Group 1: Hilton Hotels (HLT) - The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) criticized Hilton Hotels for allegedly canceling reservations for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers at a Minneapolis hotel, claiming it was a coordinated campaign to refuse service to DHS law enforcement [3][4] - Following the incident, shares of Hilton (HLT) fell nearly 2.5% [4] - A spokesperson for Hilton stated that the hotel involved is independently owned and operated, and the actions taken were not reflective of Hilton's values, emphasizing that the company does not tolerate discrimination [5] Group 2: Hawaiian Electric Industries (HE) - Hawaiian Electric reached a $47.75 million settlement with shareholders who accused the company of misleading them about wildfire prevention and safety protocols prior to the 2023 Maui wildfires [6][7] - Shareholders alleged that Hawaiian Electric falsely claimed it was taking appropriate actions to mitigate wildfire risks associated with its utility poles; the company denied wrongdoing but agreed to the settlement [7] - The settlement is pending approval from a U.S. District Court in San Francisco [8] Group 3: Clarivate (CLVT) - Clarivate released its 2026 Drugs to Watch report, highlighting 11 therapies expected to provide significant clinical benefits and strong commercial potential [8] - The report focuses on therapies that may transform treatment for various diseases, including metabolic, cancer, immune, rare, and neurological conditions, with potential major impacts within five years [9]

Market Performance - The Nikkei rose 1.32% to close at 52,518.08, marking a 4% increase in the first two sessions of the year, influenced by Wall Street's strength [1][6] - The broader Topix also reached a record high, increasing by 1.75% to 3,538.44 [2][6] Investor Sentiment - Kazunori Tatebe, chief strategist at Daiwa Asset Management, noted that the fundamental setting for Japanese equities is strong, leading to increased investor appetite when positive cues are present [2][6] - The shift from deflation to inflation and corporate governance reform are key factors contributing to this positive sentiment [2][6] Sector Performance - Eneos Holdings, a refiner, surged 5.39%, leading the Topix's oil and coal products index, which rose 4.7% to become the top performer among the Tokyo Stock Exchange's 33 industry sub-indexes [5][6] - The bank share index climbed 3.35%, with Mizuho Financial Group increasing by 5%, while Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group each rose nearly 3% [5][6] Notable Declines - Chubu Electric Power experienced a significant decline of 9.59%, becoming the worst percentage loser on the Nikkei due to disclosed potential issues with earthquake standards at a nuclear plant [6]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the trend of investors shifting towards dividend-paying stocks as market valuations reach historically high levels, particularly in the tech sector, indicating a preference for income and stability in uncertain times [1][2][3]. Market Trends - Valuations in the S&P 500 are elevated across 18 of 20 measures tracked by Bank of America, prompting a rotation from tech stocks to more defensive sectors [1][3]. - Defensive sectors such as health care, utilities, and consumer goods are regaining favor as tech stocks revert to their traditional growth role [2][3]. Dividend Stocks Performance - Dividend-paying stocks are favored during periods of high market valuations due to their lower valuations and steady cash flows, which help cushion against volatility [3]. - An analysis by T. Rowe Price indicates that dividend growth stocks in the Russell 1000 Index delivered an annualized return of 11.3% from 1985 to 2019, outperforming both dividend payers (10.8%) and the index as a whole (10.5%) [4]. Specific Companies - **JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM)**: - Ex-dividend date is January 6 with a dividend yield of 1.80%. Barclays raised its price target to $391 from $342, citing continued earnings growth into 2026 [10][11]. - The company launched a new advisory unit focusing on specialized insights in areas like AI and cybersecurity, aiming to expand its advisory services [12][13][14]. - **Edison International (NYSE:EIX)**: - Ex-dividend date is January 7 with a dividend yield of 5.79%. The company announced a quarterly dividend increase to $0.8775 per share, marking a 6% rise in annual dividends [15][17]. - The CEO emphasized the company's financial strength and commitment to long-term growth targets of 5% to 7% [17]. - **Marvell Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:MRVL)**: - Ex-dividend date is January 9 with a dividend yield of 0.27%. Melius Research upgraded the stock to Buy, citing a growing backlog in custom silicon and expected revenue doubling in 2027 [18][19]. - The company is positioned well due to increasing demand for AI-focused application-specific integrated circuits, with ASIC shipments projected to grow 45% in 2026 [20][21].

Group 1 - Exelon will hold its fourth quarter 2025 earnings conference call on February 12, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. CT / 10:00 a.m. ET [1] - The conference call will be led by Exelon President and CEO Calvin Butler and Executive Vice President and CFO Jeanne Jones [1] - A live listen-only webcast will be available for the upcoming earnings presentation, with an archived version for replay [2] Group 2 - Exelon is a Fortune 200 company and one of the largest utility companies in the U.S., serving over 10.7 million customers [3] - The company operates six fully regulated transmission and distribution utilities: Atlantic City Electric, BGE, ComEd, Delmarva Power, PECO, and Pepco [3] - Exelon's workforce consists of 20,000 employees dedicated to reliable energy delivery, workforce development, equity, economic development, and volunteerism [3]

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

Core Viewpoint - Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. has appointed Peter Norgeot as Chief Operating Officer, effective immediately, to lead its utility operations and capital execution [1] Company Summary - Peter Norgeot joins Algonquin after retiring as COO from Entergy Corporation, bringing significant experience to the role [1] - The company will benefit from Norgeot's leadership in electric, gas, and water regulated utility operations [1]

This story was originally published on Utility Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Utility Dive newsletter. ISO New England aims to overhaul its capacity auction process by buying capacity a month ahead of time instead of three years in advance, according to a proposal filed with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Dec. 30. The proposal to switch to a “prompt” capacity auction framework in June 2028 would bring a range of benefits to New England, including making ...

