FirstEnergy Corp., through its subsidiaries, generates, transmits, and distributes electricity in the United States. It operates through Regulated Distribution and Regulated Transmission segments. The company owns and operates coal-fired, nuclear, hydroelectric, wind, and solar power generating facilities. It operates 24,080 circuit miles of overhead and underground transmission lines; and electric distribution systems, including 274,518 miles of overhead pole line and underground conduit carrying primary, secondary, and street lighting circuits. The company serves approximately 6 million customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York. FirstEnergy Corp. was incorporated in 1996 and is headquartered in Akron, Ohio.

FirstEnergy выглядит как типичный защитный коммунальный бизнес, но с заметным давлением на качество прибыли и баланс. P/E на уровне 27,0 выше медианы отрасли на 32,7%, что делает оценку компании не дешёвой для сектора с умеренным ростом. При этом P/S ниже медианы на 29,7%, а P/B лишь немного выше отрасли, что частично компенсирует дороговизну по прибыли. Самый сильный тревожный сигнал — P/FCF равен нулю, что обычно указывает на слабую генерацию свободного денежного потока или особенности отчётности, и это ограничивает аргументы в пользу переоценки вверх. Рентабельность тоже выглядит слабее сектора: ROE, ROA и ROI ниже медианы, а чистая и операционная маржа заметно просели относительно отрасли и собственных более сильных кварталов. Динамика маржинальности за последние периоды в целом ухудшилась, что говорит о давлении на операционную эффективность. С другой стороны, gross margin остаётся около медианы, а return on tangible equity немного выше отрасли, то есть базовая операционная модель не выглядит сломанной. Выручка и валовая прибыль в абсолюте растут, а активы и собственный капитал увеличиваются, что поддерживает долгосрочную устойчивость бизнеса. Однако долговая нагрузка высокая: debt/equity выше медианы на 56,6%, долгосрочный долг растёт, а ликвидность слабая — current ratio и quick ratio ниже комфортных уровней для сектора. Низкие cash on hand и текущая ликвидность повышают чувствительность к процентным ставкам и капитальным расходам, что особенно важно для коммунального сектора. Дивидендная доходность около 1,0% выглядит стабильной, но не настолько высокой, чтобы существенно поддерживать оценку при слабой рентабельности. В сумме фундаментал остаётся приемлемым для защитного портфеля, но сочетание дорогого P/E, слабой ликвидности и давления на прибыльность оправдывает осторожную, умеренно негативную корректировку целевого прогноза.

FirstEnergy Corp.

Сильный индекс, значительно упал. Быки в растерянности.

Strong index, significantly down. The bulls are confused.

Сильный индекс, незначительно вырос. Рынок на стороне быков.

Strong index, slightly up. The market is on the bulls' side.

Сильный индекс, значительно вырос. Приток средств в лонги на высоком уровне.

Strong index, significantly up. Inflow of funds into longs at a high level.

FE остаётся защитной историей с ростом выручки и активов, но слабой ликвидностью, высоким долгом и просевшей рентабельностью; оценка выглядит немного напряжённой.

