Crowdell: The outlook for utilities has never looked better

Industry Trends & Growth Drivers - Electric, gas, and water utilities are experiencing significant capital expenditure (CapEx) growth, projected to increase over 50% from $150 billion annually to nearly $250 billion by 2026 [2] - Data centers are fueling load growth for utilities, contributing to a national average growth of 2-3%, with some areas experiencing high single-digit or slightly higher growth [8] Impact of Weather & Regulation - Heat waves are generally beneficial for utilities, allowing them to demonstrate the value of infrastructure upgrades and grid reliability [2][3] - The impact of heat waves on profits varies by state due to decoupling mechanisms, where some utilities like Exelon (EXC) in Illinois do not directly benefit financially from increased demand during hot weather [3] - Utilities may experience slightly higher operation and maintenance (O&M) expenses during extreme weather due to increased maintenance needs [5][6] Investment & Valuation - The utilities sector is currently trading at an 18% discount compared to the S&P 500, despite having comparable earnings growth of around 7% and offering a better dividend yield [10] - Potential rate cuts could further enhance the attractiveness of the utilities sector [11] - Despite having growth drivers, the utilities sector is still viewed as a defensive sector, similar to a bond proxy [13][14]