Core Insights - The stock market has shown strong performance in 2025, with major indices reaching record highs, indicating Wall Street's potential for wealth creation [1][2] Group 1: Visa - Visa has a strong track record, with shares climbing in 13 of the last 15 years, and only two declines of 0.3% and 3.3% in 2021 and 2022 respectively [4] - The company's performance is closely tied to economic growth, benefiting from increased consumer and business spending [5] - Visa's focus on payment facilitation rather than lending allows it to avoid capital set-asides for loan losses, enabling quicker recovery during economic downturns [6] Group 2: The Trade Desk - The Trade Desk is positioned for recovery in 2026, with midterm elections expected to boost ad spending [7] - The company's Unified ID 2.0 technology is gaining traction, which could enhance its pricing power and sustain double-digit sales growth [8] - Shares are currently valued at 18 times forward earnings, presenting a bargain compared to previous expectations of 20% to 40% annual sales growth [9] Group 3: Meta Platforms - Meta Platforms remains fundamentally attractive despite high market valuations, with its apps attracting an average of 3.54 billion daily users [11][12] - The introduction of generative AI solutions is expected to enhance ad pricing power and improve click-through rates [13] Group 4: UnitedHealth Group - UnitedHealth Group faced challenges in 2025 but has historically risen in 22 of the last 26 years [16] - The company is exiting unprofitable markets and plans to increase healthcare premiums, which should enhance its pricing power [17] - The Optum subsidiary is expected to rebound, potentially making UnitedHealth a top performer in 2026 [18] Group 5: Sirius XM Holdings - Sirius XM operates as a legal monopoly in satellite radio, generating over 75% of its revenue from subscriptions, which provides predictable cash flow [20][21] - The company has a forward P/E ratio of less than 7, representing a 46% discount to its five-year average [22][23] Group 6: BioMarin Pharmaceutical - BioMarin focuses on ultrarare-disease therapies, with its drug Voxzogo expected to exceed $1 billion in sales this year [25][26] - The company is streamlining operations and is projected to achieve mid-to-high single-digit sales growth in 2026 [27] Group 7: NextEra Energy - NextEra Energy has generated positive returns for investors in 21 of the last 24 years, benefiting from stable electricity demand [29] - The company leads in renewable energy capacity, which has reduced generation costs and supported high-single-digit EPS growth [30][31] Group 8: Okta - Okta provides essential cybersecurity services, with demand expected to grow as cyber threats persist [33][34] - The company's subscription backlog increased to nearly $4.3 billion, reflecting strong growth potential [35] Group 9: York Water - York Water is positioned for significant revenue growth if its proposed rate increase is approved, potentially increasing annual revenue by 32% [37][38] - The company has a long history of dividend payments, enhancing its appeal as a stable investment [39] Group 10: O'Reilly Automotive - O'Reilly Automotive has advanced in 21 of the last 23 years, benefiting from the increasing age of vehicles on the road [41] - The company's share-repurchase program has positively impacted its EPS, making it attractive to value investors [43]

Group 1 - NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) is recognized as one of the 8 most profitable utility stocks to buy currently [1] - Jefferies has raised its price target for NextEra Energy from $85 to $88 while maintaining a Hold rating, expecting profits per share to grow at a compound annual growth rate of approximately 9% through 2032, which exceeds the consensus forecast of 7.6% for the same period [2] - UBS has reduced its price target for NextEra Energy from $94 to $91 but continues to maintain a Buy rating [3] - Morgan Stanley has kept its Overweight rating on NextEra Energy while lowering its price target from $97 to $95, citing significant demand from data centers as a key factor influencing utility market performance [4] Group 2 - NextEra Energy's regulated utility, Florida Power & Light, is the largest rate-controlled utility in Florida [5]

Group 1 - American Electric Power Company, Inc. (AEP) is recognized as one of the 8 most profitable utility stocks to buy currently [1] - Siebert Williams initiated coverage on AEP with a price target of $137 and a buy rating, forecasting an 8.8% compound annual EPS growth rate through 2030, driven by a nearly 9% increase in retail power load and almost 10% rate base growth over the next five years [2] - UBS maintained a Sell rating on AEP, lowering its price target from $114 to $107, while Morgan Stanley reduced its price target from $128 to $120 but kept an Overweight rating, highlighting data centers and growth potential as key drivers for utility performance in 2026 [3] Group 2 - AEP operates multiple utilities, providing a diversified investment strategy that mitigates risks from adverse regulatory decisions, with regulated investments being the largest part of its capital investment strategy [4] - Morningstar analysts believe AEP's management can achieve a 7% to 9% earnings growth plan from 2026 to 2030, supported by its investment strategy, with the stock up 25.42% year-to-date as of December 31, 2025 [4]