ST. LOUIS, Dec. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ameren Corporation (NYSE: AEE) announced today that Jamie L. Engstrom has been elected to the Ameren board of directors, effective Jan. 1, 2026. Continue Reading Jamie L. Engstrom has been elected to the Ameren board of directors, effective Jan. 1, 2026. Engstrom has served as the senior vice president and global chief information officer of Caterpillar Inc. since 2020. Caterpillar is a leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off ...

Key Takeaways VRT, RNR, AEE, CNQ and FDX are highlighted for strong sales growth and solid cash flow positions.Selection criteria include low P/S ratio, upward sales estimate revisions and high operating margin.VRT leads with a 27.5% expected sales growth for 2025, while AEE follows closely with 17.7%.As the U.S. economy continues to face sticky inflation and softening job growth, the Federal Reserve cut rates for the third time this year. Meanwhile, tariffs, supply-chain pressures and uneven business inves ...

Saint Louis, Missouri-based Ameren Corporation (AEE) generates and distributes electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial, industrial, and wholesale end markets in Missouri and Illinois. With a market cap of $26.6 billion, Ameren operates through Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois Electric Distribution, Ameren Illinois Natural Gas, and Ameren Transmission segments. Companies with a market cap of $10 billion or more are categorized as "large-cap stocks." Ameren fits this description perfectly, w ...

Core Viewpoint - Ameren (AEE) is experiencing significant selling pressure, having declined 6.5% over the past four weeks, but is now positioned for a potential trend reversal as it enters oversold territory, with analysts predicting better earnings than previously expected [1] Technical Analysis - The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is a momentum oscillator that indicates whether a stock is oversold, with readings below 30 suggesting oversold conditions [2] - AEE's current RSI reading of 28.99 indicates that heavy selling may be exhausting, suggesting a potential bounce back towards equilibrium in supply and demand [5] Fundamental Analysis - There is a strong consensus among sell-side analysts that earnings estimates for AEE will improve, with a 0.2% increase in the consensus EPS estimate over the last 30 days, which typically correlates with price appreciation [7] - AEE holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), placing it in the top 20% of over 4,000 ranked stocks based on earnings estimate revisions and EPS surprises, indicating a strong potential for a near-term turnaround [8]

Industry Overview - The Zacks Utility - Electric Power industry presents a strong long-term investment case due to its capital-intensive, domestically focused, and highly regulated business model, which ensures steady revenue visibility and predictable earnings [1] - The industry is transitioning towards cleaner energy sources driven by rising demand from AI-based data centers, reshoring of industries, and increased electric vehicle usage, with utilities retiring older fossil-fuel units and expanding renewables [2] Company Focus: PPL Corporation - PPL Corporation is a fully regulated utility focused on infrastructure upgrades and clean energy expansion, generating stable cash flows and reliable dividends [3] - The company's regulated operations provide predictable revenues, enhancing financial stability and supporting consistent capital returns to shareholders [4] - PPL plans to invest nearly $20 billion from 2025 to 2028 to strengthen its infrastructure and increase clean electricity generation assets [23] Company Focus: Ameren Corporation - Ameren Corporation operates as a regulated electric and natural gas utility in Missouri and Illinois, providing consistent cash flows and a reliable dividend profile [5] - The company benefits from a supportive regulatory environment and a long-term capital strategy, prioritizing grid upgrades and clean energy transition [5] - Ameren plans to invest $68 billion from 2025 to 2029 to enhance its electric transmission, distribution, and generation infrastructure [23] Financial Performance Comparison - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PPL's earnings per share in 2025 and 2026 has remained unchanged, with long-term earnings growth pegged at 7.34% [7] - Ameren's EPS estimates for 2025 and 2026 have increased by 0.60% and 0.56%, respectively, with long-term earnings growth pegged at 8.52% [9] - PPL's current Return on Equity (ROE) is 9.08%, while Ameren's ROE is higher at 10.92% [11] Capital Return and Dividend Yield - PPL offers a higher dividend yield of 2.99% compared to Ameren's 2.71%, both exceeding the S&P 500 composite's yield of 1.49% [15] - Both companies are known for their dependable dividend distributions, reflecting solid financial performance [14] Valuation and Debt Metrics - PPL appears slightly cheaper than Ameren on a Price/Earnings Forward 12-month basis, with PPL trading at 18.7X and Ameren at 19.78X [16][18] - PPL's debt-to-capital ratio is 56.85%, while Ameren's is 59.8%, indicating PPL has a slightly lower leverage [20] Price Performance - Over the past six months, Ameren's shares have gained 9.7%, while PPL's shares have risen by 5.4% [24] Conclusion - Ameren Corporation currently has a marginal edge over PPL Corporation due to rising earnings and sales estimates, better ROE, more extensive capital expenditure plans, and superior share price returns [28] - Ameren holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), while PPL has a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold) [29]