It has been about a month since the last earnings report for Eversource Energy (ES). Shares have added about 4.2% in that time frame, outperforming the S&P 500.
Will the recent positive trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is Eversource due for a pullback? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers.
ES Q1 Earnings & Revenues Beat Estimates, Five-Year Capex Plan Raised
Eversource Energy reported first-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $1.73 per share, which topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.59 by 8.81%. The bottom line increased 15.33% from the year-ago figure of $1.50.
Total Revenues of ES
Revenues of $4.50 billion beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.21 billion by 6.88%. Total revenues also increased 9.37% from the year-ago figure of $4.12 billion.
Highlights of ES’ Q1 Results
Total operating expenses were $3.43 billion, up 7.40% year over year. The increase was due to higher purchased power, purchased natural gas and transmission costs, increased operations and maintenance expenses, higher Energy Efficiency Programs spending and a rise in Taxes Other Than Income Taxes expenses.
Operating income totaled $1.08 billion, up 16.17% year over year.
Interest expenses amounted to $365.3 million, 21.41% higher than the prior-year level.
ES’ Segmental Performance
Electric Transmission: Earnings totaled $224.3 million, up 12.49% year over year. This was driven by a higher level of investment in Eversource Energy’s electric transmission system and an increase in non-refundable revenues.
Electric Distribution: Earnings amounted to $202.8 million, up 7.64% year over year. This was driven by higher revenues from base distribution rate hikes at Eversource's New Hampshire and Massachusetts electric businesses and ongoing investments in its distribution system.
Natural Gas Distribution: This segment reported earnings of $295.3 million, up 35.21% from $218.4 million in the year-ago quarter. This was due to the implementation of the new base distribution rate hike at all of Eversource’s gas businesses, effective Nov. 1, 2025.
Water Distribution: Earnings amounted to $6.4 million, up 78% from $3.6million in the year-ago quarter, driven by higher revenue growth.
Eversource Parent & Other Companies: The segment reported a loss of $78.1 million, wider than the year-ago quarter’s reported loss of $59 million. This was due to higher interest expense and an increased effective tax rate.
ES’ Guidance
Eversource Energy expects 2026 earnings in the range of $4.57-$4.72 per share. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the same is pinned at $4.70, which is near the higher end of the company’s guided range. ES expects the long-term EPS growth rate to be between 5% and 7%, supported by regulatory and strategic outcomes in 2026
The company expects cash from operations of $24.2-$24.7 billion during 2026-2030.
Eversource Energy expects to invest $27.8 billion in 2026-2030. This includes $1.3 billion in capital investment for Eversource’s water business. This current five-year capital expenditure plan reflects a $2.3 billion increase from the previous five-year plan.
The company expects to distribute dividends of $6.7-$7.2 billion during 2026-2030.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?
Investors have witnessed a flat trend in estimates revision over the past two months.
VGM Scores
At this time, Eversource has a nice Growth Score of B, though it is lagging a lot on the Momentum Score front with a D. However, the stock was allocated a grade of B on the value side, putting it in the top 40% for value investors.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of B. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
Outlook
Eversource has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.
Performance of an Industry Player
Eversource belongs to the Zacks Utility - Electric Power industry. Another stock from the same industry, FirstEnergy (FE), has gained 1% over the past month. More than a month has passed since the company reported results for the quarter ended March 2026.
FirstEnergy reported revenues of $4.2 billion in the last reported quarter, representing a year-over-year change of +11.6%. EPS of $0.72 for the same period compares with $0.67 a year ago.
For the current quarter, FirstEnergy is expected to post earnings of $0.55 per share, indicating a change of +5.8% from the year-ago quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate remained unchanged over the last 30 days.
The overall direction and magnitude of estimate revisions translate into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for FirstEnergy. Also, the stock has a VGM Score of C.
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Eversource (ES) Up 4.2% Since Last Earnings Report: Can It Continue?

Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the Invesco S&P 500 Low Volatility ETF (Symbol: SPLV) where we have detected an approximate $134.2 million dollar outflow -- that's a 1.9% decrease week over week (from 97,850,000 to 96,010,000). Among the largest underlying components of SPLV, in trading today Loews Corp. (Symbol: L) is up about 0.1%, FirstEnergy Corp (Symbol: FE) is up about 0.2%, and Berkshire Hathaway Inc New (Symbol: BRK.B) is lower by about 0.6%. For a complete list of holdings, visit the SPLV Holdings page » The chart below shows the one year price performance of SPLV, versus its 200 day moving average:
Looking at the chart above, SPLV's low point in its 52 week range is $69.63 per share, with $77.735 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $72.67. Comparing the most recent share price to the 200 day moving average can also be a useful technical analysis technique -- learn more about the 200 day moving average ».
Exchange traded funds (ETFs) trade just like stocks, but instead of ''shares'' investors are actually buying and selling ''units''. These ''units'' can be traded back and forth just like stocks, but can also be created or destroyed to accommodate investor demand. Each week we monitor the week-over-week change in shares outstanding data, to keep a lookout for those ETFs experiencing notable inflows (many new units created) or outflows (many old units destroyed). Creation of new units will mean the underlying holdings of the ETF need to be purchased, while destruction of units involves selling underlying holdings, so large flows can also impact the individual components held within ETFs.
Further SPLV Research:
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Notable ETF Outflow Detected - SPLV, L, FE, BRK.B

