We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
Here's Why You Should Add UNITIL (UTL) to Your Portfolio
Read MoreHide Full Article
Earnings estimates for UNITIL Corporation (UTL - Free Report) have been revised upward in the past 60 days, reflecting analyst’s optimism in the stock. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2018 and 2019 earnings moved up 2.8% and 0.9% to $2.22 and $2.26, respectively. The stock carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Let’s focus on the factors that make UNITIL Corporation a profitable pick.
Earnings & Surprise History
In second-quarter 2018, UNITIL delivered earnings of 24 cents per share, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The company delivered average positive earnings surprise of 15.85% in the trailing four quarters.
Price Performance
The company’s shares have inched up 2.1% in the past 12 months, against the industry’s decline of 4.2%.
Dividend History
UNITIL has been paying dividend for the past three decades and raised dividend annually since the past four years. Currently, UNITIL’s dividend yield of 2.89% is better than the S&P 500 composite’s 1.79%.
Growth Projections
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings is pegged at $2.22, reflecting year-over-year improvement of 7.77%.
For 2019, the consensus estimate for earnings is pegged at $2.26, showing a rise of 2.03% year over year.
Other Stocks to Consider
Investors can consider a few other top-ranked stocks from the same space such as Ameren Corporation (AEE - Free Report) , Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp (AQN - Free Report) and NRG Energy, Inc (NRG - Free Report) . Ameren and Algonquin Power & Utilities hold a Zacks Rank of 2. NRG Energy sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can seethe complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Ameren came up with an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 7.69%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2018 EPS moved up 5.6% in the past 90 days to $3.21.
Algonquin Power & Utilities delivered an average four-quarter earnings beat of 36.39%. The consensus mark for 2018 bottom line has been revised up by 11.5% in the past 90 days to 68 cents.
NRG Energy pulled off an average four-quarter positive earnings surprise of 213.28%. The consensus estimate for 2019 EPS has been raised 25.8% in the past 90 days to $4.14.
More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone!
It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market.
Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2020.
Image: Bigstock
Here's Why You Should Add UNITIL (UTL) to Your Portfolio
Earnings estimates for UNITIL Corporation (UTL - Free Report) have been revised upward in the past 60 days, reflecting analyst’s optimism in the stock. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2018 and 2019 earnings moved up 2.8% and 0.9% to $2.22 and $2.26, respectively. The stock carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Let’s focus on the factors that make UNITIL Corporation a profitable pick.
Earnings & Surprise History
In second-quarter 2018, UNITIL delivered earnings of 24 cents per share, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. The company delivered average positive earnings surprise of 15.85% in the trailing four quarters.
Price Performance
The company’s shares have inched up 2.1% in the past 12 months, against the industry’s decline of 4.2%.
Dividend History
UNITIL has been paying dividend for the past three decades and raised dividend annually since the past four years. Currently, UNITIL’s dividend yield of 2.89% is better than the S&P 500 composite’s 1.79%.
Growth Projections
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-year earnings is pegged at $2.22, reflecting year-over-year improvement of 7.77%.
For 2019, the consensus estimate for earnings is pegged at $2.26, showing a rise of 2.03% year over year.
Other Stocks to Consider
Investors can consider a few other top-ranked stocks from the same space such as Ameren Corporation (AEE - Free Report) , Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp (AQN - Free Report) and NRG Energy, Inc (NRG - Free Report) . Ameren and Algonquin Power & Utilities hold a Zacks Rank of 2. NRG Energy sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Ameren came up with an average four-quarter earnings surprise of 7.69%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2018 EPS moved up 5.6% in the past 90 days to $3.21.
Algonquin Power & Utilities delivered an average four-quarter earnings beat of 36.39%. The consensus mark for 2018 bottom line has been revised up by 11.5% in the past 90 days to 68 cents.
NRG Energy pulled off an average four-quarter positive earnings surprise of 213.28%. The consensus estimate for 2019 EPS has been raised 25.8% in the past 90 days to $4.14.
More Stock News: This Is Bigger than the iPhone!
It could become the mother of all technological revolutions. Apple sold a mere 1 billion iPhones in 10 years but a new breakthrough is expected to generate more than 27 billion devices in just 3 years, creating a $1.7 trillion market.
Zacks has just released a Special Report that spotlights this fast-emerging phenomenon and 6 tickers for taking advantage of it. If you don't buy now, you may kick yourself in 2020.
Click here for the 6 trades >>