Core Insights - The article discusses overlooked dividend-paying stocks that present strong investment opportunities, emphasizing the historical performance of dividends in generating total returns across various market conditions [1][4]. Dividend Performance - Dividend-paying stocks have historically contributed nearly half (49.3%) of the broader market's total return since 1871, with the remainder coming from price appreciation [4]. - From May 1971 to February 2025, the S&P 500 delivered an average annual return of 118.6%, while reinvested dividends provided a return of 195.3%, highlighting the power of compounding [2]. Investment Methodology - The selection process focused on dividend-paying companies with a market capitalization above $2 billion that have raised their dividends for at least ten consecutive years, identifying firms with steady dividend policies and consistent shareholder returns [6]. Company Highlights - **California Water Service Group (NYSE:CWT)**: - Reported Q3 2025 revenue of $311.2 million, a 4% year-over-year increase, but fell short of analyst projections by over $10 million [11]. - Announced its 323rd consecutive quarterly dividend of $0.30 per share, extending a 58-year streak of annual dividend increases, with a compound annual growth rate of 7.7% over the past five years [12]. - Management indicated potential for a nearly 12% annualized growth in the regulated rate base if the proposed 2024 GRC and infrastructure improvement plan is approved [13]. - **Avista Corporation (NYSE:AVA)**: - Reported Q3 2025 revenues of $403 million, a 2.35% increase from the previous year, but missed analyst expectations by $14.7 million [15]. - Plans to issue approximately $120 million in long-term debt and up to $80 million in common stock in 2026 [15]. - CFO highlighted $363 million in capital expenditures for the first three quarters of the year, with total spending expected to reach $525 million for 2025 [16]. - **Exponent, Inc. (NASDAQ:EXPO)**: - Reported Q3 2025 total revenue of $147.1 million, an 8% increase, with revenue before reimbursements rising 10% to $137.1 million [21]. - Strong performance driven by growth in dispute-related work across various sectors, including energy and life sciences [20]. - The company is positioned to leverage opportunities from artificial intelligence while managing risks associated with technological changes [19].

Core Insights - Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (PSEG) reported third-quarter 2025 adjusted earnings of $1.13 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.01 by 11.9% and reflecting a 25.6% increase from the prior year's figure of 90 cents per share [1][8] - Total operating revenues reached $3.23 billion, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.73 billion by 18.2% and increasing 22.1% from $2.64 billion in the previous year [2][8] Revenue and Sales Performance - Electric sales volume totaled 11,804 million kilowatt-hours, a decline of 1% year over year, while gas sales volume decreased by 7% to 404 million therms [3] - Residential electric sales volume was 4,539 million kilowatt-hours, down 2% from the prior year, and commercial and industrial sales volume was 7,181 million kilowatt-hours, reflecting a 1% decline [3] - Other sales amounted to 84 million kilowatt-hours, up 18% from the previous year [4] Financial Highlights - Operating income was $855 million, a 33.4% increase from $641 million in the year-ago period [5] - Total operating expenses rose to $2.37 billion, up 18.5% from the previous year [5] - Interest expenses increased to $253 million, reflecting an 11.5% year-over-year rise [5] Segment Performance - The PSE&G segment reported net income of $515 million, up from $379 million in the third quarter of 2024 [6] - Adjusted operating income for the PSEG Power & Other segment was $107 million, down from $141 million in the prior-year quarter [6] Financial Position - Long-term debt as of September 30, 2025, was $22.54 billion, compared to $21.11 billion as of December 31, 2024 [7] Guidance and Outlook - PSEG narrowed its 2025 EPS guidance to a range of $4.00-$4.06, compared to the previous guidance of $3.94-$4.06, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate currently at $4.03 per share [10]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Q3 adjusted net earnings from continuing operations were $71.7 million, up approximately 10% from $64.9 million in Q3 2024 [11] - Adjusted net earnings per share for Q3 were $0.09, up 13% from $0.08 in Q3 2024 [12] - Net earnings for the regulated services group increased year-over-year, driven by approved rate implementations and favorable weather [11] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net earnings for the Hydro Group were essentially flat for the quarter [11] - The corporate group saw a decrease of $14.7 million primarily due to the removal of dividends from the company's investment in Atlantica, which was sold in Q4 2024 [11] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company has pending rate requests totaling $326.4 million, with $73.6 million related to two specific cases [6] - The company is committed to balancing necessary investments with affordability for customers [8] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on a back-to-basics pure-play regulated strategy, emphasizing cost reduction, operational performance, and stakeholder engagement [9] - Future opportunities must enhance the regulated pure-play strategy, either through EPS accretion or risk reduction [10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the financial outlook remaining unchanged despite some expected reversals in operating expenses in Q4 [5][18] - The company is committed to improving customer service and transparency in regulatory proceedings [6][8] Other Important Information - A leadership update was announced, with Robert Stefani joining as Chief Financial Officer effective January 5, 2026 [4] - The company is in the early stages of restructuring efforts, with expectations for gradual roll-off of restructuring costs [23] Q&A Session Summary Question: What were the main drivers of OpEx improvement and is it sustainable? - Management indicated ongoing cost-cutting measures and improvements in efficiency, but noted a potential reversal in Q4 [17][18] Question: Any updates on conversations with data center players or large projects? - Management stated they are focused on increasing transmission capacity and stabilizing the generation portfolio but did not disclose specific customer conversations [19][20] Question: Should we expect the $9 million of cost reductions to push into Q4? - Management acknowledged that timing aspects for Q4 would be an item to consider, but the exact amount is uncertain [22] Question: When do you expect restructuring costs to roll off? - Management indicated they are still in the early innings of restructuring efforts, suggesting it could be a multi-year process [23][24] Question: Did the portfolio optimization review consider the company's domicile? - Management confirmed that domicile is an active consideration as part of their strategy for sustainable value [26] Question: Are the settlements at various utilities better or worse than expected? - Management refrained from commenting on specific outcomes but emphasized the importance of stakeholder engagement before regulatory filings [27][28] Question: How does the company plan to update the market on cost-cutting and rate cases? - Management indicated that updates would be considered if there were material changes, especially with the new CFO starting in January [32] Question: How is the customer and billing system operating currently? - Management expressed encouragement regarding progress made in customer service improvements and system operations [36][37]

