Core Points - Ameren Corporation reported a first quarter 2025 net income of $289 million, or $1.07 per diluted share, an increase from $261 million, or $0.98 per diluted share in the same period of 2024 [1][2][19] - The increase in earnings was attributed to higher infrastructure investments and increased retail sales in Ameren Missouri due to colder winter temperatures, although this was partially offset by higher interest and storm-related expenses [2][7] - The company reaffirmed its 2025 earnings guidance range of $4.85 to $5.05 per share, assuming normal temperatures for the remainder of the year [3][6] Financial Performance - First quarter 2025 adjusted net income was $289 million, compared to $272 million in the first quarter of 2024, which had adjusted earnings of $1.02 per diluted share [1][4] - Ameren Missouri's earnings for the first quarter 2025 were $42 million, up from $25 million in 2024, reflecting increased infrastructure investments and retail sales [7] - The Ameren Transmission segment reported earnings of $89 million for the first quarter 2025, compared to $72 million in the previous year, driven by infrastructure investments [9] Revenue and Expenses - Total operating revenues for the first quarter 2025 were $2.097 billion, an increase from $1.816 billion in the same period of 2024 [19] - Operating expenses rose to $1.667 billion in the first quarter 2025 from $1.445 billion in 2024, with significant increases in fuel and purchased power costs [21] - The company reported a total operating income of $430 million for the first quarter 2025, compared to $371 million in the prior year [21] Cash Flow and Investments - Net cash provided by operating activities was $431 million in the first quarter 2025, down from $492 million in the same period of 2024 [22] - Capital expenditures increased to $1.064 billion in the first quarter 2025, compared to $890 million in 2024, reflecting ongoing investments in infrastructure [22] - The company reported a net cash used in investing activities of $1.087 billion for the first quarter 2025, compared to $906 million in the previous year [22] Shareholder Information - The weighted-average common shares outstanding increased to 271.4 million in the first quarter 2025 from 266.8 million in 2024 [19][21] - Dividends on common stock paid in the first quarter 2025 were $191 million, compared to $178 million in the same period of 2024 [22]

Core Viewpoint - Ameren Corporation (AEE) is expected to report its first-quarter 2025 results on May 1, with a negative earnings surprise of 2.53% in the last quarter and an average negative surprise of 2.60% over the past four quarters [1][2]. Factors Impacting Q1 Results - The service territories of Ameren experienced below-normal temperatures for most of the first quarter, which likely increased electricity demand for heating, although above-average temperatures in March may have partially offset this demand [2]. - Strong customer growth in Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois, driven by rising data center demand and industrial customer growth, is expected to positively impact revenues [3]. - Severe weather events, including tornadoes and heavy snowfall, caused outages and potential infrastructure damage, which may have negatively affected sales and increased operating expenses for restoration [4]. - Despite these challenges, solid revenue expectations, strategic infrastructure investments, rate base growth, and disciplined cost management are anticipated to support overall earnings [5]. Q1 Expectations - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AEE's revenues is $1.98 billion, reflecting a 9.2% increase from the previous year [6]. - The consensus estimate for earnings is $1.08 per share, indicating a 10.2% increase from the prior-year quarter [6]. Earnings Prediction Model - The current model does not predict an earnings beat for AEE, as it has an Earnings ESP of 0.00% and a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [7][8].

The upcoming report from Ameren (AEE) is expected to reveal quarterly earnings of $1.08 per share, indicating an increase of 10.2% compared to the year-ago period. Analysts forecast revenues of $1.98 billion, representing an increase of 9.2% year over year.The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 15.8% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This reflects how the analysts covering the stock have collectively reevaluated their initial estimates during this timeframe.Prior to a c ...

Ameren (AEE) is expected to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended March 2025. This widely-known consensus outlook gives a good sense of the company's earnings picture, but how the actual results compare to these estimates is a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price.The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on May 1. On the oth ...

Company Overview - Ameren Corporation serves 2.5 million electric customers and over 900,000 natural gas customers across a 64,000-square-mile area through its subsidiaries Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois [3] - Ameren Illinois focuses on electric transmission and distribution as well as natural gas distribution services, while Ameren Missouri provides electric generation, transmission, and distribution services along with natural gas distribution [3] - Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois is involved in developing, owning, and operating rate-regulated regional electric transmission projects within the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc. [3] Upcoming Earnings Call - Martin J. Lyons Jr., chairman, president, and CEO, along with Michael L. Moehn, senior executive vice president and CFO, will discuss the first quarter 2025 earnings and guidance during a conference call on May 2 at 9 a.m. Central Time [1] - The call will be accessible via live broadcast on AmerenInvestors.com, with supporting materials available in the "Investor News and Events" section [2] - A replay of the webcast will be available for one year starting approximately one hour after the call concludes [2]

