MDU Resources (MDU) came out with quarterly earnings of $0.37 per share, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate . This compares to earnings of $0.34 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +1.37%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this energy, mining, construction and utilities company would post earnings of $0.07 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.09, delivering a surprise of +28.57%.Over the last ...

Core Viewpoint - UGI reported quarterly earnings of $1.26 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.50 per share, representing a year-over-year decrease from $1.37 per share [1]. Financial Performance - The company posted revenues of $2.08 billion for the quarter ended December 2025, which was 2.08% below the Zacks Consensus Estimate and slightly above the year-ago revenues of $2.03 billion [2]. - Over the last four quarters, UGI has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times but has not beaten consensus revenue estimates during the same period [2]. Stock Performance - UGI shares have increased approximately 6.9% since the beginning of the year, outperforming the S&P 500's gain of 1.1% [3]. - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 4 (Sell), indicating expectations of underperformance in the near future [6]. Earnings Outlook - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $2.34 on revenues of $3.18 billion, while for the current fiscal year, the estimate is $3.10 on revenues of $8.32 billion [7]. - The trend of estimate revisions for UGI was unfavorable prior to the earnings release, which may impact future stock movements [6]. Industry Context - The Utility - Gas Distribution industry, to which UGI belongs, is currently ranked in the bottom 32% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting potential challenges ahead [8]. - Sempra, another company in the same industry, is expected to report quarterly earnings of $1.13 per share, reflecting a year-over-year decline of 24.7% [9].

Core Viewpoint - Atmos Energy (ATO) reported quarterly earnings of $2.44 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.41 per share, and showing an increase from $2.23 per share a year ago, representing an earnings surprise of +1.46% [1][2] Financial Performance - The company posted revenues of $1.34 billion for the quarter ended December 2025, which was 6.45% below the Zacks Consensus Estimate, compared to $1.18 billion in revenues from the same quarter last year [2] - Over the last four quarters, Atmos has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times but has only topped consensus revenue estimates once [2] Stock Performance - Atmos shares have decreased by approximately 0.7% since the beginning of the year, while the S&P 500 has gained 1.9% [3] - The current Zacks Rank for Atmos is 3 (Hold), indicating that the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future [6] Earnings Outlook - The consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $3.28, with expected revenues of $2.22 billion, and for the current fiscal year, the estimate is $8.08 on revenues of $5.61 billion [7] - The trend of estimate revisions for Atmos was mixed ahead of the earnings release, which could change following the recent report [6] Industry Context - The Utility - Gas Distribution industry, to which Atmos belongs, is currently ranked in the bottom 30% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating potential challenges for stock performance [8] - Another company in the same industry, Sempra (SRE), is expected to report quarterly earnings of $1.13 per share, reflecting a year-over-year decline of -24.7% [9]

If you are looking for a stock that has a solid history of beating earnings estimates and is in a good position to maintain the trend in its next quarterly report, you should consider Sempra (SRE) . This company, which is in the Zacks Utility - Gas Distribution industry, shows potential for another earnings beat.This natural gas and electricity provider has seen a nice streak of beating earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The average surprise for the last two quarters wa ...

Spire (SR) came out with quarterly earnings of $1.77 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.62 per share. This compares to earnings of $1.34 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +9.43%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this natural gas distributor would post a loss of $0.46 per share when it actually produced a loss of $0.47, delivering a surprise of -2.17%.Over the last four quarters, the company ...

New Jersey Resources (NJR) came out with quarterly earnings of $1.17 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.95 per share. This compares to earnings of $1.29 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +23.16%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this energy services holding company would post earnings of $0.15 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.16, delivering a surprise of +6.67%.Over the las ...

Core Viewpoint - Investors are evaluating ONE Gas (OGS) and MDU Resources (MDU) to determine which stock offers better value for investment opportunities in the Utility - Gas Distribution sector [1] Group 1: Zacks Rank and Earnings Estimates - ONE Gas has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating a positive earnings outlook, while MDU Resources has a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), suggesting a less favorable earnings outlook [3] - The Zacks Rank system emphasizes companies with positive earnings estimate revisions, making OGS a more attractive option for investors seeking growth [3] Group 2: Valuation Metrics - OGS has a forward P/E ratio of 16.33, compared to MDU's forward P/E of 19.89, indicating that OGS may be undervalued relative to MDU [5] - The PEG ratio for OGS is 2.45, while MDU's PEG ratio is 2.63, suggesting that OGS has a more favorable earnings growth outlook relative to its price [5] - OGS has a P/B ratio of 1.45, slightly lower than MDU's P/B of 1.48, further supporting the argument that OGS is a better value investment [6] Group 3: Value Grades - OGS has been assigned a Value grade of B, while MDU has a Value grade of C, indicating that OGS is perceived as a more attractive investment based on traditional valuation metrics [6]

