Bank of Nova Scotia increased its stake in shares of NiSource, Inc (NYSE:NI – Free Report) by 243.1% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 673,457 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 477,187 shares during the quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia owned about 0.14% of NiSource worth $31,424,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.
Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. NewEdge Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of NiSource by 60.1% during the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 30,494 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $1,223,000 after purchasing an additional 11,452 shares in the last quarter. Woodline Partners LP increased its position in NiSource by 41.6% during the first quarter. Woodline Partners LP now owns 39,703 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $1,592,000 after buying an additional 11,671 shares during the period. Acadian Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of NiSource in the 1st quarter valued at $105,000. AXA S.A. purchased a new stake in shares of NiSource in the second quarter valued at about $1,054,000. Finally, Squarepoint Ops LLC boosted its stake in shares of NiSource by 27.6% during the second quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC now owns 207,409 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $8,367,000 after buying an additional 44,822 shares during the period. 91.64% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In NI has been the topic of a number of research reports. Royal Bank Of Canada assumed coverage on NiSource in a report on Wednesday, July 1st. They set an “outperform” rating and a $52.00 price target on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on NiSource from $51.00 to $52.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, May 7th. Weiss Ratings reissued a “buy (b)” rating on shares of NiSource in a report on Tuesday. Evercore set a $52.00 price target on NiSource in a research note on Monday, May 11th. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered shares of NiSource from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Saturday, May 16th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $50.30.
Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on NI
Insider Activity In related news, EVP Melody Birmingham sold 2,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $47.43, for a total value of $118,575.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 116,036 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,503,587.48. This represents a 2.11% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Melanie B. Berman sold 15,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $47.68, for a total value of $715,200.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 35,990 shares in the company, valued at $1,716,003.20. This trade represents a 29.42% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold a total of 27,500 shares of company stock worth $1,305,675 over the last ninety days. 0.37% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.
NiSource Trading Down 0.2% Shares of NI opened at $46.66 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.30, a current ratio of 0.65 and a quick ratio of 0.56. NiSource, Inc has a 1-year low of $38.45 and a 1-year high of $49.21. The stock has a market cap of $22.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.48 and a beta of 0.55. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $46.90 and a 200-day simple moving average of $46.26.
NiSource (NYSE:NI – Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, May 6th. The utilities provider reported $1.06 EPS for the quarter, meeting analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.06. NiSource had a return on equity of 8.31% and a net margin of 14.15%.The firm had revenue of $2.36 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.52 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.85 EPS. NiSource has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.020-2.070 EPS. Equities analysts forecast that NiSource, Inc will post 2.05 EPS for the current fiscal year.
NiSource Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, August 20th. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 31st will be issued a $0.30 dividend. This represents a $1.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.6%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 31st. NiSource’s dividend payout ratio is 59.70%.
Key Stories Impacting NiSource Here are the key news stories impacting NiSource this week:
Positive Sentiment: KeyCorp kept an Overweight rating on NiSource and reiterated a $50 price target, implying upside from current levels and signaling continued analyst confidence in the utility’s valuation. Benzinga report Positive Sentiment: KeyCorp raised its FY2027, FY2028, and FY2029 EPS estimates for NiSource, suggesting improving earnings power over the next several years and supporting the stock’s longer-term investment case. Positive Sentiment: Wells Fargo reportedly initiated or maintained a Buy view on NiSource, adding to the positive analyst backdrop around the stock. Nisource (NI) Gets a Buy from Wells Fargo Neutral Sentiment: KeyCorp trimmed near-term EPS estimates for Q2, Q3, and Q4 2026, which may temper enthusiasm somewhat, but the reductions were relatively small and did not change the firm’s overall positive stance. Neutral Sentiment: Consensus full-year earnings remain at about $2.05 per share, so the latest analyst revisions do not materially alter the broad earnings outlook yet. NiSource Profile (Free Report)
NiSource, Inc (NYSE: NI) is a publicly traded energy holding company headquartered in Merrillville, Indiana, that primarily owns and operates regulated local gas and electric utilities in the United States. Through its operating subsidiaries, the company delivers natural gas and electricity to residential, commercial and industrial customers and provides the associated distribution and transmission services that keep local energy systems functioning.
The company’s core activities include natural gas distribution, electric transmission and distribution, system operations, maintenance and emergency response.
Read More Five stocks we like better than NiSource AMD and Cerbras Create A New Blueprint For Hardware Intel Earnings Reveal Whether the Chip Selloff Created a Buy CrowdStrike’s Cerebras Deal Puts Its AI Security Strategy to the Test Plugging In: How Kinder Morgan Powers Up Profits Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for NiSource, Inc (NYSE:NI – Free Report).
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MERRILLVILLE, Ind.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI) today announced that the company will release second quarter 2026 financial results on August 5, 2026, before US financial markets open and will host a conference call that day at 11 a.m. EDT (10 a.m. CT) to review second quarter 2026 financial results and provide a general business update. All interested parties may listen to the conference call live on August 5 by logging onto the NiSource website at www.nisource.com. A link on the.
California Public Employees Retirement System trimmed its position in shares of NiSource, Inc (NYSE:NI – Free Report) by 14.4% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,022,459 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after selling 171,322 shares during the period. California Public Employees Retirement System owned 0.21% of NiSource worth $47,708,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of NI. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of NiSource by 1.7% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 62,408,533 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $2,606,180,000 after purchasing an additional 1,032,630 shares during the period. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. raised its stake in NiSource by 19.0% in the fourth quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. now owns 51,504,257 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $2,150,818,000 after buying an additional 8,240,227 shares during the period. State Street Corp lifted its position in shares of NiSource by 4.5% in the fourth quarter. State Street Corp now owns 26,735,119 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $1,116,459,000 after buying an additional 1,154,351 shares during the last quarter. Orion Porfolio Solutions LLC lifted its position in shares of NiSource by 55,625.2% in the second quarter. Orion Porfolio Solutions LLC now owns 16,866,898 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $680,411,000 after buying an additional 16,836,630 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of NiSource by 2.0% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 12,459,421 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $518,301,000 after acquiring an additional 245,110 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 91.64% of the company’s stock.
