838,068 $7,407,552 $6,956,423 Operating Expenses: Purchased Power, Purchased Natural Gas and
Transmission 939,514 818,747 2,457,688 2,159,084Operations and Maintenance 480,441 467,557 987,420 955,008Depreciation 423,914 385,595 844,396 765,175Amortization (44,323) 109,103 358,441 564,552Energy Efficiency Programs 173,231 135,290 464,730 392,840Taxes Other Than Income Taxes 278,178 258,727 566,495 530,321Sale of Aquarion 111,360 — 111,360 —Total Operating Expenses 2,362,315 2,175,019 5,790,530 5,366,980Operating Income 540,874 663,049 1,617,022 1,589,443Interest Expense 355,490 293,193 720,749 594,042Loss on Offshore Wind 194,000 — 194,000 —Other Income, Net 144,033 95,363 245,192 187,706Income Before Income Tax Expense 135,417 465,219 947,465 1,183,107Income Tax Expense 79,857 110,611 283,184 275,831Net Income 55,560 354,608 664,281 907,276Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests 1,880 1,880 3,759 3,759Net Income Attributable to Common Shareholders$53,680 $352,728 $660,522 $903,517 Basic Earnings Per Common Share$0.14 $0.96 $1.76 $2.46 Diluted Earnings Per Common Share$0.14 $0.96 $1.75 $2.45 Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding: Basic 376,488,004 368,661,995 376,257,047 367,991,121Diluted 376,998,879 368,917,187 376,791,247 368,297,404 The data contained in this report is preliminary and is unaudited. This report is being submitted for the sole purpose of providing information to shareholders about Eversource Energy and Subsidiaries and is not a representation, prospectus, or intended for use in connection with any purchase or sale of securities.
Key Takeaways Eversource is expected to post Q2 EPS of 88 cents, down 8.33%, on revenues of $3.14 billion. Grid upgrades, regulated operations, rate increases and rising electricity demand may support results. Higher interest costs, share dilution and taxes may offset gains, despite the $1.7 billion Aquarion sale. Eversource Energy (ES - Free Report) is scheduled to release second-quarter 2026 results on July 30, after market close. The company delivered an earnings surprise of 8.81% in the last reported quarter.
Let’s discuss the factors that are likely to be reflected in the upcoming quarterly results.
Q2 Expectations for ESThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at 88 cents per share, indicating a year-over-year decrease of 8.33%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pinned at $3.14 billion, implying a year-over-year improvement of 10.74%.
Factors Likely to Have Impacted ES’ Q2 EarningsEversource Energy's second-quarter earnings are likely to have benefited from its continued investments in grid modernization, transmission and distribution upgrades, and asset replacement.
These investments are expected to have enhanced system reliability by reducing outages, supporting rising electricity demand and renewable energy integration, and contributing positively to quarterly performance.
The company's second-quarter earnings are likely to have benefited from its pure-play regulated utility operations, previously approved rate increases and growing electricity demand. On June 30, 2026, ES completed the sale of Aquarion Water Company, generating nearly $1.7 billion. Ongoing cost discipline is also expected to provide additional support to second-quarter results.
However, increased interest expenses, share dilution and higher tax rate may have tempered some of the positive drivers during the to-be-reported quarter.
What Our Quantitative Model Predicts for ESOur proven model does not predict an earnings beat for Eversource Energy this time. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, which is the case here, as you will see below.
Earnings ESP: The company’s Earnings ESP is -1.08%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Zacks Rank: Currently, Eversource Energy has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Stocks to ConsiderInvestors may consider the following players from the same industry, as these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this reporting cycle.
Ameren (AEE - Free Report) is set to report second-quarter results on July 31 and is likely to have come up with an earnings beat. It has an Earnings ESP of +0.19% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present.
AEE’s long-term (three to five years) earnings growth rate is 7.68%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter EPS is pinned at $1.08, which implies a year-over-year increase of 6.93%.
Duke Energy (DUK - Free Report) is scheduled to report second-quarter results on Aug. 4 and is likely to have come up with an earnings beat. It has an Earnings ESP of +0.16% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present.
DUK’s long-term earnings growth rate is 6.76%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at $1.29 per share, which suggests a year-over-year increase of 3.20%.
Pinnacle West Capital (PNW - Free Report) is set to report second-quarter results on Aug. 4 and is likely to have come up with an earnings beat. It has an Earnings ESP of +0.95% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present.
PNW’s long-term earnings growth rate is 5.81%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter EPS is pinned at $1.49, which implies a year-over-year decrease of 5.70%.
Wall Street analysts expect Eversource Energy (ES - Free Report) to post quarterly earnings of $0.88 per share in its upcoming report, which indicates a year-over-year decline of 8.3%. Revenues are expected to be $3.14 billion, up 10.7% from the year-ago quarter.
The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 1.3% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This reflects how the analysts covering the stock have collectively reevaluated their initial estimates during this timeframe.
Prior to a company's earnings announcement, it is crucial to consider revisions to earnings estimates. This serves as a significant indicator for predicting potential investor actions regarding the stock. Empirical research has consistently demonstrated a robust correlation between trends in earnings estimate revision and the short-term price performance of a stock.
While investors usually depend on consensus earnings and revenue estimates to assess the business performance for the quarter, delving into analysts' forecasts for certain key metrics often provides a more comprehensive understanding.
With that in mind, let's delve into the average projections of some Eversource metrics that are commonly tracked and projected by analysts on Wall Street.