Core Viewpoint - Investors are evaluating which stock presents a better value opportunity between Spire (SR) and Atmos Energy (ATO) in the Utility - Gas Distribution sector [1] Group 1: Valuation Metrics - Both Spire and Atmos Energy currently hold a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating positive earnings estimate revisions for both companies [3] - Spire has a forward P/E ratio of 15.68, while Atmos Energy has a forward P/E of 20.80, suggesting Spire may be undervalued compared to Atmos Energy [5] - The PEG ratio for Spire is 1.49, compared to Atmos Energy's PEG ratio of 2.61, indicating Spire's earnings growth is more favorably priced [5] - Spire's P/B ratio is 1.55, while Atmos Energy's P/B ratio is 1.97, further supporting the notion that Spire is a more attractive value option [6] Group 2: Value Grades - Based on various valuation metrics, Spire holds a Value grade of B, whereas Atmos Energy has a Value grade of D, highlighting Spire as the superior value option [6]

Core Insights - Atmos Energy Corporation (ATO) is positioned for sustained growth driven by increasing natural gas demand and an expanding customer base [1] - The company is focused on long-term investments to enhance the reliability of its natural gas pipelines while benefiting from industrial customer additions and favorable rate outcomes [1] Growth Outlook - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for fiscal 2026 earnings per share (EPS) is projected to increase by 1.8% to $8.02 [2] - Fiscal 2026 revenue is estimated at $5.81 billion, indicating a year-over-year growth of 23.5% [2] - ATO's long-term earnings growth rate is forecasted at 7.98%, with an average earnings surprise of 2.6% over the last four quarters [2] Dividend History - Atmos Energy has consistently increased shareholder value through dividends, currently paying a quarterly dividend of $1.00 per share, equating to an annualized dividend of $4.00 [3] - The current dividend yield stands at 2.27%, outperforming the Zacks S&P 500 composite average of 1.07% [3] Investment Focus - ATO has a five-year capital expenditure plan totaling $26 billion for fiscal 2026-2030, with $20 billion earmarked for upgrading the distribution system and $6 billion for modernizing the transmission system [4] - This investment strategy is expected to yield annual earnings growth of 6-8% during the investment period [4] Debt Position - ATO's total debt to capital ratio is 39.89%, which is more favorable than the industry average of 47.36% [5] - The times interest earned (TIE) ratio at the end of Q4 2025 was 9.6, indicating a strong ability to meet future interest obligations [5] Stock Price Performance - Over the past year, ATO's shares have appreciated by 18.7%, surpassing the industry's growth of 9.8% [6] Additional Context - ATO's fiscal 2026 revenue estimate of $5.81 billion reflects a 23.5% year-over-year growth, with a planned $26 billion in capital spending from 2026 to 2030 for system upgrades and modernization [7]

Core Viewpoint - Momentum investing focuses on following a stock's recent price trends, aiming to buy high and sell higher, with the expectation that established trends will continue [1][2]. Company Overview: Atmos Energy (ATO) - Atmos Energy currently holds a Momentum Style Score of A, indicating strong potential for momentum investing [3]. - The company has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), which is associated with a historical outperformance in the market [4]. Price Performance - Over the past week, ATO shares increased by 0.02%, while the Zacks Utility - Gas Distribution industry declined by 0.53% [6]. - In a longer timeframe, ATO shares rose by 6.37% over the past quarter and 16.05% over the last year, outperforming the S&P 500's gains of 5.68% and 14.42%, respectively [7]. Trading Volume - ATO's average 20-day trading volume is 1,295,703 shares, which serves as a bullish indicator when combined with rising stock prices [8]. Earnings Outlook - In the past two months, three earnings estimates for ATO have been revised upwards, increasing the consensus estimate from $7.88 to $8.02 [10]. - For the next fiscal year, two estimates have also moved upwards, with no downward revisions noted [10]. Conclusion - Given the positive price trends and earnings outlook, ATO is positioned as a strong momentum pick with a Momentum Score of A and a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [12].