NiSource Price Performance Shares of NYSE NI opened at $45.33 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $21.73 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.55, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.42 and a beta of 0.55. The company has a current ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.56 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.30. NiSource, Inc has a 1-year low of $38.45 and a 1-year high of $49.21. The business’s 50 day moving average is $46.95 and its 200-day moving average is $46.17.
NiSource (NYSE:NI – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 6th. The utilities provider reported $1.06 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $1.06. NiSource had a return on equity of 8.31% and a net margin of 14.15%.The business had revenue of $2.36 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.52 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.85 EPS. NiSource has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.020-2.070 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that NiSource, Inc will post 2.05 earnings per share for the current year.
NiSource Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, August 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 31st will be given a $0.30 dividend. This represents a $1.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 31st. NiSource’s payout ratio is presently 59.70%.
Insider Transactions at NiSource In other NiSource news, EVP Melody Birmingham sold 2,500 shares of NiSource stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $47.43, for a total value of $118,575.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 116,036 shares in the company, valued at $5,503,587.48. The trade was a 2.11% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Melanie B. Berman sold 15,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $47.68, for a total transaction of $715,200.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 35,990 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,716,003.20. This represents a 29.42% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last three months, insiders sold 27,500 shares of company stock valued at $1,305,675. 0.37% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several brokerages have issued reports on NI. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on NiSource from $51.00 to $52.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, May 7th. KeyCorp started coverage on shares of NiSource in a report on Tuesday, March 31st. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $52.00 price objective on the stock. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of NiSource from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Saturday, May 16th. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of NiSource from $49.00 to $51.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday. Finally, Citigroup lifted their target price on shares of NiSource from $47.00 to $49.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Monday, May 11th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have issued a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $50.50.
Check Out Our Latest Analysis on NI
NiSource Company Profile (Free Report)
NiSource, Inc (NYSE: NI) is a publicly traded energy holding company headquartered in Merrillville, Indiana, that primarily owns and operates regulated local gas and electric utilities in the United States. Through its operating subsidiaries, the company delivers natural gas and electricity to residential, commercial and industrial customers and provides the associated distribution and transmission services that keep local energy systems functioning.
The company’s core activities include natural gas distribution, electric transmission and distribution, system operations, maintenance and emergency response.
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Key Takeaways NiSource benefits from regulated operations, rising energy demand and Project Apollo savings. NI plans to invest $28.6B through 2030, supporting a 9-11% rate base growth through 2033. NI offers a 2.57% dividend yield and targets 11-12% long-term annual shareholder returns. NiSource Inc. (NI - Free Report) is benefiting from a regulated structure, growing electricity and natural gas demand from customers, and cost-saving efforts under Project Apollo, which are supporting revenue and earnings growth. The company’s strategic capital investments support the energy transition, strengthen infrastructure, improve service reliability and drive long-term growth.
Let’s focus on the factors that make this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stock a strong investment pick at the moment.
Projections for NI & Surprise HistoryThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for NI’s 2026 and 2027 EPS is pinned at $2.05 and $2.26, indicating year-over-year growth of 7.89% and 10.10%, respectively.
NI’s long-term (three to five years) earnings growth rate is 6.11%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NI’s 2026 and 2027 sales is pinned at $6.94 billion and $7.28 billion, indicating year-over-year growth of 4.93% and 5.04%, respectively.
NI surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the trailing four quarters, while meeting the estimate once and missing it once, delivering an average positive earnings surprise of 0.96%.
NI’s Stable Investments The company’s systematic capital investment plans support renewable expansion and infrastructure modernization to meet growing data center demand. These investments advance its carbon-neutrality goals, improve efficiency, strengthen service reliability and support long-term growth.
The company plans to invest $28.6 billion between 2026 and 2030, including $21.0 billion in base investments and $7.6 billion in data center infrastructure. These investments are expected to support a 9-11% consolidated rate base growth through 2033.
NI’s Capital Return Program NiSource has consistently enhanced shareholder value through dividend payments, reflecting stable earnings and strong cash flow. The company has consistently increased its quarterly dividend since 2021, highlighting its commitment to delivering growing shareholder returns.
NI has a dividend yield of 2.57% versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite’s average of 1.34%. Currently, the company’s quarterly dividend is 30 cents per share. This represents an annualized dividend of $1.20 per share. The company targets 11-12% long-term annual shareholder returns and a 55-65% dividend payout ratio.
NI’s Debt Position The debt-to-capital ratio measures how much a company relies on debt to finance its operations and indicates its financial leverage and long-term financial strength. NI’s total debt-to-capital is 58.43%, which is lower than the industry’s 60.71%, reflecting stronger financial stability and lower leverage risk.
NI’s time earned ratio (TIE) at the end of the first quarter of 2026 was 2.8. The TIE ratio measures a company’s ability to meet interest obligations by showing how effectively operating earnings cover interest expenses, providing insight into long-term solvency and financial health.
Price Performance of NIIn the past six months, NiSource shares have rallied 6.4% compared with the industry’s 6% growth.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Other Stocks to Consider Some other top-ranked stocks from the same Industry are Ameren (AEE - Free Report) , Duke Energy (DUK - Free Report) and Evergy (EVRG - Free Report) . All the stocks carry a Zacks Rank #2 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
AEE, DUK and EVRG have dividend yields of 2.66%, 3.37% and 3.22%, respectively, which are better than the Zacks S&P 500 Composite’s yield of 1.34%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Ameren, Duke Energy, and Evergy 2026 EPS are pegged at $5.38, $6.71, and $4.25, suggesting year-over-year growth of 6.96%, 6.34%, and 10.97%, respectively.