The combined assessment of analysts suggests that 'Operating Income- Electric Distribution' will likely reach $227.39 million. Compared to the current estimate, the company reported $240.60 million in the same quarter of the previous year.
Based on the collective assessment of analysts, 'Operating Income- Electric Transmission' should arrive at $337.43 million. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $301.80 million.
Analysts' assessment points toward 'Operating Income- Natural Gas Distribution' reaching $48.61 million. Compared to the current estimate, the company reported $63.20 million in the same quarter of the previous year.
View all Key Company Metrics for Eversource here>>>
Eversource shares have witnessed a change of +4.3% in the past month, in contrast to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.9% move. With a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), ES is expected underperform the overall market performance in the near term. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Eversource, National Grid, EnergyHub, Sunrun, and The Mobility House — leaders in grid flexibility and smart charging technology — today announced a joint effort to test vehicle-to-grid (V2G) capabilities in Massachusetts. Under this effort, qualifying residential customers of Eversource and National Grid in Massachusetts will be able to enroll their V2G-capable electric vehicles (EVs) in ConnectedSolutions. The existing ConnectedSolutions program uses flexible capaci.
The market expects Eversource Energy (ES - Free Report) 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 is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.
The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on July 30. 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 New England power provider is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.92 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -4.2%.
Revenues are expected to be $3.04 billion, up 7.1% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.75% higher 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 an aggregate change may not always reflect the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts.
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 Eversource?For Eversource, 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 -4.14%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #4.
So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Eversource will beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. 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 Eversource would post earnings of $1.59 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.73, delivering a surprise of +8.81%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates four 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.
Eversource 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.
An Industry Player's Expected ResultsWEC Energy Group (WEC - Free Report) , another stock in the Zacks Utility - Electric Power industry, is expected to report earnings per share of $0.81 for the quarter ended June 2026. This estimate points to a year-over-year change of +6.6%. Revenues for the quarter are expected to be $2.07 billion, up 3.1% from the year-ago quarter.
The consensus EPS estimate for WEC Energy has been revised 5.3% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. However, a lower Most Accurate Estimate has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -0.83%.
This Earnings ESP, combined with its Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), makes it difficult to conclusively predict that WEC Energy will beat the consensus EPS estimate. The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
HARTFORD, Conn. and BOSTON, July 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In recognition of its continued commitment to employees, operational excellence and long-term sustainability for customers, Eversource (NYSE: ES) has been named to TIME's list of America's Best Companies for 2026, a prestigious annual ranking presented by TIME and Statista that recognizes organizations based on employee satisfaction, financial performance and sustainability transparency that benefits customers.
"We're honored to be recognized by TIME as one of America's Best Companies because this award reflects the dedication of our thousands of employees who work every day to safely deliver reliable energy and exceptional service to our customers with an ever-present focus on affordability," said Eversource Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Joe Nolan. "Our people are the foundation of everything we do, and this recognition is a testament to their hard work and commitment. As we continue investing in our employees, we’ll remain focused on operating efficiently, keeping the costs we can control as low as possible and delivering safe and reliable service for our customers."
The TIME America's Best Companies 2026 ranking, presented in collaboration with Statista, evaluated companies across three key areas: employee satisfaction, financial performance and sustainability transparency. Employee satisfaction was measured through surveys of approximately 217,000 employees at U.S. companies over the past three years, while financial performance and sustainability transparency were assessed using a range of publicly available business and environmental, social and governance (ESG) metrics. The 1,000 highest-scoring companies earned a place on this year's list.
This latest recognition adds to Eversource's growing list of national honors for its customer-focused corporate responsibility, workplace excellence and sustainability, including being named one of Newsweek's America's Most Trustworthy Companies for 2026, one of Newsweek's America's Most Responsible Companies for 2026, and a VETS Indexes 5 Star Employer for 2026.
Eversource (NYSE: ES), celebrated as a national leader for its commitment to sustainability and corporate citizenship, is named among America’s Most Responsible Companies by Newsweek for 2026 and recognized as the #1 utility on USA Today’s list of America’s Climate Leaders for 2025. Eversource transmits and delivers electricity and natural gas to more than 4 million customers in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The #1 Energy Efficiency Provider in the Nation, Eversource harnesses the commitment of more than 10,300 employees across three states to build a single, united company around the mission of safely delivering reliable energy with superior customer service. The company is empowering a clean energy future in the Northeast, with nationally recognized energy efficiency solutions and successful programs to integrate new clean energy resources like a first-in-the-nation networked geothermal pilot project, solar, offshore wind, electric vehicles and battery storage, into the electric system. For more information, please visit eversource.com, and follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
SummaryEversource Energy remains a 'Buy,' offering defensive stability, steady growth, and trading at a 5% discount to fair value.ES's robust five-year $26.5 billion capex plan, strong operating cash flow, and Aquarion sale support balance sheet strength and future growth.Despite a temporary FERC-driven EPS dip in 2026, ES targets 5%–7% annual non-GAAP EPS growth, with 10%+ annual total return potential by 2031.ES boasts a 4.2% forward dividend yield, 27 years of growth, and a sustainable payout ratio, though regulatory risks warrant monitoring.Looking for a portfolio of ideas like this one? Members of The Dividend Kings get exclusive access to our subscriber-only portfolios. Learn More » Justin Paget/DigitalVision via Getty Images
Co-authored by Kody's Dividends
It’s not a secret that markets can experience significant volatility with the flip of a switch. That’s because sentiment can turn on a dime with the next worrying headline. This is why
4.95K Followers
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of ES either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Kody's Dividends, Justin Law, and Rachel Kaufman are part of The Dividend Kings team.
Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
HARTFORD, Conn. and BOSTON, July 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eversource Energy will host an earnings conference call with financial analysts on Friday, July 31, 2026, at 9 a.m. Eastern Time, to discuss the company’s financial performance and other business updates through the second quarter of 2026.
The live webcast and recording of the earnings conference call can be accessed via Eversource's Investors page.
Investors and analysts wishing to participate in the Q&A session of the call and access the event via phone, please pre-register here. Pre-registration may be completed at any time up to the call start time.
Eversource Energy will release its second quarter of 2026 financial results on Thursday, July 30, 2026, after the market closes at 4 p.m. Eastern Time.
Eversource (NYSE: ES), celebrated as a national leader for its commitment to sustainability and corporate citizenship, is named among America’s Most Responsible Companies by Newsweek for 2026 and recognized as the #1 utility on USA Today’s list of America’s Climate Leaders for 2025. Eversource transmits and delivers electricity and natural gas to more than 4 million customers in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The #1 Energy Efficiency Provider in the Nation, Eversource harnesses the commitment of more than 10,300 employees across three states to build a single, united company around the mission of safely delivering reliable energy and water with superior customer service. The company is empowering a clean energy future in the Northeast, with nationally recognized energy efficiency solutions and successful programs to integrate new clean energy resources like a first-in-the-nation networked geothermal pilot project, solar, offshore wind, electric vehicles and battery storage, into the electric system. For more information, please visit eversource.com, and follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
CONTACT:
Rima Hyder (Investor Relations) [email protected]
781-441-8882
Key Takeaways Eversource is simplifying its portfolio to focus on regulated electric and natural gas utility operations. The Aquarion Water sale brought nearly $1.7B in net proceeds to reduce debt and strengthen its balance sheet. Eversource plans $26.5B in investments through 2030 to modernize infrastructure and support EPS growth. Eversource Energy (ES - Free Report) is benefiting from its transition to a pure-play regulated electric and natural gas utility. This portfolio simplification reduces business risk, strengthens cash flow and supports consistent earnings growth through constructive regulatory outcomes and disciplined infrastructure investments.
On June 30, 2026, Eversource completed the sale of its Aquarion Water Company, receiving nearly $1.7 billion in net proceeds to reduce debt. The transaction improves the balance sheet and sharpens the company's focus on its core regulated electric and natural gas businesses, supporting long-term earnings growth.
The company plans to invest $5.07 billion in 2026 and $26.5 billion through 2030, with an additional $1 billion of potential investment opportunities. These investments are expected to improve grid reliability, modernize energy infrastructure and enhance service reliability, supporting long-term regulated earnings growth.
The company's regulated business model allows it to recover eligible infrastructure investments through rate hikes, providing steady cash flows and greater earnings visibility. Despite the sale of Aquarion Water Company, Eversource expects its long-term EPS growth of 5-7% through 2030, reflecting confidence in its regulated utility strategy.
Overall, Eversource's constructive regulatory environment, expanding regulated investment plan, stronger balance sheet and disciplined capital allocation provide a solid foundation for sustainable earnings growth and long-term shareholder value.
Streamlined Utility Portfolio Supports Earnings GrowthUtility companies are streamlining their portfolios by divesting non-core businesses and focusing on regulated operations, improving earnings visibility. This strategy enhances financial flexibility, supports efficient capital deployment and drives sustainable cash flow generation.
NextEra Energy (NEE - Free Report) is further strengthening its regulated utility focus through its planned acquisition of Dominion Energy, creating a business with more than 80% regulated operations and a streamlined growth platform.
Spire Inc. (SR - Free Report) is benefiting from strategic portfolio optimization, supported by the acquisition of Piedmont Natural Gas Tennessee and the divestiture of its non-core businesses, Spire Marketing and Spire Storage.
ES’ Earnings EstimatesThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 EPS indicates a year-over-year decrease of 1.68%, while the estimate for 2027 EPS suggests a 6.32% increase.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
ES’ Returns on Equity (ROE)Eversource's trailing-12-month ROE is 11.59%, higher than the industry average of 11.21%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
ES’ Stock Price PerformanceIn the past month, the company’s shares have risen 6.7% compared with the industry’s 3.4% growth.
HARTFORD, Conn. and BOSTON, June 30, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eversource Energy (NYSE:ES) (“Eversource”) today announced that it has successfully completed the sale of Aquarion Water Company (“AWC”), consistent with all regulatory terms and requirements, to Aquarion Water Authority (“AWA”), a quasi-public corporation and political subdivision of the State of Connecticut and a standalone water authority alongside the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority (“RWA”). The total transaction purchase price was $2.4 billion cash. The adjusted net equity proceeds of approximately $1.7 billion will be used to displace Eversource debt, delivering on our commitment to strengthen the Eversource balance sheet.
On January 27, 2025, Eversource entered a definitive agreement to sell AWC to AWA. The sale was approved by the Connecticut Public Utilities Regulatory Authority on March 25, 2026.
