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CEG Outpaces Its Industry in the Past Month: How to Play the Stock?
ZACKS· 2025-12-05 18:01
Core Insights - Constellation Energy Corporation (CEG) shares have increased by 5% over the past month, outperforming the Zacks Alternative Energy – Other industry growth of 2.3% and the broader market benchmarks [1][4][7] - The company is effectively adding clean energy to the grid through its nuclear operations and is benefiting from government support for clean energy production [1][10] Price Performance - CEG is currently trading above its 50-day simple moving averages (SMA), indicating a bullish trend [4][5] - In contrast, Duke Energy Corporation (DUK) has seen a decline of 4.9% in the same period, underperforming its industry [4] Key Growth Drivers - CEG is capitalizing on rising clean energy demand, supported by a diversified portfolio anchored by a large nuclear fleet, achieving a 96.8% capacity factor in Q3 2025 [10] - The company plans to invest approximately $3 billion in 2025 and $3.5 billion in 2026, with nearly 35% allocated to securing nuclear fuel [11] - CEG aims for 95% of its annual power production to be carbon-free by 2030 and 100% by 2040, which will lower operating costs and create new revenue opportunities [12] Strategic Acquisitions - The acquisition of Calpine will enhance CEG's generation mix, improve reliability, and expand market presence by adding flexible natural-gas and geothermal assets [13] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CEG's earnings per share indicates year-over-year growth of 8.42% for 2025 and 21.47% for 2026 [14] Financial Strength - CEG's debt-to-capital ratio stands at 33.46, significantly lower than the industry average of 57.27, indicating lower debt utilization [17] - The Times Interest Earned ratio is 8.5, demonstrating sufficient financial strength to meet interest obligations [19] - CEG's trailing 12-month return on equity (ROE) is 21.59%, outperforming the industry average of 6.23% [20] Shareholder Value - CEG's board has authorized a $3 billion share repurchase program, with approximately $593 million remaining as of September 30, 2025 [22] - The company aims to increase its dividend by 10% annually, with a current quarterly dividend of 38.78 cents per share [23] Valuation - CEG is trading at a forward P/E ratio of 32.7X, which is a premium compared to the industry average of 20.78X [24] Conclusion - CEG is well-positioned to benefit from the increasing demand for clean energy, supported by strategic investments and a robust renewable portfolio [26]