NiSource (NI - Free Report) could be a solid choice for investors given its recent upgrade to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). An upward trend in earnings estimates -- one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices -- has triggered this rating change.
The sole determinant of the Zacks rating is a company's changing earnings picture. The Zacks Consensus Estimate -- the consensus of EPS estimates from the sell-side analysts covering the stock -- for the current and following years is tracked by the system.
Since a changing earnings picture is a powerful factor influencing near-term stock price movements, the Zacks rating system is very useful for individual investors. They may find it difficult to make decisions based on rating upgrades by Wall Street analysts, as these are mostly driven by subjective factors that are hard to see and measure in real time.
Therefore, the Zacks rating upgrade for NiSource basically reflects positivity about its earnings outlook that could translate into buying pressure and an increase in its stock price.
Most Powerful Force Impacting Stock PricesThe change in a company's future earnings potential, as reflected in earnings estimate revisions, has proven to be strongly correlated with the near-term price movement of its stock. That's partly because of the influence of institutional investors that use earnings and earnings estimates for calculating the fair value of a company's shares. An increase or decrease in earnings estimates in their valuation models simply results in higher or lower fair value for a stock, and institutional investors typically buy or sell it. Their bulk investment action then leads to price movement for the stock.
For NiSource, rising earnings estimates and the consequent rating upgrade fundamentally mean an improvement in the company's underlying business. And investors' appreciation of this improving business trend should push the stock higher.
Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate RevisionsEmpirical research shows a strong correlation between trends in earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock movements, so it could be truly rewarding if such revisions are tracked for making an investment decision. Here is where the tried-and-tested Zacks Rank stock-rating system plays an important role, as it effectively harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions.
The Zacks Rank stock-rating system, which uses four factors related to earnings estimates to classify stocks into five groups, ranging from Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) to Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), has an impressive externally-audited track record, with Zacks Rank #1 stocks generating an average annual return of +25% since 1988. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
Earnings Estimate Revisions for NiSourceThis energy holding company is expected to earn $2.05 per share for the fiscal year ending December 2026, which represents no year-over-year change.
Analysts have been steadily raising their estimates for NiSource. Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company has increased 0.3%.
Bottom LineUnlike the overly optimistic Wall Street analysts whose rating systems tend to be weighted toward favorable recommendations, the Zacks rating system maintains an equal proportion of "buy" and "sell" ratings for its entire universe of more than 4,000 stocks at any point in time. Irrespective of market conditions, only the top 5% of the Zacks-covered stocks get a "Strong Buy" rating and the next 15% get a "Buy" rating. So, the placement of a stock in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks indicates its superior earnings estimate revision feature, making it a solid candidate for producing market-beating returns in the near term.
You can learn more about the Zacks Rank here >>>
The upgrade of NiSource to a Zacks Rank #2 positions it in the top 20% of the Zacks-covered stocks in terms of estimate revisions, implying that the stock might move higher in the near term.
NiSource (NI) remains a 'buy' as its innovative data center agreements, notably with Amazon, position it for sustained growth and regulatory favor. NI's model isolates data center capex and returns, protecting existing customers from rate hikes while securing guaranteed returns and surcharges to reduce bills. With a $29B five-year capex plan and at least 8% projected EPS growth, NI offers a compelling blend of income and growth.
Pre-Market Stock Futures: Futures are trading higher as we get ready to end the holiday-shortened trading week, with the country preparing to celebrate the 250th birthday of our democratic republic. The stock market will be closed on Friday for the federal holiday, kicking off a long weekend to jump-start the holiday fun. All of the major indices closed lower on Wednesday, with the Nasdaq leading the way, trading down 0.66% at 26,040, while the S&P 500 was last seen at 7,483, down 0.22%. The Dow Jones Industrials also closed lower at 52,305, down a tiny 0.03%, while printing a new all-time high earlier in the day. The small-cap-laden Russell 2000 finished the session down 0.39% at 3,012. The small-cap index leads all the major indices as we start the second half of the trading year, up over 20%.
Treasury Bonds: Yields were mixed across the Treasury curve to start July, with the belly and the long end selling off while buyers focused on the shorter T-bill maturities. When trading ended on Wednesday, the 30-year-long bond was last seen at 4.97%, while the benchmark 10-year note closed at 4.48%. Traders were focused on the commentary from the new Federal Reserve Chairman, Kevin Warsh, who noted that while economic conditions are good and improving as energy prices fall, inflation remains well above the 2% target.
Oil and Gas: In a bright note for consumers, as we start the third quarter, energy prices fell on Wednesday, with both of the major benchmarks finishing the session lower. Improving traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and the absence of new incidents between the U.S. and Iran remain positives for the energy complex. Brent Crude ended the day at $71.18, down 2.43%, while West Texas Intermediate closed trading at $68.10, down 2.03%. Natural gas also closed lower, finishing the day at $3.21, down 2.14%.
Gold: After a brutal second quarter, Gold started July off the right way, finishing the day up 0.59% at $4.030. Silver also had a winning day to start July, closing at $59.22, up 0.87%. Central banks, which were recently surveyed, expect gold to trade between $5,000 and $6,000 over the next year as they continue to purchase massive amounts to counter currency and other risk factors.
Crypto: Cryptocurrencies rallied on Wednesday in a broad-based relief rally, with the global crypto market capitalization rising roughly 0.5% to around $2.15 trillion. Major digital assets recovered significant ground after Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh signaled that inflation risks are easing. At 8 AM EDT, Bitcoin is trading at $60,069, while Ethereum is quoted at $1,616.
24/7 Wall St. reviews dozens of analyst research reports every day to identify fresh investment ideas for investors and traders alike. These daily analyst notes include recommendations on stocks to buy, sell, or avoid, as well as new coverage initiations. Important reminder: No single analyst report should ever be the sole basis for buying or selling a stock.
Here are some of the best Wall Street analyst upgrades, downgrades, and initiations seen on Thursday, July 2, 2026.