“We are pleased to close this transaction, which is a key piece of our commitment to further strengthen our balance sheet and credit profile,” said Eversource Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer John Moreira. “The sale of Aquarion constitutes a significant milestone in furthering our strategic position as a pure-play regulated pipes and wires utility, allowing us to optimize our portfolio by focusing on our core electric and natural gas operations across New England while efficiently reinvesting capital for the benefit of our customers. As we continue to collaborate with stakeholders across our service territories in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire to deliver cost-effective solutions that ensure safe, reliable electric and natural gas service for our customers, we are confident that Aquarion’s operational success, sound management and financial stewardship will continue under the new authority model – benefitting residents, businesses and communities for years to come.”
As a result of the sale, Eversource expects to recognize an after-tax non-cash non-recurring charge of approximately $115 million, or $0.31 per share, in the second quarter of 2026. The Company's revised 2026 non-GAAP guidance of $4.57 per share to $4.72 per share includes the impact of the absence of Aquarion earnings. The Company continues to expect that its cumulative long-term earnings per share growth rate would be within the range of 5 to 7 percent through 2030, using the adjusted 2026 non-GAAP earnings guidance mid-point of $4.65 per share as the base year. The Company expects annual earnings growth towards the upper half of its long-term guidance by 2028.
Citi and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC served as financial advisors to Eversource Energy. Ropes & Gray LLP served as legal counsel to Eversource Energy.
This release includes financial measures that are not recognized under generally accepted accounting principles (non-GAAP) referencing earnings and EPS excluding the loss on sale of the Aquarion water distribution business and excluding a charge for the March 2026 FERC decision in the FERC base ROE complaints. EPS by business is also a non-GAAP financial measure and is calculated by dividing the Net Income Attributable to Common Shareholders of each business by the weighted average diluted Eversource Energy common shares outstanding for the period. The earnings and EPS of each business do not represent a direct legal interest in the assets and liabilities of such business but rather represent a direct interest in Eversource Energy’s assets and liabilities as a whole. Eversource Energy uses these non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate and provide details of earnings results by business and to more fully compare and explain results without including these items. This information is among the primary indicators management uses as a basis for evaluating performance and planning and forecasting of future periods. Management believes the loss on sale of the Aquarion water distribution business and the charge for the March 2026 FERC decision in the FERC base ROE complaints are not indicative of Eversource Energy’s ongoing costs and performance. Management views these charges as not directly related to the ongoing operations of the business and therefore not indicators of baseline operating performance. Due to the nature and significance of the effect of these items on Net Income Attributable to Common Shareholders and EPS, management believes that the non-GAAP presentation is a more meaningful representation of Eversource Energy’s financial performance and provides additional and useful information to readers of this report in analyzing historical and future performance of the business. These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as alternatives to reported Net Income Attributable to Common Shareholders and EPS determined in accordance with GAAP as indicators of Eversource Energy's operating performance. Eversource Energy does not provide a reconciliation of guidance from non-GAAP recurring earnings or non-GAAP recurring EPS to the most directly comparable GAAP measure because it is not able to predict with reasonable certainty the amount or nature of all items that will be included in Net Income Attributable to Common Shareholders or recurring EPS for the year ending December 31, 2026. These items are uncertain, depend on many factors and could have a material impact on Net Income Attributable to Common Shareholders and recurring EPS for the year ending December 31, 2026, and therefore cannot be made available without unreasonable effort.
This release also includes statements concerning Eversource Energy’s expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, strategies, assumptions of future events, future financial performance or growth and other statements that are not historical facts. These statements are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. Generally, readers can identify these forward-looking statements through the use of words or phrases such as “estimate,” “expect,” “pending,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “project,” “believe,” “forecast,” “would,” “should,” “could” and other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the current expectations, estimates, assumptions or projections of management and are not guarantees of future performance. These expectations, estimates, assumptions or projections may vary materially from actual results. Accordingly, any such statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to, and are accompanied by, the following important factors that may cause our actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those contained in our forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to: cyber events or breaches, including acts of war or terrorism, affecting our systems or the systems of third parties on which we rely, unauthorized access to, and the misappropriation of, confidential and proprietary Company, customer, employee, financial or system operating information; actions or inaction of local, state and federal regulatory, public policy and taxing bodies; changes in laws, regulations, Presidential executive orders or regulatory policy, including compliance with laws and regulations, which may impact the cost of compliance and strategic initiatives of the Company; adverse publicity, which can harm our reputation, influence legislative and regulatory bodies, and result in unfavorable outcomes; variability in the costs and final investment returns of the Revolution Wind and South Fork Wind offshore wind projects as it relates to the purchase price post-closing adjustment under the terms of the sale agreement for these projects; the ability to qualify for investment tax credits; extreme weather, including severe storms, due to the impacts of climate change, and fluctuations in weather patterns; physical attacks or grid disturbances that may damage and disrupt our electric transmission and electric and natural gas distribution systems; ability or inability to commence and complete our major strategic development projects and opportunities; breakdown, failure of, or damage to operating equipment, information technology systems, or processes of our transmission and distribution systems; changes in levels or timing of capital expenditures, including unplanned expenditures and increased capital expenditure requirements; changes in business conditions, which could include disruptive technology or development of alternative energy sources related to our current or future business model; substandard performance of third-party suppliers and service providers, or counterparties not meeting their obligations; limits on our access to, or increases in, the cost of capital, including disruptions in the capital markets or other events that make our access to necessary capital more difficult or costly; changes in economic conditions, including impact on interest rates, tax policies, tariffs and customer demand and payment ability; changes in accounting standards and financial reporting regulations; actions of rating agencies, and other presently unknown or unforeseen factors.
