The Southern Company, through its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity. The company also develops, constructs, acquires, owns, and manages power generation assets, including renewable energy projects and sells electricity in the wholesale market; and distributes natural gas in Illinois, Georgia, Virginia, and Tennessee, as well as provides gas marketing services, gas distribution operations, and gas pipeline investments operations. In addition, it owns and operates nuclear, coal, hydro, cogeneration, solar, wind, battery storage, and fuel cell facilities. Further, the constructs, operates, and maintains approximately 77,900 miles of natural gas pipelines and 14 storage facilities with total capacity of 157 Bcf to provide natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial customers. The company serves approximately 8.9 million electric and gas utility customers. Further, it develops distributed energy and resilience solutions; deploys microgrids for commercial, industrial, governmental, and utility customers; and offers digital wireless communications and fiber optics services. The Southern Company was incorporated in 1945 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

Southern Company выглядит как качественный, но не дешёвый защитный актив с заметной долговой нагрузкой. По мультипликаторам картина скорее сдерживающая: P/E, P/S и P/B выше медианы отрасли, что указывает на премию к оценке и ограничивает потенциал дальнейшего апсайда. При этом P/E и P/S в динамике за последние периоды в целом не ухудшаются драматически, но остаются на повышенных уровнях, а P/B около 2.8 выглядит дорого для коммунального сектора. Показатель P/FCF равен нулю, что не даёт нормальной опоры для оценки свободного денежного потока и добавляет неопределённости. Сильная сторона компании — рентабельность: ROE, маржа чистой прибыли, операционная и валовая маржа, а также return on tangible equity находятся выше отраслевых ориентиров. Это говорит о том, что бизнес умеет зарабатывать на высокой базе активов и сохраняет приемлемую операционную эффективность. Однако ROA и ROI немного ниже медианы, что намекает на неидеальную отдачу от капиталоёмкой модели и частично объясняет, почему рынок требует премию не только за стабильность, но и за качество прибыли. Баланс остаётся напряжённым: debt/equity выше отрасли, долгосрочный долг велик, а quick ratio и current ratio заметно ниже комфортных уровней, что для коммунального сектора типично, но всё же повышает финансовые риски. Дивидендная доходность около 0.8% выглядит слишком низкой для полноценной дивидендной истории и не создаёт сильного поддерживающего эффекта для оценки. По абсолютным показателям выручка, EBITDA, активы и собственный капитал растут, что подтверждает масштаб и устойчивость базы, но чистая прибыль и операционная прибыль выглядят волатильными и не демонстрируют ровного ускорения. В совокупности фундаментал скорее поддерживает умеренно осторожный взгляд: качество бизнеса хорошее, но оценка уже не выглядит привлекательной, а баланс и ликвидность ограничивают возможность агрессивного повышения целевой цены. Для инвестора это история про стабильность и защитные свойства, но без яркого дисконта и без сильного катализатора для существенного переоценивания.

Southern Company (The)

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.

Средний индекс, значительно вырос. Увеличился приток средств в лонги.

Medium index, significantly up. The inflow of funds into longs has increased.

Качественный коммунальный бизнес с сильной маржой и ROE, но дорогой по мультипликаторам, с высокой долговой нагрузкой и слабой ликвидностью.