Upgrades: Adobe (NASDAQ: ADBE | ADBE Price Prediction) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at HSBC, which raised the target price for the shares to $308 from $282. Chevron (NYSE: CVX) was upgraded to Outperform from Peer Perform at Wolfe Research, with a $210 target price. Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR) was raised to Buy from Neutral at DA Davidson, with a $175 target price. Silicom (NASDAQ: SILC) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at Needham, which has a $60 target price. Downgrades: Agnt (NASDAQ: AGNT) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at DA Davidson, which cut the target price to $6.50 from $10.25. Dana (NYSE: DAN) was downgraded to Equal Weight from Overweight at Barclays, with a $32 target price. Greenbrier Companies (NYSE: GBX) was cut to Neutral from Positive at Susquehanna, with a $52 target price. SkyWest (NASDAQ: SKYW) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Goldman Sachs, which trimmed the target price for the shares to $108 from $126. Trip.com Group (NASDAQ: TCOM) was cut to Hold from Buy at China Renaissance, with a $42 target price. Initiations: Honeywell Aerospace (NASDAQ: HONA) was initiated with an Outperform rating at BMO Capital, which has a $276 target price. Mobility Global (NASDAQ: MBGL) was started with a Sector Perform rating at RBC Capital, with a $23 target. Ni Source (NYSE: NI) was initiated with an Outperform rating at RBC Capital, which has a $52 target price.
OnHolding (NASDAQ: ONON) was resumed with an Overweight rating at JPMorgan, which has a $51 target price for the shares. Space Exploration Technologies (NASDAQ: SPCX) was started with a Neutral rating at Daiwa, with a $175 target price. Want Up To $1,000? SoFi Is Giving New Active Invest Users Free StockLooking to grow your money but unsure where to begin? SoFi Active Invest is offering a limited-time promotion—open an account, fund it with $50 or more, and you could receive up to $1,000 in complimentary stock for Active Invest accounts.
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MERRILLVILLE, Ind.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI) announced the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) has approved key agreements supporting the company’s previously announced partnership with Amazon to serve new data center development in northern Indiana. This marks an inaugural milestone that reinforces the meaningful benefits this approach will provide for existing customers.
On June 17, the IURC fully approved the settlement agreement, Amazon special contract and related power purchase agreement. In a separate order, the Commission also approved the company’s proposed generation resources, including combined-cycle gas turbines and battery energy storage systems.
The approvals advance NiSource’s strategy to support responsible large-load growth while helping protect existing customers from the costs of serving new data center demand.
Under the approved framework, existing customers are expected to benefit directly from the addition of new, large electric load, with NiSource’s broader data center strategy expected to provide approximately $1.4 billion in customer savings. The structure is designed so that data center customers fund the generation and transmission infrastructure required to serve their needs, supporting affordability, reliability and long-term value for existing NIPSCO customers.
As part of the settlement, the parties agreed to support expedited procedural schedules for future agreements, reinforcing the model’s competitive speed-to-market advantage and positioning Indiana as a leader in utility and technology collaboration.
“Our regulator’s approvals highlight the strength of our strategy and the value this approach can deliver for customers and communities,” said NiSource President and CEO Lloyd Yates. “As data center demand continues to grow across our service territory, we are helping to ensure that new large-load customers support the infrastructure needed to serve them while existing customers benefit through bill credits as those customers ramp. We are proud to support Indiana’s economic development momentum through a model that advances affordability, reliability and long-term growth.”
Additional Information
Additional information is available on the Investors section of www.nisource.com. The company alerts investors that it intends to use the Investors section of its website www.nisource.com and the company’s social media channels to disseminate important information about the company to its investors. Investors are advised to look at NiSource’s website and social media channels for future important information about the company.
About NiSource
NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI) is one of the largest fully regulated utility companies in the United States, serving approximately 3.3 million natural gas customers and 500,000 electric customers across six states through its local Columbia Gas and NIPSCO brands. The mission of our approximately 7,700 employees is to deliver safe, reliable energy that drives value to our customers. NiSource is a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability - North America Index and is on Forbes lists of America’s Best Employers for Women and Diversity. Learn more about NiSource’s record of leadership in sustainability, investments in the communities it serves and how we live our vision to be an innovative and trusted energy partner at www.NiSource.com.
