TRENDING: AI Voice Assistants Make Noise. Wall Street Listens. 9/02/2025A Relative Strength Rating upgrade for Evergy shows improving technical performance. Will it continue? 9/02/2025A Relative Strength Rating upgrade for Evergy shows improving technical... INVESTING RESOURCES For investors searching for a company with a steadily growing dividend and stable fundamentals, Evergy (EVRG) is a top stock to consider. Headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., Evergy provides electricity through its subsidiaries to 1.7 ...

Core Viewpoint - Citigroup has raised the target price for Evergy Inc. (EVRG.US) from $79 to $89 while maintaining a "Buy" rating, citing clearer information on the company's growing data center load from its Q3 earnings call [1] Group 1: Company Performance - Evergy reported progress in partnerships with two major data center clients, signing service agreements totaling approximately $200 million, which are expected to generate about 600 megawatts of peak demand by 2029 [1] - The company has adjusted its load growth forecast to a compound annual growth rate of 4%-5% due to these developments [1] - Evergy has also introduced a third data center project, indicating significant advancements in early agreements and project expansions [1] Group 2: Financial Guidance - Evergy has narrowed its adjusted EPS guidance for 2025 to a range of $3.92 to $4.02, impacted by lower-than-expected summer temperatures [2] - The management emphasized the company's long-term fundamentals remain strong, supported by what they describe as "generational economic development opportunities" and the necessary investments to achieve this growth [2] - On November 6, the company announced a 4% increase in its quarterly dividend, marking the 20th consecutive year of dividend growth [2]

Core Insights - Evergy, Inc. is recognized as one of the 15 overlooked dividend stocks to consider for investment [1] - Citi has raised its price target for Evergy from $79 to $89, citing a strong outlook for data center growth [2] - The company reported significant progress with major data center customers, securing service agreements worth approximately $200 million [3] Financial Performance - In Q3 2025, Evergy narrowed its adjusted EPS guidance to a range of $3.92 to $4.02, influenced by cooler-than-normal summer weather [4] - The company announced a 4% increase in its quarterly dividend, marking the 20th consecutive year of dividend growth [4] Business Operations - Evergy provides clean, reliable, and safe energy to around 1.7 million customers across Kansas and Missouri through its subsidiaries [5] - The company expects data center projects to generate about 600 MW of peak demand by 2029, leading to an overall load growth forecast of 4-5% compound annual rate [3]

Core Viewpoint - The focus is on generating a 7%+ income yield through investments in energy stocks while minimizing principal loss risk [1] Group 1: Investment Strategy - The investment strategy involves a portfolio of energy stocks, including both traditional and renewable energy companies, targeting those with competitive advantages and strong dividend yields [1] - The leader of the investing group emphasizes managing risk through options while providing both micro and macro-analysis of energy companies [1] Group 2: Subscriber Benefits - Subscribers gain early access to investment ideas that are not publicly released, along with in-depth research not available to the general public [1] - All subscribers can access the analyst's work without needing a subscription to Seeking Alpha Premium [1]

