Core Viewpoint - The S&P 500 utilities sector has experienced significant gains in 2025, but a correction may be on the horizon as the market approaches its third consecutive year of double-digit gains, presenting a potential opportunity for investors to acquire top utility stocks [1][2]. Industry Overview - The utility sector is expected to perform better than high-flying technology stocks, particularly in the context of rising demand driven by AI and data center growth, making high-yielding utilities an attractive option for cautious investors seeking passive income [2][3]. - Utilities are among the most recession-resistant sectors, as the demand for power remains constant regardless of economic conditions [3]. Company Highlights - **Dominion Energy**: Offers a 4.60% dividend and serves approximately 7 million customers across Virginia and North Carolina, focusing on regulated electricity and natural gas services [6][8]. - **Duke Energy**: Provides a 3.67% dividend and operates in the Carolinas, Florida, and the Midwest, generating and distributing electricity while investing in renewable natural gas projects [9][10]. - **Exelon**: The largest electric parent company in the U.S. by revenue, Exelon pays a 3.67% dividend and is involved in energy distribution and transmission across the U.S. and Canada [11][12]. - **Southern Company**: Serves 8.8 million customers with a 3.45% dividend, focusing on power generation and natural gas distribution across several states [15][16]. Investment Rationale - Dividend stocks have historically contributed significantly to total returns, with sustainable dividend income and potential capital appreciation being crucial for investors [5]. - The utility sector's stability and consistent demand make it a favorable choice for investors looking for reliable income streams amidst market volatility [2][3].

Core Viewpoint - Utility stocks are expected to deliver strong returns in 2026 due to surging electricity demand, particularly from AI data centers, with Constellation Energy, Dominion Energy, and NextEra Energy positioned to benefit significantly from this trend [1][15]. Constellation Energy - Constellation Energy's share price has increased nearly 50% this year, driven by a resurgence in nuclear energy demand [3]. - The company signed a 20-year power purchase agreement with Microsoft to restart the Three Mile Island Unit 1 facility, which will supply power for Microsoft's data centers starting in 2028 [4]. - A $26.6 billion acquisition of Calpine is expected to close in early 2026, combining Constellation's nuclear fleet with Calpine's natural gas and geothermal assets, enhancing earnings growth potential [6]. Dominion Energy - Dominion Energy has underperformed compared to peers, with a 6% increase in share price over the past year, but is well-positioned to benefit from rising power demand in Virginia, a major data center market [7][9]. - The company plans to invest $50 billion through 2029, primarily in Virginia, including the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project, which is expected to support 5% to 7% annual earnings-per-share growth [10]. NextEra Energy - NextEra Energy's share price has risen nearly 11% over the past year, benefiting from its position as Florida's largest electric utility and its clean energy infrastructure [11]. - The company is focused on building the largest utility-owned solar energy platform and has a growing backlog of renewable energy projects, positioning it for earnings growth at the high end of its 6% to 8% annual target range through 2027 [13][14]. - NextEra has signed a 25-year power deal with Google to support the restart of the Duane Arnold Energy Center, expected to be operational by early 2029 [14].

Cost structure advantage: Alternative networks don’t finance data centers with debt. They pay participants directly for computing capacity through incentive structures, converting spare capacity into productive assets. The cost of scaling shifts from massive capex to distributed incentives.The economics for these companies are compelling during this shortage window:With AI, the scarce resource is GPU computing. Several companies are building marketplaces that aggregate idle capacity — consumer GPUs, academi ...