The content of our website is not incorporated by reference into this document or any other report or document NiSource files with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
NI-F
Forward-Looking Statements
This Press Release contains "forward-looking statements," within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). Investors and prospective investors should understand that many factors govern whether any forward-looking statement contained herein will be or can be realized. Any one of those factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements concerning our provision of power to data center customers under certain agreements, our proposed generation resources, expected cost savings to customers over the life of the data center contracts, protecting customers from cost increases, plans to seek expedited procedural agreements for future agreements and other statements regarding our plans, strategies, objectives, and expected performance related to data center operations. Expressions of future goals and expectations and similar expressions, including "may," "will," "should," "could," "would," "aims," "seeks," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "intends," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential," "targets," "forecast," and "continue," reflecting something other than historical fact are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that management believes to be reasonable; however, there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statement discussed in this Press Release include, among other things: receipt, timing and terms of required regulatory approvals in connection with agreements with our current and any future data center customers and the ability to comply with any conditions associated with such regulatory approvals; the ability of our current and any future data center customers to implement its plans to construct data centers; the impact of public involvement, intervention or litigation with respect to these projects, our ability to execute our business plan or growth strategy, including utility infrastructure investments, or business opportunities; our ability to manage data center growth in our service territories; potential incidents and other operating risks associated with our business; our ability to work successfully with our JV partners; our ability to construct, develop and place into service the generation or transmission assets we develop to support our customers under our current and any future data center contracts on time or at all and consistent with initial cost estimates, as well as the performance of such assets once constructed and placed into service; our ability to obtain the significant additional financing required to construct such generation or transmission assets we develop to support data center contracts on favorable terms, if at all; our ability to recover our investments and realize our expected return under our current and any future data center contracts that we enter into; our ability to maintain our investment grade credit ratings as we finance and pursue our data center strategy, including our performance under our current and any future data center contracts that we enter into; our customers' performance under our current and any future data center contracts; any decision by our current data center customers and any future data center customers to terminate our current or any future data center contracts or reduce the committed capacity thereunder; potential changes in the MISO accreditation treatment of capacity resources; our ability to adapt to, and manage costs related to, advances in technology, including alternative energy sources and changes in related laws and regulations; our increased dependency on technology; impacts related to our aging infrastructure; our ability to obtain sufficient insurance coverage and whether such coverage will protect us against significant losses; the success of our electric generation strategy; construction risks and supply risks; fluctuations in demand from residential and commercial customers; fluctuations in the price of energy commodities and related transportation costs or an inability to obtain an adequate, reliable and cost-effective fuel supply to meet customer demand; our ability to attract, retain or re-skill a qualified workforce and maintain good labor relations; our ability to manage new initiatives and organizational changes; the performance and quality of third-party suppliers and service providers; our ability to manage the financial and operational risks related to achieving our carbon emission reduction goals, including our Net Zero Goal, including any future associated impact from business opportunities such as data center development as those opportunities evolve; potential cybersecurity attacks or security breaches; increased requirements and costs related to cybersecurity; the actions of activist stockholders; any damage to our reputation; the impacts of natural disasters, potential terrorist attacks or other catastrophic events; the physical impacts of climate change and the transition to a lower carbon future; our debt obligations; any changes to our credit ratings or the credit ratings of certain of our subsidiaries; adverse economic and capital market conditions, including increases in inflation or interest rates, recession, or changes in investor sentiment; economic regulation and the impact of regulatory rate reviews; our ability to obtain expected financial or regulatory outcomes; economic conditions in certain industries; the ability of customers and suppliers to fulfill their payment and contractual obligations; the ability of our subsidiaries to generate cash; pension funding obligations; potential impairments of goodwill; the outcome of legal and regulatory proceedings, investigations, incidents, claims and litigation; compliance with changes in, or new interpretations of applicable laws, regulations and tariffs; the cost of compliance with environmental laws and regulations and the costs of associated liabilities; changes in tax laws or the interpretation thereof; and other matters set forth in Item 1, "Business," Item 1A, "Risk Factors" and Part II, Item 7, "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 and matters set forth in our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, some of which risks are beyond our control. In addition, the relative contributions to profitability by each business segment, and the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements relating thereto, may change over time.
All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. We undertake no obligation to, and expressly disclaim any such obligation to, update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or changes to expected results over time or otherwise, except as required by law.
NiSource Inc. has secured a regulatory framework in Indiana requiring hyperscale data centers to fund their own infrastructure, directly benefiting existing customers. NI's GenCo structure isolates large-load risks, enabling expedited agreements and a replicable template for future data center contracts. I expect adjusted EPS growth of 9–10% through 2033, supported by 4 GW of signed capacity and robust pipeline visibility.
The Zacks Utility-Electric Power industry players generate and deliver electricity to millions of customers across the United States. Utilities are steadily transitioning toward cleaner fuel sources and placing greater emphasis on lowering carbon emissions, aided by government initiatives that support the shift to cleaner power generation. Alongside sustainability efforts, utilities are investing in grid modernization and strengthening transmission and distribution infrastructure. With hurricanes posing recurring annual risks, year-round infrastructure upgrades enhance system resilience, reduce outages and enable quicker power restoration for customers affected by storms.
FirstEnergy Corp. (FE - Free Report) , with its extensive transmission and distribution assets, efficiently serves millions of customers across the United States. The company also operates 3,600 megawatts (“MW”) of generation assets. Other utilities worth adding to your portfolio are NiSource Inc. (NI - Free Report) , Northwestern Energy Group (NWE - Free Report) and Otter Tail Corporation (OTTR - Free Report) .
About the Industry The Utility-Electric Power industry is responsible for generating, transmitting, distributing, storing and retailing electricity to consumers. Demand for utility services is generally stable across economic cycles, although it can fluctuate due to unusual weather conditions, since periods of extreme heat or cold typically increase electricity usage. The industry is currently undergoing a major transition as more companies move toward zero-emission goals. Increase in internet usage, rising adoption of electric vehicles, reshoring of certain industries and the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence are expected to boost power demand. AI-based data centers in particular require far more electricity than traditional online activities such as streaming music or browsing photos. In addition, lower interest rates provide a supportive backdrop for this capital-intensive industry.
3 Powerful Trends Reshaping the Electric Power Industry Increasing Demand and Prices for Electricity: Per the U.S. Energy Information Administration (“EIA”), demand for electricity is expected to increase in the country. The demand is expected to increase 1.2% in 2026 to reach 4,108 billion kilowatt-hours (BkWh). In 2027, electricity demand is expected to rise 3.3% to 4,244 BkWh. Per EIA, the price of average electricity to be provided to customers in the industrial, commercial and residential sectors will increase 1.9%, 3.6% and 5.1%, respectively, in 2026. The same trend is expected to continue in 2027 as well, boosting the revenues of the companies operating in this space. Demand for electricity is rising in the United States due to a surge in domestic manufacturing, higher usage of electric vehicles, the development of data centers and AI, and an increase in residential usage.
Utilities Embrace Rapid Shift to Renewable Energy: Utilities are benefiting from the ongoing shift toward renewable energy as they increase capacity from wind, solar and other clean sources while gradually cutting emissions. Many firms are also phasing out aging coal-fired plants to meet stricter environmental standards and enhance operational efficiency. This transition is reducing overall carbon intensity and drawing sustained investor interest, as utilities upgrade grid infrastructure and position themselves for long-term growth in sustainable electricity demand.