Industry Overview - Nuclear energy is increasingly recognized as a key resource for meeting the growing demand for clean electricity, providing consistent, carbon-free generation unlike solar and wind [2][3] - The nuclear industry is gaining momentum due to updated regulatory frameworks and advancements in microreactors and small modular reactors (SMRs), driven by rising clean energy needs from AI-driven data centers and electric vehicles [3][5] - The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects that energy supply from nuclear power will nearly double between 2020 and 2050, with global annual investment in nuclear power expected to surge from about $30 billion in 2010 to over $100 billion by 2030 [5] Investment Opportunities - Nuclear energy-related stocks, such as Dominion Energy, Ameren Corporation, and BWX Technologies, are becoming attractive investment options due to their ability to provide stable energy output [4][7] - Dominion Energy operates four nuclear power stations that supply nearly 40% of its total energy production, focusing on next-generation technologies like SMRs to support future expansion [8][9] - Ameren Corporation plans to add 1,500 MW of new nuclear generating capacity by 2045 and has received a license renewal to operate its existing Callaway Energy Center until October 2044 [11][12] Company Highlights - BWX Technologies provides a broad portfolio of nuclear components and services, including reactor systems for U.S. Navy submarines and support for nuclear R&D [14] - The acquisition of Kinectrics enhances BWXT's capabilities in lifecycle management for the nuclear industry and isotopes production for the radiopharmaceutical market [15] - BWXT secured a 10-year, $1.6 billion contract from the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration to support national security missions [16]

Core Points - Ameren Missouri has received approval from the Missouri Public Service Commission for a new large load user rate structure aimed at ensuring high-usage customers contribute fairly to grid enhancements and energy costs [1][3] - The Powering Missouri Growth Plan is designed to attract new industries and create jobs while ensuring reliable service and reasonable rates for all customers [2][4] Summary by Sections Rate Structure and Consumer Protections - The new rate structure requires large load businesses to pay 100% of direct interconnection costs upfront and provide financial security equivalent to two years of minimum monthly bills [3] - The plan includes strict consumer protection measures to ensure fair cost allocation among all customers, with no discounts or incentives for large load customers [6] Economic Development Goals - The plan aims to create significant job growth and enhance community services through new revenue sources [6] - Ameren Missouri emphasizes the importance of energy availability, reliability, and affordability for businesses considering relocation to the state [4] Energy Strategy and Infrastructure - The company is accelerating investments in energy generation, storage, and infrastructure to support economic expansion while maintaining reliability for all customers [5] - The revised Preferred Resource Plan aims to accommodate up to 2 gigawatts of new energy demand by 2032, ensuring a balanced mix of generation resources [7] Commitment to Clean Energy - The plan offers options for industrial customers to meet their clean energy targets through Ameren Missouri's Clean Energy Advancement programs [4] - The initiative positions Missouri as an attractive state for economic development, reinforcing the commitment to sustainable energy practices [2][5]