Key Takeaways EVRG's quarterly revenues came in at $1.81 billion, down 3.4% from expectations.Operating and maintenance expenses edged up 0.5% to $252.8 million in the quarter.Evergy narrowed its 2025 EPS view to $3.92-$4.02 but reaffirmed 4-6% annual growth through 2029.Evergy, Inc. (EVRG) reported third-quarter 2025 operating earnings per share (EPS) of $2.03 per share, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.14 by 5.1%. In the year-ago quarter, the company reported earnings of $2.02.Third-quarter ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported third-quarter adjusted earnings of $2.03 per share, a slight increase from $2.02 per share a year ago, driven by a recovery of regulated investments and growth in weather-normalized demand [5][26] - Year-to-date adjusted earnings are $3.41 per share compared to $3.46 per share a year ago, leading to a narrowed 2025 adjusted EPS guidance range of $3.92-$4.02 per share from the original range of $3.92-$4.12 per share [5][28] - The lower midpoint of guidance is primarily due to weather headwinds impacting results by $0.13 per share [5] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Weather-normalized demand increased by 2% in the third quarter compared to the previous year, supported by increases in both residential and commercial usage [27] - The recovery of regulated investments contributed an additional $0.11 to EPS, while higher depreciation and interest expenses led to a $0.07 decrease in EPS [26] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The unemployment rates in Missouri, Kansas, and the Kansas City metro area remain below the national average of 4.3%, supporting robust customer demand in service areas [27] - The company has a strong economic development pipeline with opportunities exceeding 15 GW, indicating a robust backlog relative to its size [9][10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on a five-year capital investment plan that includes expected generation investments to meet growing demand and regulatory requirements [9][32] - The strategy emphasizes affordability and competitiveness, with a commitment to maintaining a lower rate trajectory compared to regional peers [21][23] - The company aims to attract large new customers through a proposed large load power service tariff that ensures they pay a fair share of system costs [23][24] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the long-term outlook, bolstered by economic development opportunities and necessary investments [6][30] - The company anticipates significant load growth driven by large data center projects, with expectations of 4-5% annual load growth through 2029 [31][34] - Management highlighted the importance of collaboration with stakeholders to advance regulatory frameworks that support growth [20][19] Other Important Information - A 4% increase in the quarterly dividend to $2.78 per share was announced, aligning with the updated growth outlook [8] - The company is nearing completion of its 27th refueling outage at Wolf Creek, which generates around 1,200 MW of non-carbon emitting energy [8] Q&A Session Summary Question: What are the priorities for the 2026 Missouri legislative session? - Management indicated that the focus will be on implementing elements of SB4-related rulemakings, with expectations for a lighter legislative calendar in 2026 [40][41] Question: How will the growth rate profile look in the upcoming capital plan? - Management refrained from providing specifics but indicated that the updated financial plan will outline the relationship between load growth and capital investments [42][43] Question: How much competition exists in attracting large loads within the service territory? - Management noted strong collaboration between Kansas and Missouri, with legislative truces in place to mitigate competition for economic development [50][51] Question: How much of the $17.5 billion capital expenditure is subject to typical rate case filings? - Management explained that all investments are subject to reviews, with mechanisms in place to mitigate regulatory lag [52][53] Question: What is the impact of the Lambda data center on sales growth? - Management clarified that the Lambda project is expected to contribute to load growth, with further quantification to be provided in future updates [62][64] Question: What is the status of the LLPS tariff discussions? - Management confirmed a unanimous settlement agreement in Kansas and a partial settlement in Missouri, with decisions expected soon [70][71] Question: How will the financing plan be impacted by new agreements? - Management indicated that cash flows from new customers could significantly improve operations, potentially reducing equity funding needs [84][85]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported third-quarter adjusted earnings of $2.03 per share, a slight increase from $2.02 per share a year ago, driven by a recovery of regulated investments and growth in weather-normalized demand [5][26] - Year-to-date adjusted earnings are $3.41 per share compared to $3.46 per share a year ago, leading to a narrowed 2025 adjusted EPS guidance range of $3.92-$4.02 per share from the previous range of $3.92-$4.12 per share [5][28] - The lower midpoint of guidance is primarily due to weather headwinds impacting results by $0.13 per share [5] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Weather-normalized demand increased by 2% in the third quarter compared to the previous year, following a 1.4% increase in the second quarter, supported by strong residential and commercial usage [27] - The recovery of regulated investments contributed an additional $0.11 to EPS, while higher depreciation and interest expenses led to a $0.07 decrease in EPS [26] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The unemployment rates in Missouri, Kansas, and the Kansas City metro area remain below the national average of 4.3%, supporting robust customer demand in service areas [27] - The company has a strong economic development pipeline with opportunities exceeding 15 gigawatts, indicating a robust backlog relative to its size [9][10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on a five-year capital investment plan that includes expected generation investments to serve load and meet increasing reserve margin requirements [9][32] - The strategic focus includes maintaining affordability while investing in infrastructure to support new large customers, with a designed large load power service tariff to ensure new customers pay a fair share [23][24] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the long-term outlook, bolstered by economic development opportunities and necessary investments [6][30] - The company anticipates a comprehensive financial outlook update in February, including refreshed views on load forecasts and capital investment plans [8][34] Other Important Information - A 4% increase in the quarterly dividend to $2.78 per share was announced, aligning with the updated growth outlook [8] - The company is committed to delivering safe, affordable, and reliable service to its 1.7 million customers, emphasizing the benefits of new large customers for broader cost-sharing [20][24] Q&A Session Summary Question: What are the priorities for the 2026 Missouri legislative session? - Management indicated that the focus will be on implementing elements of SB4-related rulemakings, with a lighter calendar anticipated for 2026 [40][41] Question: How will the growth rate profile look moving towards the end of the decade? - Management refrained from providing specifics but highlighted multiple tailwinds that could positively impact growth [42][43] Question: How much competition exists at the local level for attracting large loads? - Management noted strong collaboration between Kansas and Missouri, with legislative truces to mitigate competition across state lines [50][51] Question: How much of the $17.5 billion CapEx is subject to typical rate case filings? - Management explained that all investments are subject to reviews, with mechanisms in place to mitigate regulatory lag [52][53] Question: Can you elaborate on the third data center's impact on sales growth? - Management confirmed that the third data center would be additive to the load growth potential, with specifics to be provided in future updates [60][61]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For Q3 2025, adjusted earnings were reported at $2.03 per share, a slight increase from $2.02 per share in Q3 2024, driven by recovery in regulated investments and growth in weather-normalized demand [4][25] - Year-to-date adjusted earnings are $3.41 per share compared to $3.46 per share a year ago, leading to a narrowed 2025 adjusted EPS guidance range of $3.92-$4.02 per share from the previous range of $3.92-$4.12 per share [4][27] - The decrease in the midpoint of guidance is attributed to weather headwinds impacting results by $0.13 per share [4] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Weather-normalized demand increased by 2% in Q3 2025 compared to the previous year, following a 1.4% increase in Q2 2025, supported by strong residential and commercial usage [26] - The recovery of regulated investments contributed an additional $0.11 to EPS, while higher depreciation and interest expenses led to a $0.07 decrease in EPS [25] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The unemployment rates in Missouri, Kansas, and the Kansas City metro area remain below the national average of 4.3%, supporting robust customer demand in the service areas [26] - The economic development pipeline includes opportunities exceeding 15 gigawatts, indicating strong interest from large customers in the Evergy service territory [8][10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on a five-year capital investment plan that includes expected generation investments to meet growing customer demand and regulatory requirements [7][30] - A 4% increase in the quarterly dividend to $2.78 per share reflects the updated growth outlook and aligns with the target payout ratio of 60%-70% [6] - The company aims to maintain affordability while investing in infrastructure to support new large customers, with a proposed large load power service tariff designed to ensure new customers pay a higher rate [21][22] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the long-term outlook, citing tailwinds from economic development opportunities and necessary investments [5][28] - The company anticipates a comprehensive financial outlook update in February, including refreshed views on load forecasts and capital investment plans [6][30] - Management highlighted the importance of collaboration with stakeholders to advance regulatory objectives and support economic growth in the region [19][24] Other Important Information - The company has achieved strong operational performance, with generation availability and grid reliability favorable to targets [5] - The ongoing dialogue with large customers indicates a robust interest in the service territory, with many customers actively participating in capacity studies [10][13] Q&A Session Summary Question: What are the priorities for the 2026 Missouri legislative session? - Management noted that there will be a focus on implementing elements of SB4 and anticipates a lighter legislative calendar in 2026 [34] Question: Can you provide insights on the cadence of the upcoming capital plan? - Management indicated that the upcoming capital plan will be laid out by year, with significant investments and load growth helping to mitigate regulatory lag [36] Question: How much competition exists in attracting large loads within the service territory? - Management highlighted strong collaboration between Kansas and Missouri, with legislative truces in place to mitigate competition for economic development [38][39] Question: What is the status of the large load power service tariff discussions? - Management confirmed a unanimous settlement agreement in Kansas and a partial settlement in Missouri, with decisions expected soon [46][47] Question: How will the $2.8 billion equity funding impact the capital investment plan? - Management stated that cash flows from new customers could significantly improve operations, potentially reducing equity funding needs [52][53] Question: How will weather impacts affect future earnings and guidance? - Management acknowledged that weather impacts are within the context of the current year and do not affect the long-term outlook [54][63]