Advancements in technology are sharply reducing the cost of generating electricity from renewable sources, while improvements in grid management software are making clean energy more reliable and cost-competitive. Utility-scale renewable projects are increasingly able to match the economics of traditional fossil fuel-based power generation.
Interest Rate Relief Enhances Growth Potential: Stable, low interest rates have created a favorable environment for capital-intensive utility companies. Since utilities require significant ongoing investment in power plants, transmission lines and renewable energy infrastructure, lower borrowing costs help reduce financing expenses and improve project economics. This allows companies to fund large-scale expansion more efficiently while supporting earnings stability. In addition, predictable interest rates enhance visibility on future cash flows, making utility stocks more attractive to income-focused investors seeking steady returns and lower volatility.
Zacks Industry Rank Indicates Bright Prospects The group’s Zacks Industry Rank, which is basically the average of the Zacks Rank of all the member stocks, indicates upbeat near-term prospects. The 56-stock Utility-Electric Power industry is housed within the broader Zacks Utilities sector and currently carries a Zacks Industry Rank #88, which places it in the top 36% of more than 243 Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than two to one.
The industry’s positioning in the top 50% of the Zacks Rank industries is a result of a positive earnings outlook for the constituent companies in aggregate. The industry’s recent earnings estimate reflects optimism from the analysts. Its earnings estimates for 2026 have moved up 5.3% since May 31, 2025.
Before we present a few Utility-Electric Power stocks that you may want to consider for your portfolio, let us take a look at the industry’s recent stock-market performance and current valuation.
Electric Power Industry Beats the Sector but Lags the S&P 500 The Utility Electric Power industry has surpassed its own sector but lagged the Zacks S&P 500 composite’s rally over the past 12 months. The industry has gained 31.6% compared with its sector’s 27.8% rally. The Zacks S&P 500 composite has gained 42.8% in the same period.
Price Performance (One year)Electric Power Industry's Current Valuation On the basis of EV/EBITDA (Enterprise Value/ Earnings before Interest Tax Depreciation and Amortization) TTM, which is a commonly used multiple for valuing Utility Electric Power companies, the industry is trading at 16.23X compared with the S&P 500’s 18.64X and the Utility sector’s 14.63X.
Over the past five years, the industry has traded as high as 21.31X, as low as 12.58X and at the median of 15.61X.
Industry EV/EBITDA TTM vs S&P 500 (5yrs)
Industry EV/EBITDA TTM vs Sector (5yrs) 4 Electric Power Industry Stocks to Buy Utilities is a mature sector and all the stocks selected from the Zacks Utility-Electric Power industry currently have a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here.
FirstEnergy Corp: Akron, OH-based FirstEnergy, its subsidiaries and affiliates, engages in the transmission, distribution and generation of electricity. The firm has successfully expanded its regulated activities and undergone a complete transition to become a fully regulated utility company in the past few years. FirstEnergy has increased the 2026-2030 capital plan by 30% to $36 billion to strengthen its infrastructure and efficiently serve customers.
FE’s long-term (three to five years) earnings growth is pegged at 7.64%. The current dividend yield for FE is 3.55%, which is better than the industry’s yield of 2.81%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FirstEnergy’s 2026 earnings per share indicates growth of nearly 0.4% in the past 60 days.
Price and Consensus: FE
NiSource Inc: Merrillville, IN-based NiSource, with its subsidiaries, provides natural gas, electricity and other products and services in the United States. Its operating subsidiaries deliver energy to nearly 4 million customers in six states. NiSource’s earnings benefit from the new electric and gas rates that came into effect in its service region. The company anticipates a capital expenditure of $28 billion for 2026-2030. The consolidated capital expenditure plan includes utility system modernization initiatives and roughly $7 billion in strategic data center infrastructure investments.
NI’s long-term earnings growth is pegged at 5.97%. The current dividend yield for NI is 2.48. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NiSource’s 2026 earnings per share indicates growth of nearly 0.5% in the past 60 days.
Price and Consensus: NI
NorthWestern Energy Group: Sioux Falls, SD-based company, supplies electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial and a broad range of industrial customers. NEW plans to invest $3.21 billion in five years to strengthen its infrastructure. The company is poised to benefit from the rising demand from data centers.
NIWE’s long-term earnings growth is pegged at 6.35%. The current dividend yield for NorthWestern Energy is 3.7. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NorthWestern Energy’s 2026 earnings per share indicates growth of nearly 0.26% in the past 60 days.
Price and Consensus: NWE
Otter Tail Corporation: A Fergus Falls, MN-based company, along with its subsidiaries, engages in electric utility, manufacturing and plastic pipe businesses in the United States. OTTR plans to invest $2.05 billion in the 2026-2030 period to further strengthen its generation, transmission and distribution network.
OTTR’s current dividend yield is 2.62. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Otter Tail’s 2026 earnings per share indicates growth of 4.38% in the past 60 days
CPC Advisors LLC lifted its position in NiSource, Inc (NYSE: NI) by 23.9% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 140,084 shares of the utilities provider's stock after purchasing an additional 26,981 shares during the period.
MERRILLVILLE, Ind.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI) today announced that the company will release first quarter 2026 financial results on May 6, 2026, before US financial markets open and will host a conference call that day at 11 a.m. ET (10 a.m. CT) to review first quarter 2026 financial results and provide a general business update. All interested parties may listen to the conference call live on May 6 by logging onto the NiSource website at www.nisource.com. A link on the home page will provide access to the webcast and news release.
A replay of the call will be available beginning at 2 p.m. ET on May 6, 2026, through 11:59 p.m. ET on May 13, 2026. To access the recording, call +1 (800) 770-2030 and enter conference ID 5571489 followed by the # key. A recording of the call will be archived on the NiSource website.
