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Utilities to Report Earnings on Aug 28: PCG, CMS, AEP, SCG

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The second-quarter 2016 earnings season is picking up steam with nearly 951 stocks (including 189 S&P 500 members) expected to release their results this week.  The earnings picture will be much clearer following this week’s releases.

This season, we’ve seen as many as 103 releases as of Jul 21, with earnings declining 2.1% in spite of a 1.4% rise in revenues. As for the beat ratios, 68.9% of the companies have come ahead of earnings estimates and 56.3% have surpassed revenue expectations.  The projections for the quarter are far from encouraging for the entire gamut of S&P 500 companies. Total earnings are expected to be down 3.6% from the same period last year on 0.5% lower revenues.

Nine out of the 16 sectors in the Zacks coverage universe are expected to witness an earnings decline. The performance of the S&P 500 will primarily be pulled back by the Oil & Energy sector where earnings are expected to be down 78% on a 25.6% decline in total revenues.

However, among the outperformers, utilities are expected to outpace all others this season. Here we will focus on the Utility sector, which is expected to grow second-quarter earnings by 20.5% supported by a 2.4% top-line improvement. Read more details from our weekly Earnings Preview report.

The capital intensive utilities are benefiting from their domestic focus, the prevailing low interest rate environment and the regulated nature of their operation. All these factors along with  the indispensability of the services provided are driving consistent performances season after season.

Here, let us focus on a few utilities reporting on Aug 28.

PG&E Corporation (PCG - Free Report) , a Zacks Rank#2 (Buy) stock, delivered a positive earnings surprise of 7.89% in the previous quarter.  PG&E Corporation’s Earnings ESP which represents the difference between the Most Accurate estimate of 89 cents and the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 94 cents is -5.32% (read more:  PG&E Corporation Q2 Earnings: What's in the Cards?).

PG&E CORP Price and EPS Surprise

PG&E CORP Price and EPS Surprise | PG&E CORP Quote


CMS Energy (CMS - Free Report) , a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stock, delivered a negative earnings surprise of 13.24% in the previous quarter.  CMS Energy’s Earnings ESP is +11.43% (read more: CMS Energy May Beat Q2 Earnings: Stock to Gain?).

CMS ENERGY Price and EPS Surprise

CMS ENERGY Price and EPS Surprise | CMS ENERGY Quote


American Electric Power (AEP - Free Report) , a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock, delivered a negative earnings surprise of 3.77% in the previous quarter. American Electric Power’s Earnings ESP is -2.22.% (read more: American Electric Power Q2 Earnings: What's Ahead?).

AMER ELEC PWR Price and EPS Surprise

AMER ELEC PWR Price and EPS Surprise | AMER ELEC PWR Quote


SCANA Corporation , a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) stock, delivered a negative earnings surprise of 7.91% in the previous quarter. SCANA Corporation’s Earnings ESP is -1.37% (read more: SCANA to Report Q2 Earnings: Will Stock Disappoint?).

SCANA CORP Price and EPS Surprise

SCANA CORP Price and EPS Surprise | SCANA CORP Quote


ITC Holdings , a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stock, delivered a positive earnings surprise of 12.24% in the previous quarter. ITC Holdings’ Earnings ESP is -1.37%.  Our proven model does not conclusively show that the company will beat estimates this quarter.  That is because a stock needs to have both a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), #2 or #3  for this to happen.
 

ITC HOLDINGS CP Price and EPS Surprise

ITC HOLDINGS CP Price and EPS Surprise | ITC HOLDINGS CP Quote


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