Core Insights - Evergy Inc reported quarterly earnings of $2.03 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.14 per share, representing an earnings surprise of -5.14% [1] - The company posted revenues of $1.81 billion for the quarter ended September 2025, also missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.35% [2] - Evergy shares have increased by approximately 24.7% since the beginning of the year, outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 15.6% [3] Earnings Performance - Over the last four quarters, Evergy has surpassed consensus EPS estimates only once [2] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.50 on revenues of $1.27 billion, and for the current fiscal year, it is $4.01 on revenues of $5.95 billion [7] Market Outlook - The sustainability of Evergy's stock price movement will depend on management's commentary during the earnings call [3] - The Zacks Rank for Evergy is currently 2 (Buy), indicating expectations for the stock to outperform the market in the near future [6] Industry Context - The Utility - Electric Power industry is currently in the top 23% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting a favorable outlook for stocks within this sector [8] - Empirical research indicates a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, which can be tracked by investors [5]

Financial Performance - Third quarter 2025 GAAP earnings per share (EPS) was $2.03, and adjusted EPS was also $2.03[18] - Year-to-date 2025 GAAP EPS was $3.31, while adjusted EPS was $3.41[67] - The company is narrowing its 2025 adjusted EPS guidance to $3.92 - $4.02, compared to the original guidance of $3.92 - $4.12, primarily due to a $0.13 impact from weather[18] - The company anticipates approximately ($0.02) of incremental convertible-related dilution compared to plan and identified mitigation measures of $0.10[41] Economic Development and Load Growth - The company has a transformative 10-year roadmap to serve up to 4-6 GWs of new large load customers[22] - The company's actively building customer pipeline is approximately 1.2 GW, up from approximately 1.1 GW in the previous quarter[23] - Customers finalizing agreements represent a potential 1.5-2.0 GW of peak demand, up from 1.0-1.5 GW, potentially increasing overall company load growth forecast to a 4-5% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) through 2029[23] - Weather-normalized total retail sales grew by 2.0% in the third quarter of 2025, driven by residential (2.4%) and commercial (3.0%) growth, while industrial sales decreased by 0.9%[37] Capital Investments and Financing - The company has a $17.5 billion five-year capital investment plan for 2025-2029[58] - The company plans to issue $2.8 billion in equity from 2026E-2029E[42] - The company entered forward sales agreements for $125 million of common shares via at-the-market program to address future equity needs[59]