Core Insights - Dominion Energy is positioned as a key player in the evolving utility sector, particularly with the rise of AI and data centers, which is transforming traditional utility operations into essential components of the digital economy [5][6][14] - The company has demonstrated solid financial performance, with a year-to-date share price increase of 16.54% and a consistent dividend yield of 4.25%, which is above the sector average [2][4] Financial Performance - For Q3 2025, Dominion reported GAAP net income of $1.0 billion, or $1.16 per share, an increase from $934 million, or $1.09 per share, year-over-year [7] - Full-year sales reached $14.46 billion, with annual net income at $2.124 billion, indicating strong underlying progress [7] - The forward price-to-earnings ratio stands at 18.40x, slightly below the utilities sector average of 19.53x, suggesting a modest discount [1] Growth and Expansion Initiatives - Dominion operates nearly 27,100 megawatts of generating capacity and 14,800 miles of natural gas infrastructure, making it a vital supplier for data center growth [3] - The company is actively pursuing renewable energy projects, such as the installation of over 1,700 solar panels at the Richmond Flying Squirrels' future stadium, expected to generate about 1 megawatt of carbon-free electricity [8] - A collaboration with Power Up Connect has led to the development of the MBESS mobile battery energy storage system, enhancing flexibility in energy solutions [9][10] Analyst Perspectives - Analysts have mixed views on Dominion, with J.P. Morgan maintaining an "Underweight" rating but raising its price target from $53 to $56, while Barclays rates it a "Buy" with a target of $63, highlighting its role in powering AI data centers [12] - The consensus among surveyed analysts is a "Hold" rating, with an average price target of $64.86, indicating potential upside from the current share price [13] Future Outlook - The company has tightened its 2025 operating earnings guidance to a range of $3.33 to $3.48 per share, with a long-term growth target of 5% to 7% annually through 2029 [11] - The overall setup suggests a gradual upward trajectory for shares, driven by AI-related demand and ongoing investments in infrastructure and renewable energy [14]

With a market cap of $51.5 billion, Dominion Energy, Inc. (D) is a leading U.S. provider of regulated electricity and natural gas services, operates through major segments in Virginia, South Carolina, and contracted renewable energy. The company serves millions of customers and manages extensive electric generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure. Companies valued at $10 billion or more are generally considered "large-cap" stocks, and Dominion Energy fits this criterion perfectly. As of Dec ...

Industry Overview - The artificial intelligence (AI) sector, bolstered by the growth of cloud computing and data centers, is experiencing robust demand, particularly for data center capacity to manage and store cloud-based data [1] - The "magnificent 7" stocks are projected to invest $380 billion in 2025 for AI infrastructure development, representing a 54% year-over-year increase in capital expenditure [2] Company Summaries Comfort Systems USA Inc. (FIX) - FIX operates in the HVAC markets, providing services primarily in commercial and industrial sectors [7] - The demand for specialized HVAC solutions is increasing due to the data center boom driven by AI and cloud computing [8] - FIX has an expected revenue growth rate of 14.7% and earnings growth rate of 16.4% for the next year, with earnings estimates improving by 21.1% in the last 60 days [11] Vertiv Holdings Co (VRT) - VRT is a global provider of critical digital infrastructure and services for data centers and communication networks [12] - The company is expanding capacity to meet the growing demand for AI-enabled solutions, supported by strategic acquisitions [13] - VRT has an expected revenue growth rate of 20.7% and earnings growth rate of 26.3% for the next year, with earnings estimates improving by 0.4% over the last 30 days [15] Sterling Infrastructure Inc. (STRL) - STRL is an engineering firm benefiting from strong momentum in its E-Infrastructure business, which is the primary growth driver [16] - In Q3 2025, STRL's revenues from E-Infrastructure reached $417.1 million, growing approximately 58% year-over-year, with AI-powered data center market revenues rising over 125% [17] - STRL has an expected revenue growth rate of 19.1% and earnings growth rate of 14.6% for the next year, with earnings estimates improving by 8.8% in the last 30 days [19] Dominion Energy Inc. (D) - D is focused on strengthening its electric and natural gas infrastructure while adding renewable assets to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 [20] - The company is experiencing increased demand from large data centers, which is enhancing its service performance [21] - D has an expected revenue growth rate of 6% and earnings growth rate of 5.9% for the next year, with earnings estimates improving by 0.3% over the last 30 days [22] Alcoa Corp. (AA) - AA is positioned as a potential dark horse in the AI-driven data center boom, as aluminum is critical for various data center components [23] - The company is exploring opportunities to unlock value from its closed sites with large power capacities for conversion into data centers [24] - AA has an expected revenue growth rate of 3.1% and earnings growth rate of 3.1% for the next year, with earnings estimates improving by 17.8% in the last seven days [24]

