Core Viewpoint - Xcel Energy Inc. has announced the results of its offers to purchase three series of first mortgage bonds issued by its subsidiary, Northern States Power Company, and has waived the Maximum Purchase Condition to accept all tendered bonds in full [1][4]. Offer Details - The offers were made under the terms set forth in the Offer to Purchase dated December 15, 2025, and expired on December 19, 2025, with a settlement date of December 24, 2025 [2][3]. - A total of $506,684,000 in principal amount of bonds were validly tendered and accepted for purchase, along with an additional $2,492,000 tendered under Guaranteed Delivery Procedures [4]. Bond Series Information - The offers included three series of bonds with the following details: - 3.600% First Mortgage Bonds due May 15, 2046: $350,000,000 outstanding, $178,960,000 tendered, and $2,445,000 under Guaranteed Delivery [5]. - 4.00% First Mortgage Bonds due August 15, 2045: $300,000,000 outstanding, $147,646,000 tendered, and $47,000 under Guaranteed Delivery [5]. - 4.125% First Mortgage Bonds due May 15, 2044: $300,000,000 outstanding, $180,078,000 tendered, with no amounts under Guaranteed Delivery [5]. Payment Structure - Holders of the accepted bonds will receive the Total Consideration in cash on the Settlement Date, along with accrued and unpaid interest from the last payment date to the Settlement Date [6][7]. - Interest will cease to accrue on the Settlement Date for all bonds accepted in the offers [7]. Conditions and Agents - The offers are subject to certain conditions, and Xcel Energy reserves the right to waive any conditions [8]. - U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. is the Dealer Manager, while D.F. King & Co., Inc. serves as the Tender and Information Agent for the offers [9]. Company Overview - Xcel Energy provides energy to millions across eight states and is recognized for its efforts in reducing carbon emissions and delivering clean energy solutions [11].

Kenny Polcari, the chief market strategist at SlateStone Wealth, discussed the possibility of a “meltup” in the stock market in the new year, similar to the one experienced in 2025. However, he expressed uncertainty about the continuation of double-digit gains in the new year.Post-Midterm Focus Shifts to GrowthIn an interview with Maria Bartiromo of Fox News on Monday, Polcari acknowledged the strong performance of the market in the past three years but predicted a more 10 to 12% “pull back” in the market i ...

Market Trends - Gold has reached a new high, surpassing $4,400, driven by increasing expectations of Federal Reserve rate cuts and heightened demand for safe-haven assets due to geopolitical tensions [3] - The latest Seeking Alpha Sentiment Survey focuses on investment strategies for 2026, covering stock sectors, capital allocation, and macroeconomic themes [3] Company Updates - OpenAI is enhancing profit margins from its paid products, while SoftBank is making significant efforts to fulfill its funding commitments to AI startups by the end of the year [4] - SpaceX's recent rocket explosion in January has been revealed to pose a greater risk to air travel than previously understood, and Bill Ackman is advocating for a SpaceX IPO through a SPARC merger [4] Infrastructure Issues - San Francisco experienced a major power outage due to a fire at a Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) substation, affecting around 130,000 customers, which is approximately one-third of the utility's customer base in the city [6] - The outage disrupted traffic and led to temporary business closures during a peak holiday shopping period, with power restoration expected to be completed by Monday afternoon [6] Autonomous Vehicle Developments - Waymo temporarily suspended its robotaxi service in San Francisco due to the power outage, which immobilized several vehicles and exacerbated traffic congestion [7] - The incident highlighted the reliance of autonomous vehicle fleets on external infrastructure, raising public skepticism about the safety and reliability of such technologies [8] Other Notable Events - Clearwater Analytics is set to be taken private in an $8.4 billion deal [9] - Uber and Lyft are planning to test Baidu's robotaxis in the UK [10] - Interactive Brokers has applied for a National Trust Bank Charter [11]

During times of turbulence and uncertainty in the markets, many investors turn to dividend-yielding stocks. These are often companies that have high free cash flows and reward shareholders with a high dividend payout.Benzinga readers can review the latest analyst takes on their favorite stocks by visiting Analyst Stock Ratings page. Traders can sort through Benzinga's extensive database of analyst ratings, including by analyst accuracy.Below are the ratings of the most accurate analysts for three high-yield ...