Core Insights - Dominion Energy, Inc. is focused on enhancing reliability, safety, and sustainability while transitioning to low-carbon and renewable energy sources, with a market cap of $51.8 billion [1] - The company is expected to announce its fiscal Q3 earnings for 2025 on October 31, with analysts predicting a profit of $0.93 per share, a decrease of 5.1% from the previous year [2] - For fiscal 2025, analysts forecast a profit of $3.40 per share, representing a 22.7% increase from $2.77 per share in fiscal 2024, with further growth expected in fiscal 2026 [3] Financial Performance - In the previous quarter, Dominion Energy reported earnings of $0.75 per share, exceeding consensus estimates by 8.7%, with total operating revenue increasing by 9.3% year-over-year to $3.8 billion [5] - The company's stock has seen a marginal decline over the past 52 weeks, underperforming the S&P 500 Index's 16.2% return and the Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund's 11.6% increase [4] Analyst Ratings - Wall Street analysts maintain a cautious stance on Dominion Energy's stock, with an overall "Hold" rating; among 19 analysts, 2 recommend "Strong Buy," 16 suggest "Hold," and 1 advises "Strong Sell" [6] - The mean price target for Dominion Energy is $63.25, indicating a potential upside of 4.2% from current levels [6]

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of dividend-paying stocks, particularly those with yields over 4%, as a source of steady income and potential stability during market downturns [2][4]. Dividend Stocks Overview - The article identifies several companies with high dividend yields, including Magna International Inc., Black Hills Corporation, and Comcast Corporation, highlighting their financial stability and growth potential [7][11][14]. Magna International Inc. - Magna International Inc. has a dividend yield of 4.46% as of October 12, with a quarterly dividend of $0.485 per share [10]. - The company is a major automotive supplier with over 340 manufacturing facilities in 29 countries, actively expanding in the electric vehicle sector [8][9]. - Magna has a strong long-term investment outlook due to its consistent dividend growth over 15 years [10]. Black Hills Corporation - Black Hills Corporation offers a dividend yield of 4.48% as of October 12, with a quarterly dividend of $0.676 per share [13]. - The company supplies electricity and natural gas to approximately 1.34 million customers and has a $4.7 billion investment pipeline planned from 2025 to 2029 [11][12]. - It has maintained a solid record of dividend safety, targeting a payout ratio of 50% to 60% of net income, and has rewarded shareholders with growing dividends for 55 years [13]. Comcast Corporation - Comcast Corporation has a dividend yield of 4.49% as of October 12, with a quarterly dividend of $0.33 per share [16]. - The company operates in media, entertainment, and telecommunications, with a diverse revenue stream from various segments [14]. - Despite a decline in total customer relationships, Comcast reported strong performance in its wireless segment and theme park division, contributing to its consistent dividend growth over 21 years [15][16].

Core Insights - NiSource Inc. reported second-quarter 2025 operating earnings per share (EPS) of 22 cents, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 21 cents by 4.8% and up from 21 cents in the prior-year quarter [1][9] - Total revenues reached $1.28 billion, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.15 billion by 11.3% and increasing 18.3% from $1.08 billion in the same quarter last year [2][9] Financial Performance - Total operating expenses were $1.02 billion, a rise of 20.3% from $0.85 billion in the prior-year quarter [3] - Operating income was reported at $262.9 million, up 10.9% from $237 million a year ago [3] - Net interest expenses increased to $139.1 million, up 7.6% from $129.3 million in the previous year [3] Sales and Distribution Metrics - Total gas distribution in Sales and Transportation (excluding weather) was 114.4 Million British Thermal Units per day (MMDth), down 2.8% from 117.7 MMDth in the prior-year quarter [4] - Total electric sales (excluding weather) were 3,994.2 gigawatt-hours (GWh), an increase of 0.5% from 3,974.5 GWh in the same quarter last year [4] Liquidity and Cash Flow - Cash and cash equivalents as of June 30, 2025, were $0.34 billion, up from $0.157 billion as of December 31, 2024 [5] - Long-term debts as of June 30, 2025, were $14.47 billion, compared to $12.07 billion as of December 31, 2024 [5] - Net cash flows from operating activities in the first half of 2025 were $1.18 billion, compared to $0.9 billion in the first half of 2024 [5] Guidance and Future Outlook - The company reaffirmed its 2025 non-GAAP earnings guidance of $1.85-$1.89 per share, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate at $1.88 per share [7][9] - NiSource expects an earnings CAGR of 6-8% through 2029 and plans capital expenditures of $19.4 billion for the 2025-2029 period [7]

Group 1 - Hudbay Minerals Inc. (HBM) has seen a 30.8% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings over the last 60 days [1] - Shore Bancshares, Inc. (SHBI) has experienced a 7.1% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings over the last 60 days [1] - National Grid plc (NGG) has recorded a 5.4% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings over the last 60 days [2] - Eagle Bancorp Montana, Inc. (EBMT) has seen an increase of nearly 9% in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings over the last 60 days [2] - Greif, Inc. (GEF) has experienced a 6.9% increase in the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings over the last 60 days [3]