For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – June 11, 2026 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Merck & Co., Inc. MRK, The Southern Co. SO, Lumentum Holdings Inc. LITE and Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc. PEBK.
Here are highlights from Wednesday’s Analyst Blog:
Top Research Reports for Merck, Southern Company and Lumentum
The Zacks Research Daily presents the best research output of our analyst team. Today's Research Daily features new research reports on 16 major stocks, including Merck & Co., Inc., The Southern Co. and Lumentum Holdings Inc., as well as a micro-cap stock Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc.. The Zacks microcap research is unique as our research content on these small and under-the-radar companies is the only research of its type in the country.
These research reports have been hand-picked from the roughly 70 reports published by our analyst team today.
You can see all of today's research reports here >>>
Today's Featured Research Reports
Merck's shares have outperformed the Zacks Large Cap Pharmaceuticals industry over the past year (+53.3% vs. +25.2%). The company's blockbuster drug, Keytruda, and new products have been driving sales. Animal Health is also contributing to growth. Though Keytruda will lose patent exclusivity in 2028, its sales are expected to remain strong until then.
Merck's new products, Winrevair, Welireg and Capvaxive, key pipeline progress and expansion of its respiratory and infectious disease and oncology portfolios through the acquisitions of Verona Pharma, Cidara Therapeutics and Terns Pharmaceuticals have improved its long-term growth prospects. This progress has increased confidence that Merck can maintain growth even after Keytruda loses exclusivity.
However, it faces several near-term challenges, including persistent challenges for Gardasil in China, potential competition for Keytruda, and rising competitive and generic pressure on some of its drugs.
(You can read the full research report on Merck here >>>)
Shares of Southern Company have gained +7.1% over the past year against the Zacks Utility - Electric Power industry's gain of +23.2%. The company is a leading U.S. electric utility with a stable, recession-resistant business model, benefiting from strong electricity demand growth, particularly from data centers and hyperscale customers, and a robust pipeline exceeding 75 gigawatts of potential projects.
Southern Company is expanding its regulated generation and transmission assets, investing in battery storage and renewable projects, and maintaining a 25-year streak of dividend increases, appealing to income-focused investors.
However, elevated leverage with $67.1 billion in long-term debt, capital-intensive infrastructure needs, exposure to economic slowdowns, regulatory risks, ongoing depreciation charges, and weather-driven earnings volatility limit financial flexibility. Hence, investors are advised to wait for a better entry point.
(You can read the full research report on Southern Company here >>>)
Lumentum's shares have outperformed the Zacks Communication - Components industry over the past year (+968.3% vs. +313.6%). The company is benefiting from sustained AI and cloud network buildouts, with record fiscal Q3 revenue and expanding profitability as laser chips and cloud transceivers scale.
Management's Q4 outlook calls for another step up in revenue and operating margin, supported by continued EML growth, scale-across components like pump and narrow linewidth lasers, and a ramp in 1.6T transceivers with initial internal CW laser integration. A multiyear OCS purchase agreement and the acquisition of an additional indium phosphide fab, backed by a larger cash balance, extend capacity and visibility, while CPO development moves toward revenue.
However, supply constraints and outsourcing dependence can delay shipments, and ongoing ASP and customer concentration risks remain a headwind. Industrial lasers remain muted and can dilute the mix.
(You can read the full research report on Lumentum here >>>)
Shares of Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina have outperformed the Zacks Banks - Southeast industry over the past year (+66.1% vs. +15.4%). This microcap company with a market capitalization of $236.97 million has its investment thesis supported by improving earnings power, driven by balance-sheet management, loan growth and a stable deposit franchise. Margin expansion reflects effective asset-liability management and favorable funding dynamics, while loan growth continues to support revenue generation.
Strong capital levels and a conservative dividend policy provide flexibility to support future growth and shareholder returns. However, key risks include rising operating expenses, potential margin compression from higher funding costs and higher credit costs tied to portfolio growth.
Fee income remains sensitive to appraisal-related activity. Valuation reflects investor caution around the sustainability of earnings growth and credit performance. Further upside will depend on sustaining profitability, maintaining credit quality and delivering consistent earnings growth.
(You can read the full research report on Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina here >>>)
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800-767-3771 ext. 9339
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Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
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Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) : Free Stock Analysis Report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

The Zacks Analyst Blog Highlights Merck, The Southern, Lumentum and Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina

Wednesday, June 10, 2026
The Zacks Research Daily presents the best research output of our analyst team. Today's Research Daily features new research reports on 16 major stocks, including Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK), The Southern Co. (SO) and Lumentum Holdings Inc. (LITE), as well as a micro-cap stock Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina, Inc. (PEBK). The Zacks microcap research is unique as our research content on these small and under-the-radar companies is the only research of its type in the country.
These research reports have been hand-picked from the roughly 70 reports published by our analyst team today.
You can see all of today’s research reports here >>>
Ahead of Wall Street
The daily 'Ahead of Wall Street' article is a must-read for all investors who would like to be ready for that day's trading action. The article comes out before the market opens, attempting to make sense of that morning's economic releases and how they will affect that day's market action. You can read this article for free on our home page and can actually sign up there to get an email notification as this article comes out each morning.
You can read today's AWS here >>> CPI Inflation Rate +4.2%: Hottest in 3 Years
Today's Featured Research Reports
Merck’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Large Cap Pharmaceuticals industry over the past year (+53.3% vs. +25.2%). The company’s blockbuster drug, Keytruda, and new products have been driving sales. Animal Health is also contributing to growth. Though Keytruda will lose patent exclusivity in 2028, its sales are expected to remain strong until then.
Merck’s new products, Winrevair, Welireg and Capvaxive, key pipeline progress and expansion of its respiratory and infectious disease and oncology portfolios through the acquisitions of Verona Pharma, Cidara Therapeutics and Terns Pharmaceuticals have improved its long-term growth prospects. This progress has increased confidence that Merck can maintain growth even after Keytruda loses exclusivity.
However, it faces several near-term challenges, including persistent challenges for Gardasil in China, potential competition for Keytruda, and rising competitive and generic pressure on some of its drugs.
(You can read the full research report on Merck here >>>)
Shares of Southern Company have gained +7.1% over the past year against the Zacks Utility - Electric Power industry’s gain of +23.2%. The company is a leading U.S. electric utility with a stable, recession-resistant business model, benefiting from strong electricity demand growth, particularly from data centers and hyperscale customers, and a robust pipeline exceeding 75 gigawatts of potential projects.
Southern Company is expanding its regulated generation and transmission assets, investing in battery storage and renewable projects, and maintaining a 25-year streak of dividend increases, appealing to income-focused investors.
However, elevated leverage with $67.1 billion in long-term debt, capital-intensive infrastructure needs, exposure to economic slowdowns, regulatory risks, ongoing depreciation charges, and weather-driven earnings volatility limit financial flexibility. Hence, investors are advised to wait for a better entry point.
(You can read the full research report on Southern Company here >>>)
Lumentum’s shares have outperformed the Zacks Communication - Components industry over the past year (+968.3% vs. +313.6%). The company is benefiting from sustained AI and cloud network buildouts, with record fiscal Q3 revenue and expanding profitability as laser chips and cloud transceivers scale.
Management’s Q4 outlook calls for another step up in revenue and operating margin, supported by continued EML growth, scale-across components like pump and narrow linewidth lasers, and a ramp in 1.6T transceivers with initial internal CW laser integration. A multiyear OCS purchase agreement and the acquisition of an additional indium phosphide fab, backed by a larger cash balance, extend capacity and visibility, while CPO development moves toward revenue.
However, supply constraints and outsourcing dependence can delay shipments, and ongoing ASP and customer concentration risks remain a headwind. Industrial lasers remain muted and can dilute the mix.
(You can read the full research report on Lumentum here >>>)
Shares of Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina have outperformed the Zacks Banks - Southeast industry over the past year (+66.1% vs. +15.4%). This microcap company with a market capitalization of $236.97 million has its investment thesis supported by improving earnings power, driven by balance-sheet management, loan growth and a stable deposit franchise. Margin expansion reflects effective asset-liability management and favorable funding dynamics, while loan growth continues to support revenue generation.
Strong capital levels and a conservative dividend policy provide flexibility to support future growth and shareholder returns. However, key risks include rising operating expenses, potential margin compression from higher funding costs and higher credit costs tied to portfolio growth.
Fee income remains sensitive to appraisal-related activity. Valuation reflects investor caution around the sustainability of earnings growth and credit performance. Further upside will depend on sustaining profitability, maintaining credit quality and delivering consistent earnings growth.
(You can read the full research report on Peoples Bancorp of North Carolina here >>>)
Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include Sterling Infrastructure, Inc. (STRL), Woodward, Inc. (WWD) and Lamar Advertising Co. (LAMR).
Mark Vickery
Senior Editor
Note: Sheraz Mian heads the Zacks Equity Research department and is a well-regarded expert of aggregate earnings. He is frequently quoted in the print and electronic media and publishes the weekly Earnings Trends and Earnings Preview reports. If you want an email notification each time Sheraz publishes a new article, please click here>>>
Today's Must Read
Featured Reports
Growing Mission-Critical Demand & Integrated Model Aid Sterling (STRL)
Per the Zacks analyst, Sterling is gaining from robust demand trends for mission-critical activity, mainly in data centers and semiconductors. Also, its integrated business model adds to the growth.
Woodward (WWD) Gains from Strength in Aerospace Segment
Per the Zacks analyst, Woodward's Aerospace segment is gaining from strength in the commercial aftermarket and higher defense activity, with fiscal 2026 revenues expected to grow 21-24% from this unit
Lamar (LAMR) Digital Growth Fuels Cash Flow Despite Cyclical Ad Risk
Per the Zacks Analyst, Lamar's resilient local demand and growing digital business support steady cash generation and dividends, while cyclical ad budgets and leverage remain key risks.
Service Center Unit Aids Applied Industrial (AIT), Costs Ail
Per the Zacks analyst, Applied Industrial's Service Center Based Distribution segment is driven by increase in demand for technical MRO services. However, high costs remain concerning for the company.
Restructuring Gains and Demand Driven Growth Boosts VMI Prospects
Per the Zacks analyst, VMI is benefiting from ongoing restructuring initiatives that are resulting in cost savings. The Utility segment is also poised for robust growth from high demand.
Investments & Customer Additions Aid Southwest Gas (SWX)
Per the Zacks analyst, Southwest Gas' strategic investment plans will support system improvements and pipe replacement programs. Consistent customer additions will further boost its results.
Blue Owl (OBDC) to Grow on Diversified Portfolio Amid Margin Pressure
Per the Zacks analyst, Blue Owl's diversified portfolio supports growth, but lower interest rates and spread compression are weighing on earnings.
New Upgrades
Five Below's (FIVE) Traffic Gains and Customer Focus Fuel Growth
Per the Zacks analyst, Five Below may benefit from broad-based customer traffic gains and a customer-centric strategy that strengthens engagement and supports sustained demand momentum.
Expanding DevSecOps Footprint Aids GitLab (GTLB) Prospect
Per the Zacks analyst, GitLab is benefiting from growing DevSecOps adoption, strong renewal trends and increasing AI-driven usage across workflows.
SaaS Expansion Supports Omnicell's (OMCL) Growth Outlook
The Zacks analyst is optimistic about Omnicell's growth outlook, driven by expanding SaaS and Expert Services adoption, pharmacy automation initiatives and global expansion.
New Downgrades
Theravance (TBPH) Relies on Profit Sharing Amid Pipeline Constraints
Theravance's revenue growth is driven by higher profit-sharing income from U.S. Yupelri sales. Lack of Pipeline Diversification and discontinuation of lead its candidate concern the Zacks analyst.
Chord Energy's (CHRD) Williston Basin Advantage Drives Growth
Chord Energy's Williston Basin position and its shift to longer laterals drive cost-efficient production growth. However, its sensitivity to oil prices concerns the Zacks analyst.
Weak Global Vehicle Production to Hurt Aptiv (APTV)
Per the Zacks analyst, weak global vehicle production due to geopolitical tensions, weak momentum for electric cars, and worldwide semiconductor shortage are expected to impact Aptiv's business.
Zacks' Research Chief Names "Stock Most Likely to Double"
Our team of experts has just released the 5 stocks with the greatest probability of gaining +100% or more in the coming months. Of those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian highlights the one stock set to climb highest.
This top pick is a little-known satellite-based communications firm. Space is projected to become a trillion dollar industry, and this company's customer base is growing fast. Analysts have forecasted a major revenue breakout in 2025. Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like Hims & Hers Health, which shot up +209%.
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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.