Other risk factors are detailed in Eversource Energy’s reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). They are updated as necessary and available on Eversource Energy’s website at investors.eversource.com and on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and management encourages you to consult such disclosures.
All such factors are difficult to predict and contain uncertainties that may materially affect Eversource Energy’s actual results, many of which are beyond our control. You should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, as each speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and, except as required by federal securities laws, Eversource Energy undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement or statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. New factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for us to predict all of such factors, nor can we assess the impact of each such factor on the business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements.
Eversource (NYSE: ES), celebrated as a national leader for its commitment to sustainability and corporate citizenship, is named among America’s Most Responsible Companies by Newsweek for 2026 and recognized as the #1 utility on USA Today’s list of America’s Climate Leaders for 2025. Eversource transmits and delivers electricity and natural gas to approximately 4 million customers in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The #1 Energy Efficiency Provider in the Nation, Eversource harnesses the commitment of more than 10,500 employees across three states to build a single, united company around the mission of safely delivering reliable energy and water with superior customer service. The company is empowering a clean energy future in the Northeast, with nationally recognized energy efficiency solutions and successful programs to integrate new clean energy resources like a first-in-the-nation networked geothermal pilot project, solar, offshore wind, electric vehicles and battery storage, into the electric system. For more information, please visit eversource.com, and follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. For more information on our water services, visit aquarionwater.com.
CONTACT:
Investor Relations:
Rima Hyder
781-441-8882 [email protected]
Key Takeaways CNP and ES gain from regulated operations, rising electricity demand and infrastructure investments. ES has a 4.49% dividend yield, 11.59% ROE and 64.50% debt-to-capital ratio. CNP plans $6.8B in 2026 capital spending and reaffirmed its $65.5B 2026-2035 plan. Companies operating in the Zacks Utility - Electric Power industry generate, transmit and distribute electricity to millions of residential, commercial and industrial customers across the United States. These companies manage extensive power generation assets and transmission networks to ensure a reliable energy supply. The regulated nature of utility operations allows them to recover costs through rate hikes and supports steady returns, while growing customer demand contributes to earnings expansion. In addition, utilities are known for offering attractive dividend payouts and stable returns, making them a reliable investment choice.
Electricity consumption across the United States continues to increase, supported by growing electrification trends, population growth, the reshoring of manufacturing activities and the rapid expansion of data centers. Companies operating in this industry are making strategic investments in generation and grid infrastructure supporting long-term revenues and earnings growth.
Given the increasing significance of the power generation, transmission and distribution business, let us compare CenterPoint Energy (CNP - Free Report) and Eversource Energy (ES - Free Report) . These two regulated electric utilities benefit from rising electric demand and supportive cost-recovery mechanisms, while consistently investing in infrastructure upgrades and grid modernization, making them closely comparable in the utility sector.
CenterPoint Energy is benefiting from rising electricity demand, especially in its Houston Electric service territory, where expanding industrial operations and increasing data center needs are fueling strong load growth. The company's systematic investments in infrastructure development and grid modernization are creating sustainable long-term value for shareholders. By pairing capital spending with constructive regulatory recovery mechanisms, it effectively transforms rate-base expansion into stable earnings growth.
Eversource Energy benefits from its regulated business model, which provides stable cash flow and supports timely cost recovery. ES is allocating capital toward transforming into a pure-play regulated utility, which offers stable growth prospects, aids customers in achieving clean energy goals and delivers more predictable earnings. The company is making strategic investments to expand and modernize its electric transmission and distribution network, enhancing grid reliability and meeting rising electricity demand. These investments are expected to grow its rate base, improve earnings visibility and support long-term value creation for shareholders.
CNP & ES’ Earnings Growth ProjectionsThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for CNP’s earnings per share (EPS) is pegged at $1.91 in 2026 and $2.08 in 2027, suggesting year-over-year growth of 8.52% and 8.85%, respectively. CNP’s long-term (three to five years) earnings growth is currently pinned at 8.85%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ES’ EPS is pegged at $4.68 in 2026 and $4.97 in 2027, suggesting a year-over-year decline of 1.68% and growth of 6.32%, respectively. ES’ long-term earnings growth is currently pinned at 3.25%
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Debt to CapitalThe Zacks Utilities sector is capital-intensive and requires regular investments to upgrade and maintain infrastructure, enhance operational efficiency and serve rising energy demand. To fund these large-scale, long-term projects, utilities utilize a mix of internally generated cash flows and debt financing from capital markets, thereby supporting steady expansion and ensuring reliable service for customers.
Eversource Energy’s debt-to-capital currently stands at 64.50%, lower than CenterPoint Energy’s 68.31%. CNP and ES’ debt levels are higher than the industry’s 60.97%, with CNP’s being higher, indicating greater reliance on borrowed funds.
Return on EquityReturn on Equity (“ROE”) is a financial metric that reflects the amount of profit a company earns for each dollar of shareholders’ capital. A higher ROE indicates strong managerial efficiency in using shareholder funds to create value and drive profit growth.
Eversource Energy’s current ROE is 11.59%, outperforming CenterPoint Energy’s lower ROE of 10.56% and the industry average of 11.22%. ES utilizes shareholder capital more effectively and generates higher returns.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Dividend YieldUtility companies consistently increase shareholders' value through regular dividend distribution, highlighting their commitment to providing steady returns on invested capital. Such distributions reflect the stability of their earnings streams and their ability to generate strong and predictable cash flows.
