Core Viewpoint - Jefferies expresses a positive outlook on five dividend-paying utility stocks while cautioning about potential regulatory and political challenges in the sector due to upcoming elections [1]. Group 1: Sector Overview - The utility sector has seen a significant increase, with a nearly 21% gain from its low in April 2025, driven by rising electricity demand from data centers [1]. - Despite the positive start to 2026, investor concerns have emerged due to unfavorable regulatory and political developments, particularly with 36 gubernatorial elections expected [1]. - Jefferies highlights that utility stocks are likely to perform better than high-flying technology stocks during potential market declines [1]. Group 2: Recommended Utility Stocks - **Ameren Corp. (NYSE: AEE)**: Offers a 2.69% dividend; operates in four segments including electric and natural gas distribution. Jefferies target price is $124 [1]. - **CenterPoint Energy Inc. (NYSE: CNP)**: Provides a 2.16% dividend; operates electric and natural gas distribution services. Jefferies target price is $44 [1]. - **Entergy Corp. (NYSE: ETR)**: Engaged in electric power production with a 2.48% dividend; operates in the Deep South. Jefferies target price is $114 [2]. - **NiSource Inc. (NYSE: NI)**: Offers a 2.55% yield; operates natural gas distribution in several states. Jefferies target price is $49 [2]. - **One Gas Inc. (NYSE: OGS)**: Provides a 3.32% dividend; focuses on natural gas distribution across multiple states. Jefferies target price is $95 [2].

Core Insights - The article discusses the impact of ongoing inflation on the Federal Reserve's monetary policy and suggests focusing on low-beta defensive stocks to navigate market volatility [2][3][10] Economic Context - Inflation has risen, with the personal consumption expenditure (PCE) index increasing by 2.8% year-over-year in November, moving further away from the Federal Reserve's 2% target [6][8] - Personal income growth has slowed, with increases of 0.1% in October and 0.3% in November, below analysts' expectations [9] Investment Recommendations - Investors are advised to consider low-beta defensive stocks, particularly in the utility and consumer staples sectors, to mitigate market fluctuations [4][5] - Featured stocks include: - **Ameren Corp. (AEE)**: Expected earnings growth rate of 8.2%, Zacks Rank 2, beta of 0.58, dividend yield of 2.78% [12][13] - **Fortis, Inc. (FTS)**: Expected earnings growth rate of 4.2%, Zacks Rank 2, beta of 0.50, dividend yield of 3.46% [14][15] - **ONE Gas, Inc. (OGS)**: Expected earnings growth rate of 11.8%, Zacks Rank 2, beta of 0.81, dividend yield of 3.47% [16] - **Hormel Foods Corp. (HRL)**: Expected earnings growth rate of 6.6%, Zacks Rank 2, beta of 0.33, dividend yield of 4.76% [17] - **J&J Snack Foods Corp. (JJSF)**: Expected earnings growth rate of 4.5%, Zacks Rank 2, beta of 0.34, dividend yield of 3.43% [18][19]

Core Viewpoint - Investors are comparing ONE Gas (OGS) and MDU Resources (MDU) to determine which stock offers better value for investment at present [1] Group 1: Zacks Rank and Earnings Outlook - ONE Gas has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating a stronger earnings outlook compared to MDU Resources, which has a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [3] - OGS is expected to have a stronger improvement in its earnings outlook than MDU [3] Group 2: Valuation Metrics - OGS has a forward P/E ratio of 16.41, while MDU has a forward P/E of 20.13, suggesting OGS may be undervalued relative to MDU [5] - The PEG ratio for OGS is 2.47, compared to MDU's PEG ratio of 3.21, indicating OGS has a more favorable earnings growth outlook [5] - OGS has a P/B ratio of 1.46, while MDU's P/B ratio is 1.52, further supporting OGS as the more attractive investment option [6] Group 3: Value Grades - OGS holds a Value grade of B, while MDU has a Value grade of C, reinforcing the view that OGS is the superior value option at this time [6]