Top Research Reports for Merck, Southern Company & Lumentum

In the latest trading session, Southern Co. (SO) closed at $92.60, marking a +1.07% move from the previous day. This move outpaced the S&P 500's daily loss of 2.65%. Meanwhile, the Dow lost 1.35%, and the Nasdaq, a tech-heavy index, lost 4.18%.
Heading into today, shares of the power company had lost 0.88% over the past month, outpacing the Utilities sector's loss of 4.57% and lagging the S&P 500's gain of 5.47%.
Market participants will be closely following the financial results of Southern Co. in its upcoming release. The company is forecasted to report an EPS of $1.01, showcasing a 10.99% upward movement from the corresponding quarter of the prior year. Simultaneously, our latest consensus estimate expects the revenue to be $7.31 billion, showing a 4.82% escalation compared to the year-ago quarter.
SO's full-year Zacks Consensus Estimates are calling for earnings of $4.58 per share and revenue of $31.26 billion. These results would represent year-over-year changes of +6.51% and +5.77%, respectively.
Any recent changes to analyst estimates for Southern Co. should also be noted by investors. Recent revisions tend to reflect the latest near-term business trends. With this in mind, we can consider positive estimate revisions a sign of optimism about the business outlook.
Based on our research, we believe these estimate revisions are directly related to near-term stock moves. We developed the Zacks Rank to capitalize on this phenomenon. Our system takes these estimate changes into account and delivers a clear, actionable rating model.
The Zacks Rank system, running from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), holds an admirable track record of superior performance, independently audited, with #1 stocks contributing an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has moved 0.03% higher. Southern Co. is currently a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
In the context of valuation, Southern Co. is at present trading with a Forward P/E ratio of 20.01. This expresses a premium compared to the average Forward P/E of 17.88 of its industry.
Meanwhile, SO's PEG ratio is currently 2.77. Comparable to the widely accepted P/E ratio, the PEG ratio also accounts for the company's projected earnings growth. The Utility - Electric Power industry had an average PEG ratio of 2.59 as trading concluded yesterday.
The Utility - Electric Power industry is part of the Utilities sector. This industry, currently bearing a Zacks Industry Rank of 152, finds itself in the bottom 38% echelons of all 250+ industries.
The Zacks Industry Rank evaluates the power of our distinct industry groups by determining the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks forming the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
Ensure to harness Zacks.com to stay updated with all these stock-shifting metrics, among others, in the next trading sessions.
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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.