Currently, the dividend yield for ES is 4.49%, while that for CNP is 2.13%. The dividend yields of both companies are above the S&P 500 average yield of 1.44%.
Capital Investment PlansThe utility sector requires substantial capital spending to maintain assets, improve system resilience and expand infrastructure. Electric utilities are making substantial investments to strengthen their transmission and distribution networks, modernize the grid and deploy advanced technologies, enhancing operational efficiency, system reliability and the quality of customer service.
Eversource Energy plans to invest $5.07 billion in 2026 and about $27.8 billion between 2026 and 2030, including Aquarion investments of $1.3 billion, $11.2 billion in electric distribution and $6.8 billion in natural gas distribution, with an additional $1 billion of potential opportunities. CenterPoint Energy aims to invest $6.8 billion in 2026 and reaffirmed its $65.5 billion 2026-2035 capital plan. These investments are expected to enhance grid resilience, reduce outage durations and deliver meaningful operational cost savings.
Price PerformanceES shares have gained 4% in the past three months compared with CNP’s growth of 3%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Zacks Rank Eversource Energy currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), while CenterPoint Energy has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Summing UpCenterPoint Energy and Eversource Energy both benefit from a regulated structure, rising service demand and significant infrastructure investments to support millions of customers across the United States.
Based on the above discussion, our pick at the moment is Eversource Energy, given its better dividend yield, higher return on equity, lower debt-to-capital ratio, better Zack’s rank and price performance. These factors are expected to provide higher returns to investors when compared with CenterPoint Energy.
HARTFORD, Conn. & BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Eversource Energy will host an earnings conference call with financial analysts on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at 9 a.m. Eastern Time, to discuss the company's financial performance and other business updates for the first quarter of 2026. The live webcast and recording of the earnings conference call can be accessed via Eversource's Investors page. Investors and analysts wishing to participate in the Q&A session of the call and access the event via pho.
Key Takeaways Eversource Energy benefits from grid modernization and steady demand across customer segments. ES plans $26.5B investment through 2030, boosting reliability and supporting long-term growth. Eversource faces risks from regulations and third-party performance affecting operations. Eversource Energy (ES - Free Report) benefits from grid modernization and stable demand from residential, commercial and industrial customers. Its strategic investment in infrastructure development enables it to provide reliable services to customers.
This Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company faces regulatory risks and inadequate performance by third parties that may impact its performance.
ES’ TailwindsEversource Energy benefits from systematic capital expenditure and grid modernization, which enhance operational efficiency. Its advanced metering infrastructure enables real-time monitoring, better demand management and customer service. In 2025, the company installed more than 100,000 smart meters in Massachusetts, advancing its multi-year plan to upgrade over 1.5 million meters statewide.
Eversource's strategic investment expands its electric distribution and transmission network, enhancing system reliability and supporting long-term financial growth. It aims to invest $5.07 billion in 2026 and about $26.5 billion through 2030, including $11.2 billion in electric and $6.8 billion in natural gas distribution. Eversource completed Revolution Wind onshore substation construction and started the $1.8B Cambridge underground substation project.
The company benefits from the divestiture of the South Fork and Revolution Wind projects. ES is directing its resources toward becoming a pure-play regulated utility, thereby delivering low-risk growth, supporting customers’ clean energy transition and ensuring more predictable earnings.
ES’ HeadwindsEversource Energy relies on third-party vendors and service providers. Any inadequate performance by third parties may affect companies’ reputation, reduce operational efficiency, cause delays and lead to non-compliance issues.
Eversource Energy’s operations are subject to federal, state and local laws, as well as strict environmental regulations on emissions, pollution and waste management. Any change or modification to these rules and regulations may affect the company’s financial performance.
Price Performance of ESIn the past three months, Eversource Energy shares have declined 2.5% against the industry’s 8.4% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Stocks to ConsiderSome better-ranked stocks in the same industry are CMS Energy Corporation (CMS - Free Report) , Exelon Corporation (EXC - Free Report) and FirstEnergy Corp. (FE - Free Report) . All stocks currently carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
CMS, EXC and FE have dividend yields of 2.92%, 3.53% and 3.52%, respectively, which are better than the Zacks S&P 500 composite’s yield of 1.39%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CMS Energy, Exelon and FirstEnergy’s 2026 EPS is pegged at $3.86, $2.85 and $2.73, suggesting year-over-year growth of 6.93%, 2.89% and 7.06%, respectively.
Zacks' 7 Best Strong Buy Stocks (New Research Report) Valued at $99, click below to receive our just-released report predicting the 7 stocks that will soar highest in the coming month.
Eversource (ES) has an impressive earnings surprise history and currently possesses the right combination of the two key ingredients for a likely beat in its next quarterly report.
Key Takeaways PEG set to report Q1 2026 results, with EPS expected at $1.49, up 4.2% year over year.Strong electricity demand and prior rate decisions likely supported PEG's revenue growth.Higher interest and O&M costs may offset gains despite grid and efficiency investments. Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (PEG - Free Report) is scheduled to release first-quarter 2026 results on May 5, before market open. The company delivered an earnings surprise of 11.4% in the last reported quarter.
Let’s discuss the factors that are likely to be reflected in the upcoming quarterly results.