Companies operating in the Zacks Utility - Electric Power industry are engaged in generating and delivering electricity to millions of consumers across the United States. The regulated operation of the utilities supports cost recovery and stable returns, while rising customer demand drives earnings growth. They offer attractive dividends and stable returns, making them a reliable defensive investment choice. Utilities are now producing more electricity from clean sources to meet rising demand.
Electricity demand in the United States is rising, driven by higher residential demand, the reshoring of industries and increasing data center demands. Companies operating in this industry are making strategic investments in renewable expansion, grid modernization and strengthening distribution networks to maintain service reliability.
Amid the rising importance of electricity generation, transmission and distribution companies, let us discuss FirstEnergy Corporation FE and Pinnacle West Capital PNW. These two electric utilities target carbon neutrality by 2050 and are investing heavily in infrastructure, grid modernization and renewable energy expansion, making them comparable in the utility space.
FirstEnergy, with its regulated structure and operating through subsidiaries, serves millions of customers across the United States. Its strategic capital investment in infrastructure development supports rate base growth and renewable expansion. The company’s ‘Energize365’ is a multi-year grid evolution platform prioritizing customer affordability, with rates at or below those of in-state peers. It enhances service reliability and supports the company’s long-term growth initiatives.
Pinnacle West Capital stands out with its regulated framework and operations through subsidiaries, serving millions of customers across the state of Arizona. The company is aided by strong economic development in its service territories, an expanding customer base, a rise in data center demand and higher commercial activities. PNW invests systematically in expanding renewable assets, grid modernization and infrastructure development, which enhances operational efficiency and strengthens financial performance.
Pinnacle West Capital and FirstEnergy are among the leading utility stocks, and a side-by-side comparison of their fundamentals can help determine which offers the more attractive investment opportunity.
FE & PNW’s Earnings Projections
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for FE’s earnings per share is pegged at $2.73 for 2026 and $2.94 for 2027, suggesting year-over-year growth of 7.06% and 7.73%, respectively. FE’s long-term (three to five years) earnings growth is currently pinned at 7.64%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
On the other side, PNW’s earnings per share are pegged at $4.71 for 2026, suggesting a year-over-year fall of 6.73%, and $5.57 for 2027, suggesting year-over-year growth of 18.13%. PNW’s long-term earnings growth is currently pinned at 6.03%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Debt to Capital
The Zacks Utilities sector is a capital-intensive one, and regular investment is required for infrastructure and technological upgrades, as well as for expanding operations. These utilities combine internally generated cash flows with borrowed funds from capital markets to finance long-term investments, ensuring steady growth and service reliability.
Pinnacle West Capital's debt-to-capital ratio currently stands at 60.73% compared to FirstEnergy’s 65.55%. Both companies are using debt to fund their business. PNW and FE’s debt levels are higher than the industry’s 59.94%, with FE’s being higher, indicating greater reliance on borrowed funds.
Return on Equity
Return on Equity (“ROE”) is an important measure reflecting how efficiently a company utilizes shareholders’ funds to generate returns. ROE highlights management’s effectiveness in utilizing invested capital to grow earnings and enhance shareholder value.
FirstEnergy’s current ROE is 10.66%, outperforming Pinnacle West Capital, which reports a slightly lower ROE 9.27%. FE utilizes shareholder capital more efficiently and generates higher profits, though both companies’ returns remain below the industry average of 11.09%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Capital Investment Plans
Utilities’ operations are capital-intensive, as huge funds are required for infrastructure development, enhancing system reliability and maintaining the existing assets. Electric utilities engaged in power generation and distribution are continuously investing in grid modernization, renewable expansion, energy storage and replacement of outdated equipment.
FirstEnergy aims to invest $36 billion in 2026-2030 to strengthen its electric transmission, distribution and generation infrastructure, and expand renewable energy capacity. PNW plans to invest $7.95 billion in 2026-2028 to strengthen generation, distribution and transmission structure, supporting service reliability and rate base growth.
PNW shares have gained 2.3% in the past three months compared to FE’s decline of 8.0%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Summing Up
FirstEnergy and Pinnacle West Capital are benefiting from rising load growth, driven by data center demand, an expanding customer base and significant infrastructure investments to support millions of customers across the United States.
FE’s stronger earnings estimate revisions, higher return on equity and broader capital expenditure plan make it a more attractive choice in the utility sector.
Based on the above discussion, FirstEnergy currently has an edge over Pinnacle West Capital, though both presently carry a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

FE vs. PNW: Which Utility Stock Is a Better Investment Pick in 2026?