Southern Co. (SO) Gains As Market Dips: What You Should Know

Shares of NextEra Energy NEE have gained 5.3% in the year to date period compared with the Zacks Utility - Electric Power industry’s rally of 3.9%. The company has also outperformed the Zacks Utilities sector’s return of 3.9%.
NextEra Energy’s share price has advanced on the strength of solid operational execution and a consistently growing customer base, which continues to support rising demand for its services. Additionally, easing interest rates are expected to lower financing costs, enhancing the outlook for this capital-intensive utility.
Price Performance (YTD Period)
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Another utility, The Southern Company SO, has a well-chalked-out capital investment plan to support clean power generation and grid modernization to support load growth. In the year-to-date period, Southern Company gained 3.8%, underperforming its industry.
Should NextEra Energy be added to your portfolio purely on the back of price strength? Let’s delve deeper and find out the factors that can help investors decide whether it is a good entry point to add NEE stock to their portfolio.
What’s Driving NextEra Energy’s Consistent Stock Performance?
NextEra Energy continues to invest aggressively to strengthen and expand its operations. The company expects to deploy nearly $94.2 billion between 2025 and 2030 to support infrastructure growth and enhance long-term value creation. Of this amount, approximately $57.38 billion is earmarked for Florida Power & Light (“FPL”) to fund new generation resources, transmission and distribution enhancements, and grid modernization initiatives, while about $36 billion will be invested in NextEra Energy Resources to further expand its clean-energy portfolio.
NextEra Energy Resources remains focused on building its renewable energy platform through sustained investments in clean-energy assets. The company projects the addition of approximately 76.6-107.6 GW of renewable generation capacity between 2026 and 2032 and currently has a renewable development backlog exceeding 33 GW. Leveraging operational excellence, economies of scale and strategically positioned projects, NextEra Energy continues to benefit from one of the lowest cost structures in the utility sector, supporting strong profitability and competitive positioning.
A robust Florida economy is creating favorable growth opportunities for NextEra Energy by driving rising electricity demand. The company is well-equipped to capitalize on this trend through ongoing investments in infrastructure expansion and grid modernization. Additionally, FPL maintains residential electricity rates that remain well below the national average, strengthening its ability to attract new customers and retain existing ones while supporting sustained growth.
NextEra Energy benefits from one of the lowest-cost operating models in the utility sector, backed by strong operational performance, renewable energy scale advantages and strategically located assets. These factors support healthy profit margins and strengthen the company's competitive standing.
Nearly 89% of NextEra Energy’s customers are residential, while commercial and industrial users account for the balance. The company’s scale, technological expertise and operational efficiency enable it to generate consistently strong returns. Additionally, NextEra Energy’s broad service territory and expanding renewable energy portfolio enhance its market position and provide a durable competitive advantage.
NextEra Energy’s Earnings Estimates Moving Up
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NEE’s 2026 and 2027 earnings per share indicates an increase of 0.25% and 0.23%, respectively, in the past 60 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Another utility, Duke Energy Corporation DUK, is also making smart capital investments to expand its clean energy generation assets. DUK’s 2026 and 2027 earnings per share remained unchanged in the past 60 days.
NEE Stock Returns Better Than Its 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.
NextEra Energy’s trailing 12-month ROE is 12.25%, ahead of the industry average of 11.09%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Duke Energy’s ROE is currently pegged at 9.73%, which is lower than its industry returns.
NextEra Energy’s Shares Trading at a Premium
The company is currently valued at a premium compared with its industry on a forward 12-month P/E basis. NextEra Energy is currently trading at 20.34X compared with the industry average of 15.29X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Southern Company is currently trading at 16.16X, also a premium to its industry.
NextEra Energy Increases Shareholders Value
NextEra Energy has authorization in place to repurchase as many as 180 million shares over an unspecified duration. The company also aims to increase its dividend by nearly 10% annually through at least 2026, followed by approximately 6% yearly growth from the end of 2026 through 2028, pending board approval.
NEE’s current quarterly dividend is 62.32 cents per share, while the dividend yield of 2.95% remains higher than 1.43% of the S&P 500 composite.
Wrapping Up
NextEra Energy continues to deliver stable performance, supported by increasing demand for clean energy across its service areas. To meet this growing demand, the company is consistently expanding its renewable energy portfolio. Additionally, Florida’s strong economic growth is creating favorable conditions for further customer and load expansion.
Given the positive trend in earnings estimate revisions and solid return on equity, investors may consider maintaining their positions in this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) utility stock. However, with NEE currently trading at a premium valuation, prospective investors may be better served waiting for a more attractive entry point before initiating or adding to positions.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) : Free Stock Analysis Report
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

NextEra Energy Outpaces Industry in YTD: How to Play the Stock?

The Southern Company’s SO subsidiary, the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC), has approved a plan that will lower overall electricity rates for Georgia Power customers, delivering meaningful savings to households and businesses across the state. Under the approved framework, a typical residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month will save approximately $50 annually, equivalent to about $4.04 per month.
The decision is expected to generate total annual savings of roughly $285 million for Georgia Power's customer base, providing financial relief as energy consumption typically rises during the summer months.
Agreement Resolves Fuel and Storm Recovery Cases
Georgia PSC's approval follows a stipulated agreement inked between Georgia Power and the Public Interest Advocacy Staff of the Georgia PSC. The agreement addressed two regulatory proceedings filed earlier this year: the Fuel Cost Recovery case and the Storm Cost Recovery case.
These proceedings focused on recovering costs associated with fuel used to operate power generation facilities and expenses incurred while restoring electricity service following severe weather events, including Hurricane Helene in 2024. The approved plan balances cost recovery needs with customer affordability, enabling lower overall rates while maintaining reliable service.
Company Highlights: Commitment to Affordability
Georgia PSC welcomed the commission's decision, emphasizing its ongoing efforts to operate efficiently and deliver dependable energy at competitive prices.
According to company leadership, the approved rate reduction comes at a critical time, helping customers manage electricity expenses during periods of higher seasonal demand. The decision follows months of regulatory review, public hearings and collaboration between the utility, PSC staff and other stakeholders.
SO’s Long History of Competitive Energy Rates
For more than 140 years, Georgia PSC has served customers across the state, focusing on reliability and affordability. The company notes that since 1990, its rates have averaged approximately 15% below the national average.
In addition to maintaining competitive pricing, Georgia PSC offers a range of rate plans and energy-efficiency programs designed to help residential and commercial customers better manage their electricity costs.
Growth Supports Future Customer Benefits
Georgia's continued population growth and increasing investment from large energy users, including data centers and manufacturers, are playing an important role in the utility's long-term affordability strategy.
The expansion of the customer base helps spread fixed infrastructure costs across more users, reducing pressure on residential and small-business customers. This trend previously supported the company's base-rate freeze and is expected to contribute to additional customer benefits in the years ahead.
Looking forward, Georgia Power has committed to providing annual savings of approximately $102 per year for a typical residential customer beginning in 2029, reinforcing its focus on delivering long-term value while supporting the state's continued economic growth. With immediate savings set to benefit customers and additional reductions planned for the future, the decision underscores Georgia Power's efforts to manage costs while meeting the demands of a growing state.
SO’s Zacks Rank & Key Picks
Atlanta, GA-based Southern Company is one of the largest utilities in the United States, dealing with the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity. Currently, SO has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Investors interested in the utility sector might look at some better-ranked stocks like Consolidated Edison, Inc. ED, Duke Energy Corporation DUK and Engie SA ENGIY. Consolidated Edison, Duke Energy and Engie SA carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy)each. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
New York-based Consolidated Edison is a diversified utility holding company with subsidiaries engaged in both regulated and unregulated businesses. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ED's 2026 earnings indicates 6.8% year-over-year growth.
Charlotte, NC-based Duke Energy is a diversified energy company with a wide portfolio of domestic and international, natural gas and electric and regulated and unregulated businesses that supply, deliver and process energy in North America and selected international markets. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for DUK’s 2026 earnings indicates 6.3% year-over-year growth.
ENGIE SA engages in the power, natural gas and energy services businesses. It operates through Renewables, Networks, Energy Solutions, FlexGen, Retail, Nuclear and Others segments. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ENGIY's 2026 earnings indicates 42.7% year-over-year growth.
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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.

