Is CEG Stock Worth Investing in After In-Line Q1 Earnings?

Core Viewpoint - Constellation Energy Corporation (CEG) has shown strong performance in its first-quarter 2025 earnings, with a notable increase in earnings per share and revenues, while also making significant strategic moves such as the acquisition of Calpine [1][4][5]. Financial Performance - CEG reported earnings of $2.14 per share, matching the Zacks Consensus Estimate, and reflecting a 17.6% increase from $1.82 in the same quarter last year [1][4]. - Revenues reached $6.79 billion, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.92 billion by 14.6%, and increased by 10.2% from $6.16 billion year-over-year [4]. - The stock closed at $270.59 on May 8, with a 14% gain over the past six months, outperforming the industry and S&P 500 [1]. Strategic Developments - CEG has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Calpine for approximately $16.4 billion, which includes 50 million shares of CEG stock, $4.5 billion in cash, and the assumption of around $12.7 billion in Calpine's net debt [5]. - The company’s nuclear fleet produced 45,582 gigawatt-hours (GWhs) in Q1 2025, slightly up from 45,391 GWhs in Q1 2024 [5]. Capacity and Production - CEG's nuclear plants achieved a 94.1% capacity factor in Q1 2025, an improvement from 93.3% in Q1 2024, with no non-refueling outage days reported in Q1 2025 [6]. - The Crane Clean Energy Center has been selected for expedited grid connection, contributing over 1,150 megawatts of clean electricity to the grid [7]. Investment and Growth Prospects - CEG plans capital expenditures of nearly $3 billion for 2025 and $3.5 billion for 2026, with 35% allocated to nuclear fuel acquisition [12]. - The company is strategically partnering with tech firms like Microsoft to supply power to data centers, capitalizing on the rising demand for clean energy [13]. Shareholder Returns - CEG has authorized a share repurchase program of up to $3 billion, with approximately $841 million remaining as of March 31, 2025 [23]. - The company aims to increase its dividend by 10% annually, currently offering a quarterly dividend of 38.78 cents per share, equating to an annualized dividend of $1.55 [24]. Market Position - CEG's trailing 12-month return on equity stands at 21.93%, significantly higher than the industry average of 8.39% [19]. - The stock is currently trading at a premium compared to its industry on a forward 12-month P/E basis [20].