About NiSource
NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI) is one of the largest fully-regulated utility companies in the United States, serving approximately 3.3 million natural gas customers and 500,000 electric customers across six states through its local Columbia Gas and NIPSCO brands. The mission of our approximately 7,700 employees is to deliver safe, reliable energy that drives value to our customers. NiSource is a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability - North America Index and is on Forbes lists of America’s Best Employers for Women and Diversity. Learn more about NiSource’s record of leadership in sustainability, investments in the communities it serves and how we live our vision to be an innovative and trusted energy partner at www.NiSource.com.
The content of our website is not incorporated by reference into this document or any other report or document NiSource files with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).
NiSource (NI) possesses the right combination of the two key ingredients for a likely earnings beat in its upcoming report. Get prepared with the key expectations.
Key Takeaways LNT reported Q1 operating EPS of 82 cents, matching estimates as revenues rose nearly 5% year over year.Alliant Energy expects 2026 EPS of $3.36-$3.46 and plans $13.4B in investments through 2029.LNT posted higher utility electric and gas sales, while operating cash flow climbed to $368 million. Alliant Energy Corporation (LNT - Free Report) reported first-quarter 2026 operating earnings of 82 cents per share, which was in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The bottom line declined 1.20% from the year-ago quarter’s figure of 83 cents.
GAAP earnings in the reported quarter were 87 cents compared with 83 cents in the year-ago quarter. The operating earnings in the quarter exclude a 5 cents per share benefit tied to the remeasurement of deferred tax assets, driven by an update to the estimated state income tax apportionment.
LNT’s RevenuesRevenues totaled $1.18 billion, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.17 billion by 1.02%. The top line increased 4.96% from the year-ago quarter’s figure of $1.13 billion.
Alliant Energy Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS SurpriseLNT’s Operational HighlightsTotal operating expenses were $935 million, up 7.35% from $871 million in the year-ago period. This increase was primarily due to higher electric production fuel and purchased power, electric transmission service, higher other operation and maintenance expenses and an increase in the cost of gas sold.
Operating income totaled $249 million, down 3.11% from the year-ago reported figure.
Interest expenses amounted to $142 million, which rose 19.33% from the prior-year period.
LNT reported total utility electric sales of 8,287 thousand megawatt-hours, up 0.36% from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure.
Total utility gas sold and transported was 55,299 thousand dekatherms, up 0.86% year over year.
LNT’s Financial UpdateAs of March 31, 2026, cash and cash equivalents amounted to $115 million compared with $556 million as of Dec. 31, 2025.
As of the aforementioned date, long-term debt (excluding the current portion) totaled $11.01 billion, up from $10.95 billion as of Dec. 31, 2025.
Cash flow from operating activities in first-quarter 2026 totaled $368 million compared with $249 million in first-quarter 2025.
LNT’s GuidanceAlliant Energy anticipates its 2026 earnings to be in the range of $3.36-$3.46 per share and long-term EPS growth in the range of 5-7% for the 2027-2029 period. The estimate assumes normal temperatures in its utility service territories, execution of cost controls and financing plans, and a consolidated effective tax rate (29%). The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings is pegged at $3.43 per share, higher than the midpoint of the company’s guided range.
For 2026, the company expects 1% retail sales growth, which includes data center construction and commissioning sales.
The company expects 2026 capital expenditures of $3 billion and plans to invest $13.4 billion during 2026-2029.
LNT’s Zacks RankAlliant Energy currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Upcoming Releases
Duke Energy (DUK - Free Report) is scheduled to report first-quarter results on May 5. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for first-quarter EPS is pinned at $1.79, which implies a year-over-year increase of 1.70%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for first-quarter sales is pinned at $8.40 billion, which suggests year-over-year growth of 1.80%.
WEC Energy Group (WEC - Free Report) is scheduled to report first-quarter results on May 5. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for first-quarter EPS is pinned at $2.31, which implies a year-over-year increase of 1.76%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for first-quarter sales is pinned at $3.21 billion, which suggests year-over-year growth of 1.91%.
NiSource (NI - Free Report) is scheduled to report first-quarter results on May 6. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for first-quarter EPS is pinned at $1.06, which implies a year-over-year increase of 8.16%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for first-quarter sales is pinned at $2.43 billion, which suggests year-over-year growth of 12.01%.
MERRILLVILLE, Ind.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI), one of the largest fully regulated utility companies in the United States, has received two honors recognizing its leadership in sustainability, based on third-party assessments of the company's long-term economic, environmental and social performance. S&P Dow Jones Indices, a global index provider, named NiSource to its annual Dow Jones Best-in-Class Indices (DJ BIC) for the 12th consecutive year. Formerly known as the Dow Jone.
MERRILLVILLE, Ind.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI) today announced, on a GAAP basis, net income available to common shareholders for the quarter ended March 31, 2026 of $510.7 million, or $1.06 of earnings per diluted share, compared to net income available to common shareholders of $474.8 million, or $1.00 of earnings per diluted share, for the same period of 2025. NiSource also reported first quarter 2026 non-GAAP adjusted net income available to common shareholders of $509.6 milli.
NiSource (NI) came out with quarterly earnings of $1.06 per share, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate . This compares to earnings of $0.98 per share a year ago.
Getting big returns from financial portfolios, whether through stocks, bonds, ETFs, other securities, or a combination of all, is an investor's dream. But for income investors, generating consistent cash flow from each of your liquid investments is your primary focus.
While cash flow can come from bond interest or interest from other types of investments, income investors hone in on dividends. A dividend is the distribution of a company's earnings paid out to shareholders; it's often viewed by its dividend yield, a metric that measures a dividend as a percent of the current stock price. Many academic studies show that dividends make up large portions of long-term returns, and in many cases, dividend contributions surpass one-third of total returns.
Based in Merrillville, NiSource (NI - Free Report) is in the Utilities sector, and so far this year, shares have seen a price change of 15.4%. The energy holding company is paying out a dividend of $0.60 per share at the moment, with a dividend yield of 2.49% compared to the Utility - Electric Power industry's yield of 2.78% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.43%.