PPL Corporation’s PPL shares have gained 1% in the past six months compared with the Zacks Utility-Electric Power industry’s rise of 17.6%. The company also underperformed the Zacks Utilities sector in the same time frame.
PPL Corporation has delivered an average negative earnings surprise of 2.07% over the past four quarters, while increasing competition in the transmission business could continue to pressure its operations. Yet, the company stands to benefit from growing data center demand, especially in Pennsylvania and Kentucky, where such facilities require substantial electricity consumption.
Price Performance (One Year)
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Another operator in the same space, FirstEnergy Corp. FE, is making a substantial investment to strengthen its infrastructure to provide reliable services to customers. The company’s earnings surpassed estimates in three out of the past four reporting quarters and its shares have gained 5.5% in the past year.
Should investors consider adding PPL to their portfolio based on the current softness in price movements? Let us delve deeper and find out the factors that can help investors decide whether it is a good entry point to add PPL stock to their portfolios.
Factors Strengthening PPL Corporation’s Outlook
PPL is also benefiting from economic growth and rising data center demand across its service territories. In Pennsylvania, advanced-stage data center demand has increased to nearly 28.3 gigawatt (“GW”) from 25.2 GW, while Kentucky’s economic development pipeline now indicates potential load growth of 12.9 GW through 2032, up from the earlier estimate of 8.5 GW.
PPL Corporation plans to invest nearly $23 billion between 2026 and 2029, targeting an average annual rate base growth of around 10.3% through 2029. The company’s focus on generation, transmission and distribution projects, along with ongoing infrastructure upgrades, has helped improve service reliability and reduce customer outages.
More than 60% of PPL’s capital investment plan qualifies for “contemporaneous recovery,” which mitigates the effects of regulatory lag on earnings. This expedited recovery of capital expenditures enables the company to efficiently fund its long-term projects.
PPL Corporation utilizes a “self-healing grid” through its smart grid technology, enabling the system to automatically identify outages and redirect power to reduce customer disruptions. The advanced infrastructure also delivers real-time data, supporting proactive maintenance and improving overall grid reliability and operational efficiency.
Headwinds for PPL Stock
PPL Corporation faces challenges from high capital investment needs, project execution and cost-recovery risks, and rising competition in Pennsylvania’s transmission market. The company also remains exposed to weather-related demand fluctuations, operational and cyber risks, equipment failures, and fuel supply disruptions, all of which could pressure profitability.
PPL Stock’s Earnings Estimate Moving North
PPL expects 2026 earnings to be $1.90-$1.98 per share. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PPL’s 2026 and 2027 earnings per share indicates year-over-year growth of 7.73% and 8.21%, respectively.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The same for FirstEnergy’s 2026 and 2027 earnings per share indicates year-over-year growth of 7.06% and 7.73%, respectively.
PPL’s Debt to Capital
Utility operations are capital-intensive and companies in this sector often need to borrow to fund long-term projects when internal resources are insufficient. The company is also borrowing funds to meet its capital requirements.
PPL’s current debt to capital is 57.4% compared with its industry average of 59.94%. This shows the company is utilizing lower debts than peers to run its operations.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Another utility, Exelon Corporation EXC, has strong transmission and distribution operations and is investing strategically to further expand its infrastructure. Exelon has plans to invest $41.3 billion in the 2026-2029 period to further strengthen its operations. EXC’s debt to capital is currently pegged at 63.31%, which is higher than its industry average.
PPL Stock Trades at a Premium
PPL Corporation is currently valued at a premium compared with its industry on a forward 12-month P/E basis. The stock is trading at a P/E F12M of 17.55X compared with its industry’s 15.7X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Exelon is currently trading at a discount compared with its industry at a P/E F12M of 15.2X.
PPL’s Return Is Lower Than the Industry
Return on equity (“ROE”) is a financial ratio that measures how well a company uses its shareholders’ equity to generate profits. The current ROE of the company indicates that it is using shareholders’ funds more efficiently than peers.
PPL’s trailing 12-month ROE is 9.41%, lower than the industry average of 11.08%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Rounding Up
PPL Corporation is strengthening its grid through major infrastructure investments, IT modernization and an expanded $23 billion capital expenditure plan, which supports a 10.3% rate base CAGR while improving system reliability and resilience. The company is also benefiting from rising data center-driven load growth and timely rate recovery, which enables it to efficiently fund the long-term projects.
However, PPL Corporation is currently trading at a premium valuation and generating returns below the industry average. As a result, investors may be better off avoiding this Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) stock for now and wait for a more attractive entry point.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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Quantum Computing is the next technological revolution, and it could be even more advanced than AI.
While some believed the technology was years away, it is already present and moving fast. Large hyperscalers, such as Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Oracle, and even Meta and Tesla, are scrambling to integrate quantum computing into their infrastructure.
Senior Stock Strategist Kevin Cook reveals 7 carefully selected stocks poised to dominate the quantum computing landscape in his report, Beyond AI: The Quantum Leap in Computing Power.
Kevin was among the early experts who recognized NVIDIA's enormous potential back in 2016. Now, he has keyed in on what could be "the next big thing" in quantum computing supremacy. Today, you have a rare chance to position your portfolio at the forefront of this opportunity.
See Top Quantum Stocks Now >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