Factors That are Likely to Have Impacted PEG’s Q1 PerformanceRobust demand growth across the company’s service territories, driven by the rapid expansion of data centers and supported by constructive rate decisions secured in prior quarters, is expected to have lifted the top line in the first quarter. Rising electricity demand from high-energy-use customers is likely to have strengthened sales volumes.
The company is expected to have continued to benefit from energy efficiency programs mainly by turning them into regulated investments that generate stable returns over time. Through its utility arm, PSE&G, the company can recover program costs plus a profit via approved rates, while also expanding its rate base, strengthening regulatory relationships and reducing business risk.
Continued investments in grid modernization and infrastructure upgrades are anticipated to have improved operational efficiency and service reliability. The implementation of favorable electric and gas base distribution rates is expected to have boosted the company’s bottom line.
However, higher interest expense and operating and maintenance expenses are likely to offset some of the positives in the to-be-reported quarter.
PEG’s Q1 ExpectationsThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at $1.49 per share, indicating a year-over-year increase of 4.2%.
The consensus estimate for revenues is pinned at $3.29 billion, implying 2.1% growth year over year.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for total electric sales is pinned at 10,367.8 million kilowatt-hours, up 4% from the figure registered in the year-ago period. The consensus estimate for total gas sold and transported is pinned at 1,372 million therms, flat year over year.
What Our Quantitative Model PredictsOur proven model does not predict an earnings beat for Public Service Enterprise this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, which is not the case here, as you will see below.
Stock to ConsiderInvestors may consider the following players from the same industry, as they have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this reporting cycle.
Ameren (AEE - Free Report) is likely to come up with an earnings beat when it reports first-quarter results on May 5. It has an Earnings ESP of +1.29% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present.
AEE’s long-term (three to five years) earnings growth rate is 9.27%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pinned at $1.17 per share, which implies a year-over-year increase of 9.4%.
Duke Energy Corporation (DUK - Free Report) is likely to come up with an earnings beat when it reports first-quarter results on May 5. It has an Earnings ESP of +1.31% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for DUK’s earnings is pinned at $1.79 per share, which implies a year-over-year increase of 1.7%. The consensus estimate for sales implies a year-over-year increase of 2.6%.
Eversource Energy (ES - Free Report) is likely to come up with an earnings beat when it reports first-quarter results on May 6. It has an Earnings ESP of +0.59% and a Zacks Rank of 3 at present.
ES’ long-term earnings growth rate is 3.25%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pinned at $1.60 per share, which implies a year-over-year increase of 6.7%.
Evergy (EVRG) doesn't possess the right combination of the two key ingredients for a likely earnings beat in its upcoming report. Get prepared with the key expectations.
In its upcoming report, Eversource Energy (ES - Free Report) is predicted by Wall Street analysts to post quarterly earnings of $1.59 per share, reflecting an increase of 6% compared to the same period last year. Revenues are forecasted to be $4.21 billion, representing a year-over-year increase of 2.3%.
The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 2.2% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. This reflects how the analysts covering the stock have collectively reevaluated their initial estimates during this timeframe.
Before a company announces its earnings, it is essential to take into account any changes made to earnings estimates. This is a valuable factor in predicting the potential reactions of investors toward the stock. Empirical research has consistently shown a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and the short-term price performance of a stock.
While investors typically rely on consensus earnings and revenue estimates to gauge how the business may have fared during the quarter, examining analysts' projections for some of the company's key metrics often helps gain a deeper insight.
That said, let's delve into the average estimates of some Eversource metrics that Wall Street analysts commonly model and monitor.
The combined assessment of analysts suggests that 'Operating Income- Natural Gas Distribution' will likely reach $349.47 million. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of $308.70 million.
Analysts forecast 'Operating Income- Electric Distribution' to reach $280.83 million. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of $274.70 million.
Based on the collective assessment of analysts, 'Operating Income- Electric Transmission' should arrive at $320.99 million. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported $295.50 million in the same quarter last year.
View all Key Company Metrics for Eversource here>>>
Over the past month, shares of Eversource have remained unchanged versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +9.5% change. Currently, ES carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), suggesting that it may underperform the overall market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
ES' heads into first-quarter earnings results with smart meter installs, transmission investments and disciplined costs in focus, though higher interest expenses may have affected gains.
HARTFORD, Conn. & BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Eversource Energy (NYSE: ES) today reported GAAP earnings of $606.8 million, or $1.61 per share, for the first quarter of 2026, compared with GAAP and non-GAAP earnings of $550.8 million, or $1.50 per share, for the first quarter of 2025. Non-GAAP recurring earnings totaled $650.7 million1, or $1.73 per share1, in the first quarter of 2026. Also today, the Eversource Energy Board of Trustees approved a common dividend of $0.7875 per share, payable June.
Eversource Energy (ES - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $1.73 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.59 per share. This compares to earnings of $1.5 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.
This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +9.08%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this New England power provider would post earnings of $1.1 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.12, delivering a surprise of +1.82%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times.
Eversource, which belongs to the Zacks Utility - Electric Power industry, posted revenues of $4.5 billion for the quarter ended March 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 6.90%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $4.12 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates just once over the last four quarters.
The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.
Eversource shares have added about 2.3% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 6%.
What's Next for Eversource?While Eversource has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?
There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.
Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.
Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Eversource was unfavorable. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to underperform the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $0.99 on $3.04 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $4.72 on $14.42 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.
Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Utility - Electric Power is currently in the bottom 40% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
PPL (PPL - Free Report) , another stock in the same industry, has yet to report results for the quarter ended March 2026. The results are expected to be released on May 8.
