Entergy Corporation (NYSE: ETR ) is up about 10% since I compared it to Ameren Corporation ( AEE ) in May. After rallying in July ahead of Q2 results, we saw another spike in mid-September followingJoseph Jones is a professor at The University of Southern Mississippi. He focuses on portfolio construction from a dividend growth investment perspective. The insights expressed in his research are solely his own; they may not represent the views or financial interests of his employer.Analyst’s Disclosure:I/we ha ...

Group 1 - Entergy Corporation (NYSE:ETR) is highlighted as a relatively cheap stock within the S&P 500, with growth potential and favorable valuation metrics [1] - The company operates in a service area from Mississippi to Texas and is benefiting from significant investments, including Meta's $10 billion data center in Louisiana and the development of liquefied natural gas export facilities [1] - Entergy's growth rate is slightly above the average for S&P stocks, accompanied by a lower price-to-earnings multiple [1] Group 2 - Entergy produces and distributes electricity and natural gas, utilizing a diverse range of energy sources including gas, nuclear, coal, hydro, and solar [2] - Despite the potential for Entergy as an investment, there are suggestions that certain AI stocks may offer greater upside potential with less downside risk [2]

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Company Overview - Entergy Corporation, based in New Orleans, Louisiana, has a market capitalization of $40.3 billion and engages in electricity production and retail distribution in the United States, with a generating capacity of approximately 24,000 megawatts [1]. Market Position - Entergy is classified as a large-cap stock, delivering electricity to millions of customers across Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, reflecting its substantial size and influence in the regulated electricity industry [2]. Stock Performance - The stock reached an all-time high of $92.40 on August 5 and is currently trading 4.5% below that peak, having gained 8% over the past three months, which is slightly below the S&P 500 Index's 9.5% increase during the same period [3]. - Year-to-date, Entergy's stock has increased by 16.4% and by 37.4% over the past 52 weeks, outperforming the S&P 500's gains of 12.3% and 17.3%, respectively [4]. Financial Results - Following the release of better-than-expected Q2 results on July 30, Entergy's stock saw a 1.2% gain. The company's revenue increased by 12.7% year-over-year to $3.3 billion, exceeding expectations by 3.4%. Operating income surged by 35.6% year-over-year to $837.4 million, with EPS of $1.05 surpassing consensus estimates by 15.4% [5]. Competitive Analysis - Compared to its peer DTE Energy Company, Entergy has significantly outperformed, with DTE achieving 11% gains year-to-date and 6% over the past 52 weeks [6]. - Among 19 analysts covering Entergy, the consensus rating is a "Moderate Buy," with a mean price target of $93.79, indicating a modest upside potential of 6.3% from current price levels [6].

Core Viewpoint - Entergy Corporation has shown improvement in its Q2 2025 earnings, with a notable increase in revenues and operating income, despite a recent decline in share price compared to the S&P 500 [1][2][3]. Financial Performance - Q2 2025 earnings were reported at $1.05 per share, a 9.4% increase from $0.96 in the same quarter last year, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.91 [2]. - Revenues for Q2 2025 reached $3.33 billion, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.22 billion by 3.4%, and reflecting a 12.7% year-over-year increase [3]. - Operating income rose to $837.4 million, marking a 35.6% increase from $617.6 million in the previous year [5]. Segment Performance - The utility segment's earnings improved to $1.34 per share from $1.03 in Q2 2024, while the Parent & Other segment reduced its loss to $0.29 per share from a loss of $0.91 [4]. Operating Expenses and Customer Base - Operating expenses increased to $2.49 billion, a 6.7% rise from $2.34 billion in the prior-year quarter [5]. - As of June 30, 2025, Entergy served 3.04 million retail customers, reflecting a 0.5% increase [5]. Financial Position - Cash and cash equivalents stood at $1.18 billion as of June 30, 2025, up from $0.86 billion at the end of 2024 [6]. - Long-term debt increased to $28.11 billion from $26.61 billion at the end of 2024 [6]. - Cash generated from operating activities in the first half of 2025 was $1.26 billion, compared to $1.03 billion in the same period of 2024 [6]. Guidance and Estimates - Entergy reaffirmed its 2025 financial guidance, expecting adjusted earnings in the range of $3.75 to $3.95 per share [7]. - The current Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is $3.89 per share, above the midpoint of the guided range [8]. Market Sentiment - Following the earnings release, there has been a downward trend in earnings estimates for Entergy [9]. - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating expectations for an in-line return in the coming months [11].