PPL Underperforms Its Industry in a Year: How to Play the Stock?

Fintel reports that on May 15, 2026, TD Cowen upgraded their outlook for FirstEnergy (NYSE:FE) from Hold to Buy.
Analyst Price Forecast Suggests 23.45% Upside
As of May 14, 2026, the average one-year price target for FirstEnergy is $54.09/share. The forecasts range from a low of $48.81 to a high of $58.80. The average price target represents an increase of 23.45% from its latest reported closing price of $43.82 / share.
See our leaderboard of companies with the largest price target upside.
The projected annual revenue for FirstEnergy is 12,503MM, a decrease of 18.48%. The projected annual non-GAAP EPS is 2.98.
What is the Fund Sentiment?
There are 944 funds or institutions reporting positions in FirstEnergy. This is an decrease of 459 owner(s) or 32.72% in the last quarter. Average portfolio weight of all funds dedicated to FE is 0.09%, an increase of 43.79%. Total shares owned by institutions decreased in the last three months by 7.55% to 587,829K shares. The put/call ratio of FE is 0.64, indicating a bullish outlook.
What are Other Shareholders Doing?
Capital World Investors holds 77,663K shares representing 13.43% ownership of the company. In its prior filing, the firm reported owning 76,947K shares , representing an increase of 0.92%. The firm increased its portfolio allocation in FE by 14.58% over the last quarter.
Vanguard Capital Management holds 34,726K shares representing 6.00% ownership of the company.
Blackstone Group holds 28,832K shares representing 4.98% ownership of the company. No change in the last quarter.
Vanguard Portfolio Management holds 28,276K shares representing 4.89% ownership of the company.
Boston Partners holds 17,612K shares representing 3.04% ownership of the company. In its prior filing, the firm reported owning 17,786K shares , representing a decrease of 0.99%. The firm decreased its portfolio allocation in FE by 51.55% over the last quarter.
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This story originally appeared on Fintel.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

TD Cowen Upgrades FirstEnergy (FE)

