Key Takeaways VRT, RNR, AEE, CNQ and FDX are highlighted for strong sales growth and solid cash flow positions.Selection criteria include low P/S ratio, upward sales estimate revisions and high operating margin.VRT leads with a 27.5% expected sales growth for 2025, while AEE follows closely with 17.7%.As the U.S. economy continues to face sticky inflation and softening job growth, the Federal Reserve cut rates for the third time this year. Meanwhile, tariffs, supply-chain pressures and uneven business inves ...

Key Takeaways MDU launches a $200M equity offering through forward sale agreements with major financial institutions.The deal includes a 30 days option for underwriters to buy up to $30M in additional shares.MDU will utilize proceeds to cut debts, capital needs and buy 49% stake in the Badger Wind Farm project.MDU Resource Group, Inc. (MDU) has announced a public offering of $200 million of equity shares, using a forward sale agreement structure with forward sellers — Wells Fargo, BofA Securities and J.P. M ...

Core Viewpoint - Exelon Corporation, valued at $46.6 billion, is a utility company focused on reliability, affordability, and sustainability in energy delivery, but has underperformed compared to broader market indices over the past year [1][2]. Financial Performance - Exelon's shares gained 16.2% over the past 52 weeks, while the S&P 500 Index increased by 17.7%. However, year-to-date, Exelon's stock is up 22.5%, outperforming the S&P 500's 16.3% rise [2]. - The company reported Q2 earnings with revenue of $5.4 billion, which was 1.8% below consensus estimates, but adjusted EPS of $0.39 exceeded expectations by 5.4%. The bottom line fell 17% year-over-year due to lower utility earnings [4]. - For fiscal 2025, Exelon reaffirmed adjusted operating earnings guidance of $2.64 to $2.74 per share, with expected EPS growth of 7.2% year-over-year to $2.68 for the current fiscal year [5]. Analyst Ratings - Among 20 analysts covering Exelon, the consensus rating is a "Moderate Buy," consisting of eight "Strong Buy," 10 "Hold," and two "Strong Sell" ratings [6]. - Recently, Wells Fargo initiated coverage with an "Overweight" rating and a price target of $52, indicating a potential upside of 12.7%. The mean price target of $49.88 suggests an 8.2% premium, while the highest target of $57 indicates a 23.6% upside potential [7].

Group 1 - PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG) is currently considered one of the most undervalued large-cap stocks to buy, with Wells Fargo initiating coverage with an Overweight rating and a price target of $23 [1] - Morgan Stanley has also raised its price target on PG&E to $21 from $19.50, maintaining an Equal Weight rating, indicating a positive outlook for the stock [2] - The utility sector, including PG&E, has outperformed the S&P 500 in September, and there is an expectation for utilities to focus on developing data center pipelines moving into Q3 [2] Group 2 - PG&E Corporation operates through its subsidiary, Pacific Gas & Electric Company, providing electricity and natural gas to customers in northern and central California [3]

Market Overview - The U.S. stock market reached record highs driven by optimism surrounding trade discussions between Washington and Beijing, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average closing at 47,544.59, up 337.47 points (0.71%) [1] - The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite also saw significant gains, closing at 6,875.16 (up 1.23%) and 23,637.46 (up 1.86%) respectively [1] - The U.S. dollar weakened slightly as investors favored equities, anticipating a more favorable macroeconomic environment [1] Central Bank Policies and Earnings Reports - Market momentum was influenced by expectations regarding central bank policies and upcoming major corporate earnings reports [2] - There is strong anticipation for a rate cut decision from the Federal Reserve, particularly following a soft consumer price index in September [2] - The ongoing U.S. government shutdown complicates the Fed's assessment of economic conditions [2] Value Stocks and Investment Strategies - Investors are focusing on the earnings season, with major companies expected to report results that could provide insights into corporate profitability amid changing global trade conditions [3] - Value stocks, often trading below their intrinsic value, are seen as a safer investment during periods of market uncertainty [3] - The Price to Cash Flow (P/CF) ratio is highlighted as an effective valuation metric for evaluating value stocks, with companies like StoneCo Ltd. (STNE), Itron, Inc. (ITRI), PG&E Corporation (PCG), and PagSeguro Digital Ltd. (PAGS) noted for their low P/CF ratios [4][10] Financial Health and Cash Flow - The P/CF ratio is considered more reliable than the Price/Earnings (P/E) ratio as it accounts for non-cash charges, providing a clearer picture of a company's financial health [5][6] - Positive cash flow indicates an increase in liquid assets, allowing companies to manage debt, reinvest, and undertake shareholder-friendly actions [7] Stock Selection Parameters - A comprehensive investment strategy should include multiple valuation metrics such as price-to-book ratio, price-to-earnings ratio, and price-to-sales ratio, alongside a favorable Zacks Rank and Value Score [8][11][12] - Specific parameters for selecting true-value stocks include a P/CF less than or equal to the industry median, a minimum stock price of $5, and an average 20-day trading volume exceeding 100,000 [9][11] Company Performance Highlights - StoneCo Ltd. (STNE) has a Zacks Rank 1, with a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 11.5% and projected sales and EPS growth of 14.3% and 24.4% respectively [14] - Itron, Inc. (ITRI) holds a Zacks Rank 2, with a trailing earnings surprise of 32.5% and expected EPS growth of 8% [15] - PG&E Corporation (PCG) also has a Zacks Rank 2, with projected sales and EPS growth of 6.7% and 10.3% respectively, despite a share price decline of 18.4% over the past year [16] - PagSeguro Digital (PAGS) carries a Zacks Rank 2, with a trailing earnings surprise of 10.1% and expected sales and EPS growth of 5.5% and 14.9% respectively, with shares up 19.4% in the past year [17]

Core Insights - PPL Corporation, a utility company with a market cap of $27.6 billion, focuses on modernizing the electric grid, expanding renewable energy integration, and enhancing customer service through advanced technology [1] Financial Performance - Analysts expect PPL to report a profit of $0.46 per share for fiscal Q3 2025, representing a 9.5% increase from $0.42 per share in the same quarter last year [2] - For fiscal 2025, PPL is projected to report a profit of $1.81 per share, up 7.1% from $1.69 per share in fiscal 2024, with further growth expected to $1.96 per share in fiscal 2026 [3] Stock Performance - Over the past 52 weeks, PPL's shares have increased by 14%, underperforming the S&P 500 Index's 16.2% return but outperforming the Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund's 11.4% increase [4] - Following mixed Q2 results, PPL's shares fell nearly 1% on July 31, with operating revenue rising 7.7% year-over-year to $2 billion, exceeding consensus estimates by 2.5%, while adjusted EPS of $0.32 decreased 15.8% from the previous year [5] Analyst Ratings - Wall Street analysts maintain a "Moderate Buy" rating for PPL, with nine out of 15 analysts recommending "Strong Buy," one suggesting "Moderate Buy," and five advising "Hold" [6] - The mean price target for PPL is set at $40.86, indicating a potential upside of 9.4% from current levels [6]

Core Points - PPL Corporation will release its consolidated third-quarter 2025 earnings results on November 5, 2025 [1] - The conference call to discuss the results will be led by PPL's president and CEO, Vincent Sorgi, along with other executives [1] - The call is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. Eastern Time and will be accessible via webcast and telephone [2] Company Overview - PPL Corporation is a leading U.S. energy company based in Allentown, Pennsylvania, serving over 3.6 million customers [4] - The company focuses on providing electricity and natural gas safely, reliably, and affordably [4] - PPL is committed to building smarter, more resilient power grids and advancing sustainable energy solutions [4]