ONE Gas (OGS) appears an attractive pick, as it has been recently upgraded to a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). This upgrade is essentially a reflection of an upward trend in earnings estimates -- one of the most powerful forces impacting stock prices.The sole determinant of the Zacks rating is a company's changing earnings picture. The Zacks Consensus Estimate -- the consensus of EPS estimates from the sell-side analysts covering the stock -- for the current and following years is tracked by the system.Since a changi ...

Key Takeaways EPS estimate for Atmos Energy rose 1% to $7.33, while that for Northwest Natural increased 1.4% to $2.92.ATO's current ratio of 1.37 and debt-to-capital of 40.21% outpace NWN's weaker financial metrics.In the past month, ATO shares have climbed 7% compared with NWN's 2% and the industry's 3.9% growth.Natural gas is increasingly being used in power generation due to its relatively cleaner-burning characteristics compared to other fossil fuels. As a result of greater LNG exports and public aware ...

Core Viewpoint - MDU Resources is currently viewed as a superior value option compared to ONE Gas based on various valuation metrics [7] Valuation Metrics - MDU Resources has a forward P/E ratio of 17.18, while ONE Gas has a forward P/E of 17.45 [5] - MDU's PEG ratio is 2.48, indicating a more favorable expected earnings growth rate compared to ONE Gas's PEG ratio of 3.14 [5] - MDU has a P/B ratio of 1.22, compared to ONE Gas's P/B ratio of 1.42, suggesting MDU is more undervalued relative to its book value [6] Earnings Outlook - Both MDU Resources and ONE Gas have a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating positive earnings estimate revisions and an improving earnings outlook [3]

Market Overview - Wall Street experienced a sharp retreat after the Federal Reserve decided to keep interest rates unchanged in the range of 4.25-4.50% [4][5] - Investor optimism faded following the announcement, leading to increased market volatility [1] - The uncertainty surrounding President Trump's impending tariff decisions is contributing to market fluctuations [1][7] Investment Recommendations - It is advisable to invest in safe-haven defensive stocks from the utility sector, including ONE Gas, Inc. (OGS), Fortis, Inc. (FTS), Northwest Natural Holding Company (NWN), and IDACORP, Inc. (IDA) [2] - These stocks are categorized as low-beta (beta greater than 0 but less than 1), making them suitable for investors seeking stability [3] Company Profiles ONE Gas, Inc. (OGS) - OGS is a regulated natural gas distribution utility serving over 2.3 million customers across Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas [9] - Expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 9.7%, with a Zacks Consensus Estimate improvement of 0.2% over the last 60 days [11] - OGS has a beta of 0.80 and a current dividend yield of 3.68% [11] Fortis, Inc. (FTS) - Fortis operates in the electric and gas utility sector, primarily in Canada, the U.S., and the Caribbean [12] - The expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 4.2%, with a Zacks Consensus Estimate improvement of 0.8% over the last 60 days [12] - FTS has a beta of 0.48 and a current dividend yield of 3.63% [12] Northwest Natural Holding Company (NWN) - NWN builds and maintains natural gas distribution systems and invests in pipeline projects, serving customers in the U.S. and Canada [13] - The expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 23.6%, with a Zacks Consensus Estimate improvement of 1.4% over the last 60 days [14] - NWN has a beta of 0.53 and a current dividend yield of 4.83% [14] IDACORP, Inc. (IDA) - IDA is involved in the transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity services in southern Idaho and eastern Oregon [15] - The expected earnings growth rate for the current year is 6%, with a Zacks Consensus Estimate improvement of 0.3% over the last 60 days [15] - IDA has a beta of 0.56 and a current dividend yield of 2.81% [15]

LOS ANGELES, July 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) announced today that its energy efficiency programs helped customers save more than $95 million on their utility bills last year. Customers saved more than 50 million net therms of energy, enough to meet the annual natural gas needs of nearly 125,000 California homes. These efforts also helped avoid more than 260,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions, or the equivalent of removing over 56,000 cars from the road for a year. Source: ...