Core Viewpoint - ONE Gas, Inc. has announced its schedule for the release of its fourth quarter and full year 2025 financial results, along with subsequent conference calls and webcasts for 2026 [1][4]. Financial Results Announcement - The fourth quarter and full year 2025 financial results will be released after market close on February 18, 2026 [1]. - The conference call to discuss these results will take place on February 19, 2026, at 11 a.m. Eastern Standard Time [1][3]. Conference Call Details - The conference call will be accessible via phone at 833-470-1428 with a passcode of 246604 [3]. - A live webcast will be available on the ONE Gas website, and a replay will be accessible for 30 days post-event [2][3]. 2026 Earnings Schedule - The earnings news releases for the first, second, and third quarters of 2026 are scheduled as follows: - First quarter: May 4, 2026; Conference call on May 5, 2026 [8]. - Second quarter: August 4, 2026; Conference call on August 5, 2026 [8]. - Third quarter: November 2, 2026; Conference call on November 3, 2026 [8]. Company Overview - ONE Gas, Inc. is a 100-percent regulated natural gas utility, trading on the NYSE under the symbol "OGS" [5]. - The company serves over 2.3 million customers across Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, with divisions including Kansas Gas Service, Oklahoma Natural Gas, and Texas Gas Service [6].

Core Insights - The investment landscape in 2026 is influenced by themes from 2025, including AI optimism, Federal Reserve policies, geopolitical tensions, and tariff risks [1] Sales Growth as an Indicator - Sales growth is a reliable metric for evaluating stocks, reflecting actual demand and underlying company momentum, unlike earnings which can be influenced by accounting practices [3] - Consistent sales growth indicates potential market share expansion and successful entry into new markets, serving as an early indicator of earnings upside and long-term value creation [3] Contextual Analysis of Sales Performance - Sales performance should be contextualized against peers, industry trends, and economic conditions to identify companies with durable growth and competitive advantages [4] - Durable growth supports predictable cash flows, allowing management to reinvest and maintain balance sheet strength without excessive debt [4] Stock Selection Criteria - Stocks are shortlisted based on criteria including 5-Year Historical Sales Growth greater than industry average and Cash Flow exceeding $500 million [5] - Additional metrics include a Price/Sales (P/S) Ratio lower than industry average, positive changes in sales estimate revisions, operating margins above 5%, and Return on Equity (ROE) greater than 5% [6][7][8] Highlighted Stocks for 2026 - MKS Inc. (MKSI), Ameren Corporation (AEE), and ONE Gas, Inc. (OGS) are identified for their robust sales growth and strong financial fundamentals [10] - MKSI expects a sales growth of 6.9% in 2026, AEE projects 7.2%, and OGS forecasts a 5% increase, all while maintaining high cash flow and solid operating margins [10][11][12][13]

Core Viewpoint - Investors are evaluating ONE Gas (OGS) and MDU Resources (MDU) to determine which stock offers better value for investment opportunities in the Utility - Gas Distribution sector [1] Group 1: Zacks Rank and Earnings Estimates - ONE Gas has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating a positive earnings outlook, while MDU Resources has a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), suggesting a less favorable earnings outlook [3] - The Zacks Rank system emphasizes companies with positive earnings estimate revisions, making OGS a more attractive option for investors seeking growth [3] Group 2: Valuation Metrics - OGS has a forward P/E ratio of 16.33, compared to MDU's forward P/E of 19.89, indicating that OGS may be undervalued relative to MDU [5] - The PEG ratio for OGS is 2.45, while MDU's PEG ratio is 2.63, suggesting that OGS has a more favorable earnings growth outlook relative to its price [5] - OGS has a P/B ratio of 1.45, slightly lower than MDU's P/B of 1.48, further supporting the argument that OGS is a better value investment [6] Group 3: Value Grades - OGS has been assigned a Value grade of B, while MDU has a Value grade of C, indicating that OGS is perceived as a more attractive investment based on traditional valuation metrics [6]

分组1 - A number of natural gas utility companies have experienced a decline in their stock prices over the past few weeks [1] - ONE Gas, Inc. (OGS) is highlighted as a company operating in this sector, which has been analyzed recently [1] - The article emphasizes that the best investment opportunities often arise from stocks that are less followed by average investors or those that do not accurately reflect current market opportunities [1]

Core Insights - The utility sector has experienced a decline, with the State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU) trading over 9% below its yearly high [1] Group 1: Market Performance - The utility sector has not performed well in recent months, indicating potential challenges within the industry [1] Group 2: Investment Opportunities - The best profit opportunities in individual stocks are often found in those that are less widely followed or do not accurately reflect current market opportunities [1]

Group 1 - The article discusses the importance of enabling Javascript and cookies in browsers to prevent access issues [1] - It highlights that users with ad-blockers may face restrictions when trying to access content [1]

Group 1 - The article does not provide any relevant content regarding the company or industry [1]