This energy and utility holding company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.61 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +1.7%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 2.8% lower over the last 30 days to the current level.
PPL's revenues are expected to be $2.62 billion, up 4.7% from the year-ago quarter.
Eversource Energy NYSE: ES reported higher first-quarter earnings and said it remains focused on strengthening its balance sheet, resolving regulatory issues and reducing business risk, even as a recent Federal Energy Regulatory Commission decision lowered the company's transmission return on equity and prompted a guidance revision.
I highlight five dividend stocks—HTO, ES, SNY, NLY, and AMCR—trading below fair value, each with strong balance sheets and good potential growth prospects. Each stock is projected to deliver double-digit average annual total returns (11.6%–20%) through 2030, with yields averaging nearly 7%. Scenario modeling incorporates expected EPS growth, dividend growth, and target P/E multiples, supporting robust total return forecasts even in recessionary or inflationary environments.
Regulated electric utilities typically anchor retirement portfolios with steady income. Right now, three large-cap names are trading with unusual volatility: Edison International (NYSE: EIX | EIX Price Prediction), Eversource Energy (NYSE: ES), and PG&E (NYSE: PCG) all sit well below 52-week highs, trail the S&P 500 over the past month, and carry visible overhangs that have pushed valuations to single-digit or low-teens earnings multiples.
For income-focused investors, the question is which stock offers the best risk-adjusted dip-buy. We rank them on five tests: how much the dip reflects known risks, valuation relative to the regulated utility group, dividend yield and coverage, balance-sheet flexibility, and embedded growth from rate base and load. We count down from worst to best.
3. Eversource Energy: Slow Turnaround, Still Diluting Eversource is the cleanest regulated story after exiting offshore wind and selling Aquarion, improving its funds from operations (FFO)-to-debt ratio by over 400 basis points at Moody’s and 300 basis points at S&P over the prior 12 months. The market has yet to reward that work. Shares trade around $67.02, down 2.4% over the past month and essentially flat year-to-date, against a 52-week high of $72.08.
Q4 2025 GAAP EPS came in at $1.12 versus $1.14 estimates, and full-year 2025 non-GAAP EPS of $4.76 compared with the $4.74 estimate. Storm costs are still under prudency review, and management plans an $800 million to $1.1 billion equity raise through 2030 to fund a $26.5 billion five-year capital plan.
Valuation is fair at a 14x trailing P/E and 14x forward, with dividend yield near 4.7% and the quarterly payout lifted to $0.7875 in Q1 2026. Guidance for 2026 EPS of $4.80 to $4.95 and 5% to 7% long-term growth is solid, but dilution ahead and unresolved storm costs limit upside.
2. Edison International: Wildfire Reset With a 22-Year Dividend Streak Edison trades at $69.39, off 1.9% over the past month, with a 52-week range of $47.73 to $76.22. The overhang is the Eaton Fire, where Southern California Edison has extended roughly 1,500 settlement offers totaling more than $500 million and acknowledged its equipment was likely associated with ignition.
Against that sits a strong operating story. Q1 2026 core EPS of $1.42 beat the $1.33 estimate on revenue of $4.10 billion, up 7.7% year over year. Management guides 5% to 7% core EPS CAGR through 2030, backed by a $38 to $41 billion capital plan, around 7% rate base growth and no new equity through 2030.
Valuation is striking: a trailing P/E of 8 and forward P/E of 11, with a 5.1% dividend yield and a 22nd consecutive year of dividend growth at a $0.8775 quarterly rate. Analyst consensus target is $75.61. The setup looks attractive for investors who can tolerate headline risk on Eaton settlement disclosures.
1. PG&E: Cheapest Stock, Biggest Growth Algorithm PG&E is the deepest dip and the best risk-adjusted setup. Shares trade near $16.20, down 6.2% over the past month and 9.4% over the past year. This weakness comes despite strong Q1 2026: core EPS of $0.43 versus $0.33 a year earlier on revenue of $6.88 billion, with wildfire-related non-core charges shrinking to $3 million after tax.
The growth algorithm is the highest in the group. Management guides 2026 non-GAAP core EPS of $1.64 to $1.66 and 9%+ annual EPS growth from 2027 through 2030, supported by a $73 billion five-year capital plan, roughly 9% rate base CAGR reaching about $106 billion by 2030, and no common equity issuance through 2030. The data center pipeline in final engineering expanded to about 1.6 GW, with a total 10 GW pipeline, and Diablo Canyon’s NRC license was renewed on April 2, 2026, for 20 more years.
Valuation is the differentiator: a forward P/E of 10, price-to-book of 1.1, and analyst consensus target of $22.72 against 14 buy or strong-buy ratings versus 4 holds. For income investors, the dividend is just 0.89% yield today, though the quarterly payout doubled to $0.05 in Q4 2025 and management targets a 20% payout ratio by 2028.
The Verdict PG&E wins on growth and price-to-earnings, with wildfire framework materially improved under SB 254’s $18 billion Continuation Account and clean equity outlook. Edison offers the highest yield for investors willing to underwrite Eaton Fire headlines in exchange for single-digit P/E and a 22-year dividend streak. Eversource is the safest operating story but already priced for slow growth, with dilution ahead. For retirement-focused income investors, PG&E offers the steepest discount relative to forward earnings power, Edison offers the most yield per unit of valuation, and Eversource is the most defensive but least asymmetric.