Core Insights - Fusion Fuel Green PLC announced new projects through its subsidiary Al Shola Al Modea Gas Distribution LLC, focusing on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) systems in Dubai, UAE [1][4] Group 1: Project Details - The largest new projects under contract are valued at over AED 1.9 million (approximately $517,000), including a 20-floor residential building with 722 apartments valued at AED 885,000 (approximately $241,000) and an 8-floor mixed-use development valued at AED 850,000 (approximately $232,000) [2] - Al Shola Gas confirmed several additional contracts with total estimated values of approximately AED 200,000 (approximately $54,000), contributing significantly to the project pipeline [3] Group 2: Market Demand and Company Strategy - Since the beginning of 2025, Al Shola Gas has averaged between 580 and 630 metric tons (MT) of bulk LPG and 160 to 180 MT of LPG in cylinders per month, indicating strong demand for LPG in the UAE market [4] - The CEO of Fusion Fuel highlighted that the new orders not only provide near-term revenue but also support the strategy to grow the energy services platform in the Gulf region, with the engineering team fully booked for the next 18 months [4] Group 3: Company Overview - Fusion Fuel Green PLC provides integrated energy engineering, distribution, and green hydrogen solutions, supporting decarbonization across various sectors [5]

Agreements & Legal - Depa (Greek state gas distributor) reached an out-of-court agreement with Gazprom regarding supply pricing [1] - The agreement follows an international arbitration [1]

Industry Overview - The U.S. natural gas distribution pipeline network is crucial for transporting natural gas to end users, consisting of nearly 3 million mainline and other pipes, driven by rising natural gas usage [1] - Natural gas is increasingly favored for power generation due to its cleaner burning characteristics, with domestic production rising due to increased LNG exports and public awareness of lower emissions [2] Financial Environment - The natural gas pipeline industry requires a consistent flow of funds for maintenance and repair of aging infrastructure, with the Federal Reserve lowering the federal fund rate by one percentage point since September 2024, expected to reduce capital servicing costs for utilities [3] Utility Performance - Utility service providers generally experience steady revenue and profitability growth, allowing for regular dividend payments that enhance shareholder value [4] - The U.S. Energy Information Administration forecasts natural gas consumption for electricity generation to average 38.4 billion cubic feet per day in June, a 26% increase from May, with an overall expected increase of 1% in 2025 [5] Company Analysis - A comparative analysis of Atmos Energy (ATO) and ONE Gas (OGS) shows both companies currently hold a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) [6] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ATO's fiscal 2025 EPS has increased by 0.6% to $7.24, while OGS's EPS estimate has risen by 0.7% to $4.29 [7] Financial Metrics - ATO's return on equity (ROE) is 9.05%, while OGS's ROE is 8.15%, both slightly below the industry average of 9.24% [8] - The debt-to-capital ratios for ATO and OGS are 39.3% and 40.43%, respectively, compared to the industry average of 50.49% [9] - ATO has a current ratio of 1.33, indicating strong liquidity, while OGS's current ratio is 0.59, below the industry average of 0.63 [11] Stock Performance - Over the past six months, ATO's stock has risen by 11.7%, outperforming the industry's 2% growth and OGS's 5.2% increase [10][12] - ATO's dividend yield is 2.23%, while OGS's is 3.64%, both exceeding the S&P 500 Composite's average of 1.25% [14] Conclusion - Both Atmos Energy and ONE Gas are positioned as strong investment opportunities, with ATO being favored due to better debt management, liquidity, and stock performance [15]

Core Points - Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) has made a $75,000 donation to support small businesses in Altadena affected by the Eaton Fire [1][2] - The funds will assist local businesses in covering essential expenses such as relocation, equipment replacement, and operational restart costs [2][3] - The Pasadena Chamber of Commerce Foundation (PCCF) will manage the grant applications and distribution based on need and potential impact [3][4] Company Contributions - SoCalGas previously contributed $400,000 to the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles to aid in the response to the Eaton Fire, providing various support services to displaced families and first responders [4] - The company emphasizes its commitment to the local economy and the resilience of small businesses during recovery efforts [4][5] Community Impact - The Eaton Fire has significantly impacted Altadena's small business community, necessitating collaborative efforts for recovery [4] - SoCalGas aims to provide meaningful support through its partnership with the Pasadena and Altadena Chambers [4][5] - The Pasadena Chamber of Commerce Foundation focuses on workforce development, disaster recovery, and support for local businesses [6][9]

Media assets hereLOS ANGELES, June 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) once again joins forces with Labor Community Services (LCS) to support the 33rd Annual National Association of Letter Carriers' (NALC) "Stamp Out Hunger" Food Drive. This year, SoCalGas will bring 100 volunteers to help sort over 1 million pounds of food donations collected across Los Angeles County. SoCalGas will also present a $25,000 donation to LCS to purchase additional needed food items, supporting thous ...