Core Viewpoint - The utility sector is viewed as a safe investment during economic turbulence, providing essential services that consumers prioritize even in difficult times [1][7][8]. Group 1: Definition and Characteristics of Utility Stocks - Utility stocks are companies primarily involved in distributing essential services such as electricity, gas, and water [5][6]. - The Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) categorizes the utility sector to include electric, gas, and water utilities, as well as independent power producers and energy traders [6]. - Utility companies exhibit low economic sensitivity, generating stable revenues and profits, and are known for their substantial dividends [8][9]. Group 2: Investment Appeal - Investors are drawn to utility stocks due to their "stickiness" in revenues, similar to healthcare and consumer staples, making them defensive stocks [7][8]. - Utilities are often among the best-yielding market sectors, providing safety and potential upside during market downturns [9]. - The sector's stability allows for gradual rate increases, although growth is typically capped at low single-digit rates [11]. Group 3: Recent Trends and Opportunities - The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to significantly increase power usage over the next decade, presenting a unique growth opportunity for utility companies [12][13]. - This trend may enable utilities to enhance their business results in a way that has not been seen before [13]. Group 4: Criteria for Selecting Utility Stocks - A quality screen for selecting utility stocks includes companies within the S&P Composite 1500, with a long-term estimated earnings-per-share growth rate of at least 5% [15]. - Stocks should have a dividend yield of at least 2.5%, with a history of growing dividends by at least 5% over the past year [16][17]. - Companies should have at least five covering analysts and a consensus Buy rating of 2.5 or less on S&P Global Market Intelligence's ratings scale [18][19]. Group 5: Recommended Utility Stocks - Recommended utility stocks include: - IDACORP (IDA): 2.9% yield, 5.5% estimated annual dividend growth, 8.3% long-term EPS growth, consensus rating 1.75 [19]. - NiSource (NI): 2.8% yield, 6.8% estimated annual dividend growth, 8.0% long-term EPS growth, consensus rating 1.53 [19]. - DTE Energy (DTE): 3.1% yield, 6.9% estimated annual dividend growth, 8.0% long-term EPS growth, consensus rating 2.05 [19]. - New Jersey Resources (NJR): 3.6% yield, 5.4% estimated annual dividend growth, 7.6% long-term EPS growth, consensus rating 2.22 [19]. - CMS Energy (CMS): 2.9% yield, 5.8% estimated annual dividend growth, 7.3% long-term EPS growth, consensus rating 2.21 [19]. - Sempra (SRE): 3.7% yield, 5.6% estimated annual dividend growth, 7.0% long-term EPS growth, consensus rating 2.11 [19]. - Ameren (AEE): 2.6% yield, 6.3% estimated annual dividend growth, 6.9% long-term EPS growth, consensus rating 2.24 [19]. - Public Service Enterprise Group (PEG): 3.1% yield, 5.7% estimated annual dividend growth, 6.6% long-term EPS growth, consensus rating 2.35 [19]. - Essential Utilities (WTRG): 3.2% yield, 6.6% estimated annual dividend growth, 6.5% long-term EPS growth, consensus rating 1.46 [19]. - FirstEnergy (FE): 4.1% yield, 5.6% estimated annual dividend growth, 5.7% long-term EPS growth, consensus rating 2.39 [20].

ST. LOUIS, March 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Union Electric Company, doing business as Ameren Missouri, a subsidiary of Ameren Corporation (NYSE: AEE), announced today the pricing of a public offering of $500 million aggregate principal amount of 5.25% first mortgage bonds due 2035 at 99.975% of their principal amount. The transaction is expected to close on April 4, 2025, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. Ameren Missouri intends to use the net proceeds of the offering to repay short ...

For those looking to find strong Utilities stocks, it is prudent to search for companies in the group that are outperforming their peers. Is Ameren (AEE) one of those stocks right now? A quick glance at the company's year-to-date performance in comparison to the rest of the Utilities sector should help us answer this question.Ameren is one of 104 companies in the Utilities group. The Utilities group currently sits at #4 within the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank considers 16 different groups, measu ...

As industries across the board are rapidly embracing renewable energy worldwide for a more sustainable future, the need for reliable energy storage solutions has surged significantly over the past decade. This is because a few renewable sources like solar and wind are intermittent and battery storage systems help bridge this gap by storing excess energy produced during peak generation periods and releasing it when needed.With global electricity consumption projected to increase at the fastest pace in years ...

Economic Overview - The University of Michigan's Consumer Sentiment Index for mid-March dropped to 57.9, significantly below the consensus estimate of 63.2 and the final reading of 64.7 in February, indicating a decline in consumer confidence [4] - The short-term inflation outlook increased to 4.9% in March from 4.3% in February, the highest since November 2022, while the long-term inflation outlook rose to 3.9% from 3.4%, marking the highest since February 1991 [5] Investment Strategy - Investment in low-beta high-yielding stocks is recommended as a strategy to safeguard portfolios during uncertain market conditions, with the potential for upside if markets recover [6][8] - The utility sector is highlighted for its stability and consistent demand, making it a favorable choice for income-oriented investors [7][8] Company Highlights Ameren Corp. (AEE) - Ameren plans to invest up to $26.3 billion from 2025 to 2029 to enhance customer reliability and transition to cleaner energy sources [11][12] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 6% and 6.7%, respectively, with a current dividend yield of 2.90% [14] Atmos Energy Corp. (ATO) - Atmos Energy benefits from rising demand for natural gas and has a long-term investment plan to improve pipeline reliability [15] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 18.2% and 5.1%, respectively, with a current dividend yield of 2.37% [17] American Water Works Co. Inc. (AWK) - American Water Works is expanding through acquisitions and new water rates, with pending acquisitions expected to add 24,200 customers [21] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 1.1% and 5.9%, respectively, with a current dividend yield of 2.15% [22] Entergy Corp. (ETR) - Entergy plans to invest $37 billion from 2025 to 2028 to modernize its infrastructure and expand renewable capacity [23] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 5.5% and 6.3%, respectively, with a current dividend yield of 2.90% [25] NiSource Inc. (NI) - NiSource expects to invest $19.4 billion from 2025 to 2029 to modernize infrastructure and aims to retire all coal-generating sources by 2028 [26][27] - Expected revenue and earnings growth rates for the current year are 11.1% and 9.1%, respectively, with a current dividend yield of 2.90% [28]