Core Insights - Ameren (AEE) is focusing on systematic investments in infrastructure to enhance service reliability, planning to invest up to $26.3 billion from 2025 to 2029 [1][10] - The company is emphasizing the expansion of its nuclear power portfolio, which is expected to contribute to its growth strategy [1][8] Growth Outlook - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AEE's 2025 earnings per share (EPS) has increased by 0.60% to $4.99 over the past 60 days [3] - Revenue for 2025 is projected at $8.85 billion, indicating a growth of 16.15% from the 2024 reported figure [3] - AEE's long-term earnings growth rate is estimated at 8.01% [3] - The company has beaten earnings estimates in three of the last four quarters, with an average surprise of 0.22% [3] Return to Shareholders - AEE has been consistently increasing shareholder value through dividends, currently paying a quarterly dividend of 71 cents per share, which annualizes to $2.84 [4] - The current dividend yield stands at 2.71%, outperforming the Zacks S&P 500 composite average of 1.11% [4] Investment and Growth Focus - AEE has secured power supply contracts for approximately 3 GW of capacity, driven by the increasing demand from the data center industry, AI, and cloud computing [5] - The company is investing in clean energy infrastructure, including wind and solar projects, to enhance its emission-free generation capabilities [6] - AEE plans to add 2,700 MW of renewable generation capacity by 2030 and a total of 4,200 MW by 2035, with estimated investments of $6 billion and $9 billion respectively [7] - The company also aims to strengthen grid reliability through battery storage, planning to install 1,000 MW by 2030 and 1,400 MW by 2035, translating to investments of about $1.5 billion and $2 billion respectively [7] Nuclear Operations - AEE intends to extend the operational license of its Callaway Energy Center nuclear facility beyond 2044 and anticipates adding about 1,500 MW of new nuclear capacity by 2040 [8] Financial Metrics - AEE's return on equity (ROE) is currently at 10.92%, which is higher than the industry average of 9.95% [11] - The times interest earned (TIE) ratio at the end of Q3 2025 was 3.0, indicating effective management of long-term debt obligations [12] Stock Performance - Over the past year, AEE's shares have increased by 13.73%, although this lags behind the industry's growth of 20.2% [13]

Group 1: Market Overview - Tech stocks that had been driving the market rally are now weighing on Wall Street, with significant declines observed in major indices such as the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq [1][4] - Concerns over high valuations and ongoing market volatility have led investors to shun riskier assets, particularly in the tech sector [1][6] Group 2: Defensive Investment Recommendations - In light of market volatility, it is advisable to invest in defensive stocks from the utilities sector, such as American States Water Company, Ameren Corporation, and Entergy Corporation, all of which carry a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) [2] - The recommended approach is to focus on low-beta stocks with high dividend yields and favorable Zacks rankings [3] Group 3: Company Profiles - **American States Water Company (AWR)**: Provides fresh water, wastewater services, and electricity, with an expected earnings growth rate of 4.7% for the current year and a beta of 0.64, alongside a dividend yield of 2.73% [8][9] - **Ameren Corporation (AEE)**: Generates and distributes electricity and natural gas, serving nearly 2.4 million electric and over 900,000 natural gas customers, with an expected earnings growth rate of 7.8% and a beta of 0.50, offering a dividend yield of 2.70% [10][12] - **Entergy Corporation (ETR)**: Engaged in electric power production and retail distribution, with a generating capacity of 30,000 MW, an expected earnings growth rate of 6.9%, a beta of 0.63, and a dividend yield of 2.68% [13]

Industry Overview - The global renewable energy sector is experiencing significant growth driven by increasing demand from transportation and AI sectors, alongside decreasing costs for solar and wind energy [1][2] - The intermittent nature of renewable energy sources presents a critical challenge, necessitating advancements in energy storage solutions [1][2] Energy Storage Market - The energy storage market is emerging as a cornerstone of the global energy transition, supported by falling prices and government backing [2] - Global energy storage battery shipments reached 246.4 GWh in the first half of 2025, marking a year-on-year increase of 115.2% [4] Renewable Energy Generation - For the first time, renewable energy sources generated more power than coal, with a 31% increase in global solar generation and a 7.7% rise in wind energy [3] - The International Energy Agency predicts that global renewable power capacity will double from 2015 to 2030, increasing by 4,600 GW [8] Company Developments - Ameren Corp. plans to construct a 250 MW solar facility and aims to expand its renewable generation portfolio by adding 3,200 MW by 2030 [10][11] - American Electric Power Company has received approvals for 1,826 MW of renewable generation facilities and plans to invest $8.6 billion in renewables through 2027 [14][15] - Canadian Solar has a robust pipeline with 27.3 GWp of solar projects and 80.2 GWh of battery storage projects, indicating a strong position in the market [17][18] Future Outlook - Factors such as rising electricity demand, electric vehicle adoption, and favorable policies in emerging markets are expected to drive growth in renewable energy and storage [6] - The recent trade truce between the U.S. and China regarding rare earth elements has renewed optimism for the U.S. clean energy industry [7]