It doesn't matter your age or experience: taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for all investors. Luckily, Zacks Premium offers several different ways to do both.
The research service features daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, all of which will help you become a smarter, more confident investor.
Zacks Premium also includes the Zacks Style Scores.
What are the Zacks Style Scores?
The Zacks Style Scores is a unique set of guidelines that rates stocks based on three popular investing types, and were developed as complementary indicators for the Zacks Rank. This combination helps investors choose securities with the highest chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics. Just like in school, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on -- that means the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value Score
Value investors love finding good stocks at good prices, especially before the broader market catches on to a stock's true value. Utilizing ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and many other multiples, the Value Style Score identifies the most attractive and most discounted stocks.
Growth Score
While good value is important, growth investors are more focused on a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score takes projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow into account to uncover stocks that will see long-term, sustainable growth.
Momentum Score
Momentum trading is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook, and these investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." The Momentum Style Score can pinpoint good times to build a position in a stock, using factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates.
VGM Score
If you want a combination of all three Style Scores, then the VGM Score will be your friend. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, helping you find the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum. It's also one of the best indicators to use with the Zacks Rank.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank
A proprietary stock-rating model, the Zacks Rank utilizes the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings outlook, to help investors create a successful portfolio.
#1 (Strong Buy) stocks have produced an unmatched +23.7% average annual return since 1988, which is more than double the S&P 500's performance over the same time frame. However, the Zacks Rank examines a ton of stocks, and there can be more than 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, and another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
This totals more than 800 top-rated stocks, and it can be overwhelming to try and pick the best stocks for you and your portfolio.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To have the best chance of big returns, you'll want to always consider stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B, which will give you the highest probability of success. If you're looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, it's important they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
As mentioned above, the Scores are designed to work with the Zacks Rank, so any change to a company's earnings outlook should be a deciding factor when picking which stocks to buy.
For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: FirstEnergy (FE)
Headquartered in Akron, OH, FirstEnergy Corporation was founded in 1996. The company is a diversified energy company. Through its subsidiaries and affiliates, FirstEnergy engages in the transmission, distribution and generation of electricity.
FE is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B.
It also boasts a Value Style Score of B thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 16.25; value investors should take notice.
For fiscal 2026, two analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.01 to $2.73 per share. FE boasts an average earnings surprise of +3.8%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, FE should be on investors' short list.
Research Chief Names "Single Best Pick to Double"
From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.
This company targets millennial and Gen Z audiences, generating nearly $1 billion in revenue last quarter alone. A recent pullback makes now an ideal time to jump aboard. Of course, all our elite picks aren’t winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Nano-X Imaging which shot up +129.6% in little more than 9 months.
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Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Here's Why FirstEnergy (FE) is a Strong Value Stock

Looking at the universe of stocks we cover at Dividend Channel, on 5/7/26, FirstEnergy Corp (Symbol: FE) will trade ex-dividend, for its quarterly dividend of $0.465, payable on 6/1/26. As a percentage of FE's recent stock price of $46.75, this dividend works out to approximately 0.99%, so look for shares of FirstEnergy Corp to trade 0.99% lower — all else being equal — when FE shares open for trading on 5/7/26.
In general, dividends are not always predictable; but looking at the history above can help in judging whether the most recent dividend from FE is likely to continue, and whether the current estimated yield of 3.98% on annualized basis is a reasonable expectation of annual yield going forward. The chart below shows the one year performance of FE shares, versus its 200 day moving average:
Looking at the chart above, FE's low point in its 52 week range is $39.275 per share, with $52.34 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $46.58.
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According to the ETF Finder at ETF Channel, FE makes up 23.01% of the AGF U.S. Market Neutral Anti-Beta Fund ETF (Symbol: BTAL) which is trading lower by about 1.1% on the day Tuesday. (see other ETFs holding FE).
In Tuesday trading, FirstEnergy Corp shares are currently off about 0.1% on the day.
Click here to learn which 25 S.A.F.E. dividend stocks should be on your radar screen »
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

FirstEnergy About To Put More Money In Your Pocket (FE)

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FirstEnergy (FE) Q1 2026 Earnings Transcript