Looking at dividend growth, the company's current annualized dividend of $1.20 is up 7.1% from last year. Over the last 5 years, NiSource has increased its dividend 5 times on a year-over-year basis for an average annual increase of 6.29%. Looking ahead, future dividend growth will be dependent on earnings growth and payout ratio, which is the proportion of a company's annual earnings per share that it pays out as a dividend. NiSource's current payout ratio is 59%, meaning it paid out 59% of its trailing 12-month EPS as dividend.
NI is expecting earnings to expand this fiscal year as well. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 is $2.05 per share, which represents a year-over-year growth rate of 7.89%.
From greatly improving stock investing profits and reducing overall portfolio risk to providing tax advantages, investors like dividends for a variety of different reasons. But, not every company offers a quarterly payout.
For instance, it's a rare occurrence when a tech start-up or big growth business offers its shareholders a dividend. It's more common to see larger companies with more established profits give out dividends. Income investors have to be mindful of the fact that high-yielding stocks tend to struggle during periods of rising interest rates. With that in mind, NI is a compelling investment opportunity. Not only is it a strong dividend play, but the stock currently sits at a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
Key Takeaways NiSource posted Q1 operating EPS of $1.06, matching consensus and up 8.2% year over year.NiSource revenues rose 9.3% to $2.37B; higher energy and O&M drove expense growth.NiSource lifted EPS CAGR view to 9-10% through 2033; $28.6B capex includes $7.6B for data centers. NiSource Inc. (NI - Free Report) reported first-quarter 2025 operating earnings per share (EPS) of $1.06, which matches the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The bottom line increased 8.2% from the year-ago quarter’s recorded figure.
On a GAAP basis, the company reported an EPS of $1.06 compared with $1 in the prior-year quarter.
NI’s Total RevenuesOperating revenues of $2.37 billion lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.42 billion by 2.5%. However, the top line increased 9.3% from the prior-year quarter’s figure of $2.17 billion.
Highlights of NI’s Earnings ReleaseTotal operating expenses amounted to $1.54 billion, up 8.4% from the year-ago quarter’s $1.17 billion. The year-over-year increase in expenses was due to the higher cost of energy and an increase in operation and maintenance expenses.
Operating income totaled $822.9 million, up 10.8% from the year-ago figure of $742.6 million.
Net interest expenses amounted to $191.6 million, up 44.3% from the prior-year quarter’s $132.8 million.
Total gas distribution in Sales and Transportation (excluding weather) was recorded at 124 Million British Thermal Units per day (MMDth), down 1.4% from the prior-year quarter’s 125.8 MMDth.
Total electric sales (excluding weather) were recorded at 3,991.7 gigawatt-hours (GWh), down 0.5% from the prior-year quarter’s 4,011.7 GWh.
NI’s Financial UpdateNiSource's cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2026, were $71.9 million compared with $110.1 million as of Dec. 31, 2025.
Long-term debts (excluding those due within a year) as of March 31, 2026, were $15.46 billion compared with $15.46 billion as of Dec. 31, 2025.
Net cash flows from operating activities in first-quarter 2026 were $442.3 million compared with $686.4 million in first-quarter 2025.
NI’s total liquidity as of March 31, 2026, was nearly $4.5 billion, which is sufficient to meet near-term obligations.
NI’s 2026 GuidanceThe company reaffirmed its 2026 non-GAAP earnings in the range of $2.02-$2.07. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 earnings per share is pegged at $2.05, which is within the company’s guided range.
NI now expects earnings to witness a CAGR of 9-10% through 2033, up from the previous prediction of 8-9%.
NiSource anticipates a capital expenditure of $28.6 billion for 2026-2030. The consolidated capital expenditure plan includes utility system modernization initiatives and roughly $7.6 billion in strategic data center infrastructure investments.
NI’s Zacks RankNiSource currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Recent ReleasesDominion Energy, Inc. (D - Free Report) posted first-quarter 2026 operating earnings of 95 cents per share, up 2.2% year over year and ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 89 cents by 6.7%. Results benefited from favorable weather and renewable natural gas tax credit income. Dominion Energy gained from the continued load momentum tied to data centers, a key demand lever in its regulated footprint.
The quarter’s operating revenues rose 23.2% from the year-ago period to $5.02 billion and beat the consensus mark of $4.28 billion by 17.3%.
NextEra Energy (NEE - Free Report) reported first-quarter 2026 results with adjusted earnings per share of $1.09, up 10.1% from 99 cents a year ago. The figure beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 98 cents per share by 11.2%.
NEE’s total operating revenues were $6.70 billion, up 7.3% year over year, but lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7.20 billion by 7%. A key highlight was NextEra Energy Resources’ record renewables and storage origination, which added 4 gigawatts to backlog.
Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL - Free Report) reported first-quarter 2026 operating earnings of 91 cents per share, which matched the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The bottom line also surpassed the year-ago quarter’s figure by 8.3%.
Revenues of $4.02 billion missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.22 billion by 4.8%. However, the figure increased 2.9% from the year-ago quarter’s $3.9 billion.
MERRILLVILLE, Ind.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The board of directors of NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI) today declared a quarterly common stock dividend payment of $0.30 cents per share, payable August 20, 2026, to stockholders of record at the close of business on July 31, 2026. About NiSource NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI) is one of the largest fully-regulated utility companies in the United States, serving approximately 3.3 million natural gas customers and 500,000 electric customers across six states through its.
NiSource NYSE: NI reaffirmed its 2026 earnings outlook and raised its long-term growth expectations after reporting first-quarter adjusted earnings that management said reflected regulatory execution, infrastructure investment recovery and growing momentum in its data center strategy.
Investors interested in Utility - Electric Power stocks are likely familiar with ENGIE - Sponsored ADR (ENGIY) and NiSource (NI). But which of these two stocks offers value investors a better bang for their buck right now?
NiSource rides on data center power demand with 4 GW contracts and a target of up to 9 GW, while Project Apollo aims for $40-$60M in savings to protect margins.