Southern Company Approves Rate Cut for Georgia Power Customers

Looking at units outstanding versus one week prior within the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, the biggest outflow was seen in the State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF, where 10,250,000 units were destroyed, or a 2.0% decrease week over week. Among the largest underlying components of XLU, in morning trading today Nextera Energy is up about 0.7%, and Southern Company is up by about 0.1%.
And on a percentage change basis, the ETF with the biggest outflow was the Tradr 2X Long FLY Daily ETF, which lost 195,000 of its units, representing a 39.0% decline in outstanding units compared to the week prior.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

XLU, FLYT: Big ETF Outflows

Key Points
The Southern Company is a well-established, proven player in the utilities business.
Brookfield Renewable is being built from the ground up to provide industry-leading dividend growth.
Vistra could appeal to growth investors who wouldn’t normally consider a value stock like this one.
At first blush, there's no apparent immediate threat of a recession.
Now look again. Inflation is creeping up, reaching nearly a three-year high of 3.8% last month. The Federal Reserve isn't exactly in a position to do much about it, either. The best weapon for combating inflation is higher interest rates. Still, the already wobbly (and highly indebted) U.S. economy could crumble under the weight of even just one or two rate increases.
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Connect the dots. Owning stocks isn't exactly a low-risk proposition here. There is one exception to this concern, however. That's largely about recession-proof utility stocks, which offer services that consumers and corporations alike must continue paying for regardless of the economic backdrop.
So if you're concerned that a recession -- or even just a period of prolonged economic weakness -- is brewing, utilities stocks like The Southern Company (NYSE: SO), Brookfield Renewable Corporation (NYSE: BEPC), and Vistra (NYSE: VST) might be smart holdings to add to your portfolio sooner than later.
The Southern Company is a predictable industry stalwart
There's nothing especially special about The Southern Company. But that's the point.
Investors afraid of a recession want to own well-established and well-proven defensive names. That's what this utility outfit brings to the table. The $100 billion organization has been in business for well over a century now, and currently serves more than 9 million customers located all over the United States.
Its biggest single fuel source right now is natural gas, although, as it transitioned away from coal, it's now investing in renewables as opportunities and funding allow. It's not aggressively forcing this shift, however, and putting itself into a financial pinch as a result.
Perhaps more important to defensive-minded investors, Southern's well-established presence in a business that few people can avoid using means it will continue to generate profitable revenue no matter what the foreseeable future holds.
And that's what makes this ticker such a fantastic holding during tough times. It can afford not only to continue paying its cash dividends but also to raise them. The Southern Company has now increased its per-share dividend for 25 consecutive years, in fact, through a handful of rough patches.
Newcomers will be plugging into a forward-looking yield of 3.2%.
Brookfield Renewable: Same idea, different package
Brookfield Renewable isn't exactly a household name, mostly because it doesn't directly serve customers under that banner. Rather, it is a developer and buyer of power-generating businesses.
Leaning on a combination of wind, solar, and a surprising amount of hydro power along with some exposure to the more esoteric elements of the renewable energy industry, this company's 48 gigawatts' worth of production capacity turned $6.4 billion in revenue into net income of $712 million last year, dramatically improving on the previous year's numbers.
That's not what makes Brookfield Renewable such a compelling investment prospect here, however. For that matter, neither is its flexible structure. (This company isn't tethered to a particular geographical location, but rather, can and will invest in any appropriate opportunity no matter where it's located.)
What makes this name a must-have in good times and bad, rather, is that it's being built from the ground up to pay and grow dividends. Not only is its forward-looking yield of 4.6% better than most stocks of its peers, but it's targeting payout growth of between 5% and 9% per year, laying the groundwork for total annualized net returns of between 12% and 15%.
The thing is, it can arguably do it. Just make sure you step into the correct ticker if you're interested. Its counterpart Brookfield Renewable Partners (NYSE: BEP) offers about the same performance. But it's structured as a partnership, which comes with tricky tax rules that may not be worth the hassle for investors just looking to play a little defense.
Vistra is a defensive value name for growth investors
Finally, add Vistra to your list of top recession-proof utilities stocks to consider buying this month -- although not necessarily for the reason you might think.
With nothing more than a quick look Vistra doesn't look much different than any other outfit in the business. It provides power to a few million U.S. homes (mostly in the northeast) using a growing amount of natural gas and a decreasing amount of coal. It's also easing its way into renewables, leading the way with nuclear.
Vistra is different than most other utility names, though, in a couple of key ways.
First, while it serves 5 million retail customers, its focus is increasingly on power production it can route to different areas using the nation's power-distribution grids. It's also developing custom-built and conveniently located solutions that specifically serve the nation's fast-growing AI data center industry. It's already inked long-term power purchase agreements with Facebook parent Meta Platforms and cloud computing giant Amazon, although more are likely in the works.
And this may be the better opportunity to capitalize on right now. The International Energy Agency believes AI data centers' global electricity demand is poised to more than double between 2024 and 2030, nd then grow another 27% between then and 2035.
The other oddity with Vistra is that, while it technically pays a dividend, that's not its priority. Most of its profits are being poured back into the business's own growth. And it's working, even if much of the capital deployment being done right now won't start generating a meaningful return until a few years from now.
The point is, this ticker is at least as much of a growth investment as it is a value or income investment. For growth investors that don't want or need dividend income but still want to play a bit of defense at this time, VST is an ideal option, particularly while it's down so much from last year's peak when AI-mania was its most frenzied. There's a reason the analyst community still thinks it's worth $233 per share -- 73% above the stock's present price -- just as there's a reason the vast majority of these analysts currently rate the stock a strong buy.
Should you buy stock in Southern Company right now?
Before you buy stock in Southern Company, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Southern Company wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $477,813!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,320,088!*
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James Brumley has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon and Meta Platforms. The Motley Fool recommends Brookfield Renewable and Brookfield Renewable Partners. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