Power Outage Impact - PG&E experienced a massive power outage in San Francisco, affecting approximately 30% of its users, which translates to around 130,000 customers [1] - The power outage forced restaurants and businesses to close during a peak holiday shopping weekend [2] - The outage caused multiple Whimo self-driving cars to stall, leading to a temporary suspension of operations [2] Cause and Restoration Efforts - A fire at a PG&E substation is suspected to be a cause of the outages, but the full cause is still under investigation [2] - PG&E describes the damage from the fire as extensive, making repairs and restoration complex [3] - PG&E anticipates restoring power to all affected customers by midday [3]

"Crews restored about 110,000 customers by 7:30 a.m. Sunday and are working to restore the power for around 21,000 who remain without electric service," the utility said, adding that there were ‌no injuries ‍to workers or members of the ‍public. The energy provider expects to restore all ‌remaining impacted customers by no later than 2 p.m. PT (2200 GMT), it added in an update. The outage caused traffic jams and forced some businesses to close temporarily. "A large power outage is impacting San Francisco - ...

Market Overview - The Santa Claus Rally, historically positive for the stock market, is expected to begin this week, with the S&P 500 having risen 77% of the time during this period [3][4] - Despite two consecutive down years, there has never been a third straight down Santa Rally, indicating potential for market recovery [4] Economic Indicators - The Q3 GDP report is anticipated, with Wells Fargo projecting an annualized growth of 3.6%, driven by a reduction in imports and a strong consumer rebound in the second half of the year, although construction remains a negative factor [4] Company News - Bill Ackman proposed a unique approach for SpaceX to go public through a merger with Pershing Square SPARC, which would offer special investment rights to Tesla shareholders, allowing them first access to a SpaceX IPO or the option to sell those rights [4] - Broadcom (AVGO) and Vistra Energy (VST) are set to go ex-dividend on Monday, with payouts scheduled for New Year's Eve [4] - Altria (MO) and Philip Morris (PM) will go ex-dividend on Friday, with Altria's payout date on January 9 and Philip Morris on January 14 [4] Investment Insights - Alexander Guiliano, CIO at Resonate Wealth Partners, notes that despite recent market volatility, the overall backdrop remains strong, and the recent valuation pullback presents opportunities for under-invested bulls [4] - JPMorgan has identified 11 standout tech stocks for 2026, including Arista (ANET), Guidewire (GWRE), Broadcom (AVGO), Salesforce (CRM), and LendingClub (LC) [4]

Core Insights - Xcel Energy Inc. is facing a lawsuit from the Texas Attorney General over its alleged responsibility for the Smokehouse Creek wildfire, which resulted in three fatalities and over $1 billion in damages [2][3] - Following the lawsuit announcement, Xcel Energy's shares experienced a 4% decline in afternoon trading [3] - The company serves 3.8 million electric and 2.2 million natural gas customers across eight states [3] Legal Issues - The lawsuit aims to recover monetary damages for lost wildlife value and property damage, and seeks a court order for corrective actions to prevent future incidents [2] - The Texas Attorney General's office has initiated an inquiry into multiple utility companies related to the Smokehouse Creek and Windy Deuce fires, citing a failure to uphold duty of care [3] Market Reaction - Xcel Energy's stock price dropped by 4% in response to the lawsuit announcement, indicating market concerns regarding the potential financial implications of the legal action [3]

Artificial intelligence is the greatest investment opportunity of our lifetime. The time to invest in groundbreaking AI is now, and this stock is a steal! AI is eating the world—and the machines behind it are ravenous. Each ChatGPT query, each model update, each robotic breakthrough consumes massive amounts of energy. In fact, AI is already pushing global power grids to the brink. Wall Street is pouring hundreds of billions into artificial intelligence—training smarter chatbots, automating industries, and b ...

Core Insights - The company has the potential to survive until it pays a total of $1.91 billion due to a regulatory decision related to its partial responsibility for the Maui fires in 2023 [1] Financial Analysis - The total amount the company is expected to pay is $1.91 billion, which is a significant financial burden [1]