Core Insights - Steady earnings growth is attractive to executives and analysts, but earnings acceleration is more impactful in driving stock prices higher [1] - Successful stocks typically experience earnings acceleration prior to stock price increases [1] - QuantumScape Corporation, Civeo Corporation, and Entergy Corporation are currently demonstrating strong earnings acceleration [1][8] Earnings Acceleration Definition - Earnings acceleration refers to the incremental growth in a company's earnings per share (EPS), specifically when quarter-over-quarter growth rates increase over time [2] Importance of Earnings Acceleration - Unlike earnings growth, which may already be priced into stocks, earnings acceleration can identify undervalued stocks that are likely to see price rallies [3] - An increasing percentage of earnings growth indicates a fundamentally sound company, while stagnant or declining growth can negatively impact stock prices [4] Screening Parameters - Stocks should be screened for the last two quarter-over-quarter EPS growth rates exceeding previous periods' growth rates [5] - Additional criteria include projected EPS growth rates for the upcoming quarter being higher than prior periods, current price being at least $5, and average 20-day volume being at least 50,000 [6][7] Highlighted Companies - QuantumScape is developing solid-state lithium-metal batteries for electric vehicles, with an expected earnings growth rate of 19.2% for the current year [9] - Civeo provides hospitality services to the global natural resource industry, projecting an earnings growth rate of 45.4% for the current year [10] - Entergy produces and distributes electricity in the U.S., with an anticipated earnings growth rate of 6.6% for the current year [11]

Core Viewpoint - The Louisiana Public Service Commission has approved Entergy's plan to build three natural gas power plants to supply energy to Meta's largest data center, which is designed to support advanced AI models and has a projected annual energy consumption of up to 5 gigawatts [1] Group 1: Company Developments - Entergy's new power plants are aimed at meeting the energy demands of Meta's data center located in rural Louisiana, covering an area of 4 million square feet (approximately 370,000 square meters) [1] - Entergy's CEO Phillip May stated that Meta will bear the costs associated with the energy project, despite concerns from consumer advocacy groups regarding potential increases in electricity prices and public health risks [1][2] Group 2: Industry Implications - The surge in energy-intensive data centers is driving the need for infrastructure upgrades in the U.S. power grid, leading to rising electricity costs [1] - The approval of Entergy's project has raised concerns among consumer advocacy groups, who argue that it prioritizes the interests of tech giants and Entergy's profits over public concerns about high electricity prices and water supply impacts [2]

Core Points - The Louisiana Public Service Commission has approved an agreement for Entergy Louisiana to enhance infrastructure investments related to Meta's new data center in Richland Parish, benefiting all customers in the state [1][4] - Entergy Louisiana will construct three new combined cycle combustion turbine generation facilities, with two in Richland Parish expected to be operational by late 2028 and a third at the Waterford site in St. Charles Parish by the end of 2029 [2] - The agreement also includes the construction of new transmission facilities to support Meta's data center and improve system reliability [3] Company Initiatives - Entergy Louisiana's president emphasized that these investments will ensure long-term reliability and affordability of electric service, while also creating economic opportunities and supporting a sustainable energy future [4] - The Commission authorized Entergy Louisiana to procure up to 1,500 megawatts of solar resources, aiding large-scale customers in meeting renewable energy commitments and advancing economic development goals [5] - The Richland Parish data center project is one of the largest economic development initiatives in Louisiana's history, with Entergy Louisiana already investing in necessary grid infrastructure [6] Strategic Goals - These infrastructure projects align with Entergy Louisiana's mission to build a smarter and stronger energy future for all customers, including residents, small businesses, and major industrial companies [7] - Entergy Louisiana serves over 1.1 million customers and is committed to investing in cleaner energy generation, including natural gas, nuclear, and renewable energy [8] - The Louisiana 100 Plan outlines Entergy's strategic goals focused on affordability, grid resilience, economic growth, job creation, and community investment, aiming to invest $100 million in Louisiana communities [9]

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly state an investment rating for the nuclear energy industry, but it indicates a positive outlook based on various factors driving growth and valuation adjustments. Core Insights - The report highlights a significant increase in electricity demand driven by AI, projecting an incremental power demand of 789 TWh in the U.S. by 2035, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.17% [20][23] - A reversal in uranium supply and demand dynamics is anticipated, with prices expected to rise [55] - The acceleration of domestic uranium production as part of the "de-Russification" strategy is noted, which is expected to enhance local supply capabilities [72] - The revaluation of nuclear power assets is expected to provide operators with increased profitability and valuation flexibility [108] - The commercialization of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) is accelerating, driven by technological breakthroughs and supportive policies [8] Summary by Sections Section 1: Electricity Demand and AI Impact - The report discusses the surge in electricity demand due to AI, predicting a sustained increase in power gaps post-2027 [10] - It estimates that AI will require significant energy resources, with projections indicating a need for 177 GW of power for AI data centers by 2035 [23] Section 2: Uranium Market Dynamics - The report forecasts a potential supply gap for natural uranium by 2030, with demand expected to outpace supply [63] - It highlights the concentration of uranium enrichment capacity among a few key players, with a projected capacity of 62,900 thousand SWU/year by 2030 [91] - The impact of U.S. legislation banning Russian uranium imports is discussed, which could create a supply gap of approximately 30% in the U.S. market [99] Section 3: Nuclear Power Asset Revaluation - The report emphasizes the revaluation of nuclear power assets, suggesting that operators are likely to benefit from improved profitability and valuation flexibility [108] - It notes the expected growth in SMR capacity from 1 GWe in 2030 to 122.25 GWe by 2050, with a CAGR of 27.16% [57] Section 4: Market Trends and Pricing Signals - The report indicates that forward wholesale electricity prices in the PJM region are expected to rise due to supply-demand tightness [51] - It also mentions the expected increase in uranium prices driven by policy changes and strong fundamentals [68]

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