My Top 3 Recession-Proof Utilities Stocks for May 2026

Looking today at week-over-week shares outstanding changes among the universe of ETFs covered at ETF Channel, one standout is the State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (Symbol: XLU) where we have detected an approximate $318.8 million dollar outflow -- that's a 1.4% decrease week over week (from 515,398,320 to 508,348,320). Among the largest underlying components of XLU, in trading today Southern Company (Symbol: SO) is off about 1%, Duke Energy Corp (Symbol: DUK) is off about 1.1%, and Constellation Energy Corp (Symbol: CEG) is lower by about 7.6%. For a complete list of holdings, visit the XLU Holdings page » The chart below shows the one year price performance of XLU, versus its 200 day moving average:
Looking at the chart above, XLU's low point in its 52 week range is $39.055 per share, with $47.80 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $44.36. 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 ».
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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.
Also see:
Home Improvement Stores Dividend Stocks
SFE Historical Stock Prices
Dividend Bargains You Can Buy Cheaper Than Insiders Did
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Noteworthy ETF Outflows: XLU, SO, DUK, CEG

Key Points
Bitcoin, gold, and silver are speculative investments, and their valuations can fluctuate significantly.
The Vanguard Utilities ETF offers greater stability by holding top utility stocks.
Its fees are low, and it pays an above-average yield.
In the past year, investors have loaded up on a combination of gold, silver, and Bitcoin in the hopes of being able to find safe-haven investments they can safely store their money in, amid economic and geopolitical uncertainty. The problem with those types of investments is that they are highly speculative in nature and have been fairly volatile over the past several months.
You can still invest in stocks to reduce your market risk; the key is to select the right types of stocks. Even the S&P 500 may be a bit risky these days due to its dependence on the top tech stocks. If they fall, the index will be susceptible to a steep correction as well.
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Instead of those options, you may want to consider the Vanguard Utilities ETF (NYSEMKT: VPU). Here's why it can be an ideal safe-haven investment to add to your portfolio if you're worried about the stock market and rising valuations.
Utility stocks can be relatively safe and dependable investments
Utility companies may not often generate much in the way of growth, but they do bring in a steady stream of recurring income because their customers need their services on a regular basis. While there may be some volatility if there are adverse weather conditions, generally, there's a great deal of predictability when it comes to these types of businesses.
With the Vanguard Utilities ETF, you're getting exposure to a broad mix of utility stocks, including those involved with electricity, gas, water, and renewables. Its top holdings feature many of the best-known utility stocks on the market: NextEra Energy, Southern Company, and Duke Energy.
By having exposure to these blue chip stocks, you can enjoy the consistency and dependability that they offer. The Vanguard fund has averaged a beta of 0.59 over the past five years, which effectively tells you it's much less volatile than the overall market (a beta of 1.0 would mean that it follows the market closely).
The fund's low fees and above-average yield sweeten the deal
An attractive feature of Vanguard funds is their low fees, and the Vanguard Utilities ETF is no exception; its expense ratio is just 0.09%. Meanwhile, it pays a dividend that yields 2.5%, which is more than double the rate of the average S&P 500, which is around 1.1%.
This year, the Vanguard fund is up around 5%, and that rises to more than 6% when factoring in its dividend. If you're looking to reduce your risk in the markets, investing in this ETF can be a great option to consider right now.
Should you buy stock in Vanguard Utilities ETF right now?
Before you buy stock in Vanguard Utilities ETF, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Vanguard Utilities ETF wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $472,744!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,353,500!*
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*Stock Advisor returns as of May 13, 2026.
David Jagielski, CPA has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bitcoin and NextEra Energy. The Motley Fool recommends Duke Energy. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