Core Viewpoint - Dominion Energy has been upgraded to a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), indicating a positive outlook on its earnings estimates, which is a significant factor influencing stock prices [1][3]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Performance - The Zacks rating system is based on changes in earnings estimates, which are strongly correlated with stock price movements [4][6]. - For the fiscal year ending December 2025, Dominion Energy is expected to earn $3.40 per share, with a 0.2% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate over the past three months [8]. Impact of Institutional Investors - Institutional investors utilize earnings estimates to determine the fair value of stocks, leading to buying or selling actions that affect stock prices [4]. Zacks Rank System - The Zacks Rank system classifies stocks into five groups based on earnings estimates, with a strong historical performance, particularly for Zacks Rank 1 stocks, which have averaged a +25% annual return since 1988 [7][9]. - Dominion Energy's upgrade to Zacks Rank 2 places it in the top 20% of Zacks-covered stocks, suggesting potential for market-beating returns in the near term [10].

Core Insights - The article discusses the contrasting profiles of Oklo Inc. and Dominion Energy, both of which are involved in the nuclear power sector, highlighting their different stages of development and market perceptions [1][2]. Group 1: Oklo Inc. - Oklo is focused on next-generation microreactors, particularly its Aurora microreactor platform, and has made significant progress with a binding contract with Siemens Energy, which reduces supply-chain risks [3][6]. - Despite its long-term potential, Oklo has faced volatility, missing earnings in three of the last four quarters and experiencing a stock price decline of over 50% from its 52-week high [4][6]. - The company is still in the pre-revenue stage, raising concerns about execution risks and the need for additional capital, having already raised $460 million and filed for a $3.5 billion shelf registration [6][7]. - Regulatory challenges persist, with slow nuclear permitting processes that could lead to schedule delays, further complicating Oklo's path to commercialization [5][6]. Group 2: Dominion Energy - Dominion Energy operates a stable nuclear fleet that supplies nearly 40% of its electricity, providing a solid foundation for long-term growth and stability [8][10]. - The company is undergoing a turnaround, focusing on debt reduction, capital discipline, and a long-term capital expenditure program of $50 billion from 2025 to 2029, aimed at grid upgrades and renewable energy investments [10][11]. - Dominion's earnings visibility is strong, with projected EPS of $3.40 in 2025 and $3.60 in 2026, indicating growth rates of 23% and 6% respectively, alongside expected revenues of $16 billion in 2025 [18][20]. - The company is also advancing major projects like the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project, which is over 60% complete and on schedule, contributing to its rate-base growth [11][12]. Group 3: Comparative Analysis - Oklo's stock has seen a significant increase of over 300% year-to-date, driven by speculative sentiment, while Dominion's stock has risen about 16%, reflecting steady progress [13]. - Valuation metrics show Oklo trading at an elevated 11X book value, indicating speculative enthusiasm, whereas Dominion trades at 1.7X, aligning more closely with regulated utility fundamentals [15]. - Both companies carry a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), but Dominion is viewed as better positioned due to its regulated earnings and lower risk profile compared to Oklo's speculative nature [22].

Core Insights - The stock is currently considered cheap after experiencing years of negative returns, indicating a potential buying opportunity [1] Company Analysis - The prolonged period of negative returns suggests that the company may have been undervalued in the market, creating an attractive entry point for investors [1]

Group 1 - Dominion Energy is positioned to benefit from several long-term initiatives in the states it serves [2] - The stock is currently considered cheap after experiencing years of negative returns, presenting a potential buying opportunity [2]