FirstEnergy Corp. FE reported first-quarter 2026 core earnings of 72 per share, up 7.5% from the year-ago quarter. The bottom line was on par with the Zacks Consensus Estimate.
FirstEnergy’s quarter reflected steady gains from regulated rate base expansion and effective program execution, which supported segment performance. Core earnings growth was driven by returns on investments and disciplined cost management, with stronger customer demand providing an added boost to the Integrated segment.
FE’s reported GAAP earnings were 70 cents per share in the quarter compared with 62 cents in the year-ago quarter. The difference between GAAP and operating earnings was due to 4 cents related to investigation and other costs, while OPEB credits were for 2 cents.
FE’s Total Revenues
Quarterly revenues came in at $4.2 billion, increasing 10.5% year over year and beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.84 billion by 9.38%. The quarter reflected continued execution of the company’s customer-focused investment plan, supported by nearly $1.4 billion of capital deployed.
FirstEnergy Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
FirstEnergy’s Segment Details
The quarter’s revenue strength was underpinned by contributions across Distribution, Integrated and Stand-Alone Transmission. For the three months ended March 31, 2026, Distribution revenues totaled $1.99 billion, Integrated revenues were $1.70 billion and Stand-Alone Transmission revenues reached $516 million, reflecting the scale of the regulated platform.
FE’s Operational Highlights
FE’s income statement showed operating income of $828 million for the quarter, up 9.8% from $754 million in the prior-year period, reflecting higher revenues outpacing operating cost growth.
Interest expense increased 13.2% to $326 million from $288 million, an important watch item as the company funds a large multi-year buildout.
FE’s Financial Highlights
Cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2026, were $52 million compared with $57 million as of Dec. 31, 2025.
Long-term debt as of March 31, 2026, was $26.33 billion compared with $25.5 billion as of Dec. 31, 2025.
Capital investments were $1.255 billion for the quarter compared with $1.005 billion a year ago. On the funding side, the company recorded $850 million of new long-term debt and ended the quarter with short-term borrowings of $1.305 billion, up from $325 million at year-end 2025.
FE and its subsidiaries maintain investment-grade ratings across all three major credit rating agencies.
FE’s Regulatory Priorities
FE’s near-term narrative continues to be shaped by regulatory execution across key jurisdictions. The company outlined workstreams tied to West Virginia generation strategy, a West Virginia base rate case and an Ohio three-year rate plan, with filings and hearings scheduled across mid-2026 timing windows.
FirstEnergy’s Guidance Stays Intact With $36B Plan in View
FirstEnergy reaffirmed its 2026 core earnings guided range of $2.62 to $2.82 per share. The company also reaffirmed its long-term core earnings compounded annual growth near the top end of 6-8% for 2026-2030. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 is currently pegged at $2.73 per share.
The outlook is tied to the Energize365 capital plan, including a $6 billion investment plan for 2026 and a $36 billion program for 2026-2030 focused on distribution infrastructure renewal, grid modernization and transmission resiliency enhancements. In the quarter, management also highlighted exploration of incremental opportunities in transmission and West Virginia generation as part of longer-range planning.
FE’s Zacks Rank
FirstEnergy currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Upcoming Releases
Alliant Energy Corporation LNT is scheduled to report first-quarter results on April 30. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at 82 cents per share, which indicates a decline of 1.2% year over year.
The consensus estimate for LNT’s first-quarter sales is pinned at $1.17 billion, which implies year-over-year growth of 3.93%.
IDACORP Inc. IDA is scheduled to report first-quarter results on April 30. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at $1.12 per share, which indicates an increase of 1.82% year over year.
The consensus estimate for IDA’s first-quarter sales is pinned at $460.4 million, which implies year-over-year growth of 6.46%.
WEC Energy Group, Inc. WEC is scheduled to report first-quarter results on May 5. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at $2.31 per share, which implies an increase of 1.76% year over year.
The consensus estimate for WEC’s first-quarter sales is pinned at $3.21 billion, which indicates year-over-year growth of 1.91%.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

FirstEnergy Sees Revenue Growth in Q1, Earnings Match Estimates

(RTTNews) - FirstEnergy Corp. (FE) will host a conference call at 9:00 AM ET on April 29, 2026, to discuss Q1 26 earnings results.
To access the live webcast, log on to https://investors.firstenergycorp.com/investor-materials/event-calendar/default.aspx
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Indicator	TTM Median
P/E	27.00 20.35
Price/Sales	1.82 2.59
P/B	1.83 1.71
P/FCF	0.00 15.60

Indicator	TTM Median
ROE	7.27 10.06
ROA	1.86 3.11
ROI	2.71 4.69
Net Worth	29.57 6.03
Quick Ratio	0.46 0.73
Current Ratio	0.57 0.88

Indicator	TTM Median
Net Profit Margin	6.76 12.89
Operating Margin	14.62 21.18
Gross Margin	64.01 62.82
Return on tangible equity	12.12 11.53

Indicator	TTM Median
EPS	0.72 0.70
EPS Forecast	0.72 0.64
Revenue	4.20B 592.00M
Gross Profit	2.42B —
EBITDA	259.00M —

FirstEnergy Corp.

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