This Vanguard ETF Could Be a Better Safe-Haven Investment Than Bitcoin, Gold, and Silver

The world has crossed a historic threshold, officially entering the “Age of Electricity,” as mentioned in the Global Energy Review 2026 report, published last month by the International Energy Agency (IEA). According to the report, global electricity demand grew about 2.3 times faster than total energy demand in 2025, exceeding the long-term average.
Global electricity generation grew more than 850 terawatt-hour (TWh) last year.
This twin surge — rapidly growing demand matched by accelerating supply — creates a powerful tailwind for utility companies. As the backbone of this new electricity-driven global economy, utilities are poised to see sustained revenue growth, making exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that hold a diversified basket of these companies a compelling investment right now.
Before diving into the specifics of these ETFs, investors may want to examine the catalysts driving this electric revolution, along with the data-driven outlook for the utility industry, to better understand why utility ETFs appear poised for multi-year outperformance and could be a compelling addition to a modern portfolio. The following sections provide a closer analysis of these factors.
Growth Drivers: AI, Data Centers & Beyond
The fastest-growing source of new electricity load and the most visible symbol of the new energy era is undoubtedly the rapid rise of AI infrastructure and its power-hungry data centers. Electricity consumption from data centers globally increased nearly 17% in 2025.
Beyond AI, the widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), heat pumps for home heating and industrial decarbonization initiatives has made electricity the preferred energy source for transportation, buildings and heavy industry.
The buildings sector remained the largest single contributor to electricity consumption, accounting for nearly 45% of the total annual increase in 2025, supported by continued appliance adoption and the growing use of air conditioners and heat pumps.
The global push for "green" manufacturing means heavy industries are trading coal and gas for high-voltage electrical systems.
This structural shift, unlike past cyclical booms, guarantees years of compounding demand growth — a perfect environment for utility ETFs to absorb rising volumes without major price suppression.
Outlook for Utilities
The IEA projects global electricity demand to increase at a brisk average annual rate of 3.6% over the 2026-2030 period, supported by rising consumption from industry, EVs, air conditioning and data centres. In particular, electricity use in the United States is set to add more than 420 TWh in total over the next five years.
Meeting this massive demand will require a Herculean infrastructure effort, leading the IEA to predict that annual grid investment should increase approximately 50% by 2030.
For investors, this creates a compelling fundamental case. This acceleration in demand and the subsequent need for massive grid construction translates directly into rising rate bases (the value of property on which a utility is permitted to earn a specified rate of return).
For regulated utilities, a larger rate base typically leads to meaningful profit generation and the potential for steady dividend increases.
Utility ETFs to Buy
Considering the aforementioned discussion, one may invest directly in individual utility giants like NextEra Energy NEE or Duke Energy DUK. However, if you want to capture the systemic nature of the "Age of Electricity," a diversified approach is a more prudent choice.
Utility ETFs mitigate the regulatory and localized risks inherent in individual companies while capturing the broad upward trend of the entire sector. Thus, by holding a basket of these power providers, investors can gain a safer, more balanced entry point into the structural growth of the global grid.
Given this backdrop, one may consider buying the following four utility ETFs, each of which holds a Zacks ETF Rank #2 (Buy) right now:
State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF XLU
This fund, with assets under management worth $22.85 billion, offers exposure 31 companies from the electric utilities; water utilities; multi-utilities, independent power and renewable electricity producers; and gas utility industries. Its top three holdings are: NEE (holding 13.89% of the fund), Southern Company SO (7.27%) and DUK (6.94%).
XLU has rallied 12.1% over the past year. The fund charges 8 basis points (bps) as fees.
iShares U.S. Utilities ETF IDU
This fund, with net assets worth $1.40 billion, offers exposure to 43 U.S. companies that supply electricity, gas, and water. Its top three holdings are: NEE (12.18%), SO (6.34%), and DUK (6.06%).
IDU has risen 10.3% over the past year. The fund charges 38 bps as fees.
Fidelity MSCI Utilities Index ETF FUTY
This fund, with net assets worth $2.46 billion, offers exposure to 66 companies trading in the utilities sector in the U.S. equity market. Its top three holdings are: NEE (12.34%), SO (6.55%), and DUK (6.26%).
FUTY has soared 12.5% over the past year. The fund charges 8 bps as fees.
Vanguard Utilities Index Fund ETF Shares VPU
This fund, with net assets worth $9 billion, offers exposure to 67 electric, gas, and water utility companies as well as companies that operate as independent producers and/or distributors of power. Its top three holdings are: NEE (12.15%), SO (6.75%), and DUK (6.47%).
VPU has soared 12.5% over the past year. The fund charges 9 bps as fees.
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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.

Southern Company (The)

Market sentiment

Bullish sentiment

Share of longs and shorts

Confidence Index

Bulls

Support Index

Bulls

Cash flows Index

Bulls

Momentum

Buy

Buy

Metrics since the start of the current trend:

Protective stop levels