We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience.
This includes personalizing content and advertising.
By pressing "Accept All" or closing out of this banner, you consent to the use of all cookies and similar technologies and the sharing of information they collect with third parties.
You can reject marketing cookies by pressing "Deny Optional," but we still use essential, performance, and functional cookies.
In addition, whether you "Accept All," Deny Optional," click the X or otherwise continue to use the site, you accept our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, revised from time to time.
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.
Spire Gains From Expanding Regulated Operations Despite Ongoing Risks
Read MoreHide Full Article
Key Takeaways
Spire expands regulated utility footprint, selling non-core units and holding Spire Mississippi for sale.
SR's Piedmont Natural Gas Tennessee deal adds 3,800 miles of pipe and expands Nashville reach.
SR targets $4.8B in five years, with most aimed at safety and reliability upgrades.
Spire Inc. (SR - Free Report) benefits from its focus on regulated utility operations, strategic acquisitions and divestitures, boosting the company’s financial performance. Systematic capital investment for infrastructure development enhances service reliability and supports long-term growth.
This Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) company faces risks from subsidiary dependence, regulatory risks and compliance costs, which may pressure Spire’s profitability.
SR’s Tailwinds
Spire benefits from expanding its regulated utility operation through strategic acquisitions and divestitures of non-core assets. This improves operational efficiency, strengthens earnings stability and supports overall financial performance. The company is focusing on its core regulated utility operations by divesting non-core assets, including Spire Marketing and Spire Storage, while Spire Mississippi remains held for sale.
The company completed the Piedmont Natural Gas Tennessee acquisition, adding nearly 3,800 miles of distribution and transmission pipelines in Tennessee and more than 200,000 customers to Spire's existing customer base. SR continues to expand its operations in the rapidly growing Nashville market.
The company’s systematic capital investments for infrastructure upgradation and maintenance help to provide safe and reliable service to customers and drive long-term growth. Spire invested $386 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2026 and plans to invest $797 million in fiscal 2026. SR aims to invest $4.8 billion under its five-year capital program and $11.2 billion over 10 years. Nearly 70% are allocated to strengthening system safety and reliability, while about 19% are dedicated to customer growth. These investments support rate base growth of 7% in Missouri and 7.5% in Tennessee.
SR’s Headwinds
Spire is a holding company with no significant assets. It is dependent on its subsidiaries for cash flow and dividend distributions. Any failure by the subsidiaries to generate stable earnings and cash flow can adversely impact the company’s financial flexibility, liquidity position, debt obligations and shareholder returns.
The company remains subject to numerous environmental, safety and regulatory compliance requirements. Any failure to meet these standards may increase costs, cause service interruptions and pressure the margin.
Price Performance of SR
In the past three months, Spire shares have plunged 8.3% compared with the industry’s 5.1% fall.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for American States Water’s 2026 EPS is pegged at $3.71, suggesting year-over-year growth of 10.09%. AWR's dividend yield is 2.62%
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Brookfield Infrastructure's 2026 sale is pegged at $3.81billion, suggesting year-over-year growth of 3.82%. BIPC dividend yield is 4.38%
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Clean Energy Fuels' 2026 sales is pegged at $433.60 million, suggesting year-over-year growth of 2.06%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CLNE’s 2026 earnings has moved up 25% in the past 60 days.
Zacks' 7 Best Strong Buy Stocks (New Research Report)
Valued at $99, click below to receive our just-released report
predicting the 7 stocks that will soar highest in the coming month.
View the Zacks #1 Rank List
Image: Bigstock
Spire Gains From Expanding Regulated Operations Despite Ongoing Risks
Key Takeaways
Spire Inc. (SR - Free Report) benefits from its focus on regulated utility operations, strategic acquisitions and divestitures, boosting the company’s financial performance. Systematic capital investment for infrastructure development enhances service reliability and supports long-term growth.
This Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) company faces risks from subsidiary dependence, regulatory risks and compliance costs, which may pressure Spire’s profitability.
SR’s Tailwinds
Spire benefits from expanding its regulated utility operation through strategic acquisitions and divestitures of non-core assets. This improves operational efficiency, strengthens earnings stability and supports overall financial performance. The company is focusing on its core regulated utility operations by divesting non-core assets, including Spire Marketing and Spire Storage, while Spire Mississippi remains held for sale.
The company completed the Piedmont Natural Gas Tennessee acquisition, adding nearly 3,800 miles of distribution and transmission pipelines in Tennessee and more than 200,000 customers to Spire's existing customer base. SR continues to expand its operations in the rapidly growing Nashville market.
The company’s systematic capital investments for infrastructure upgradation and maintenance help to provide safe and reliable service to customers and drive long-term growth. Spire invested $386 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2026 and plans to invest $797 million in fiscal 2026. SR aims to invest $4.8 billion under its five-year capital program and $11.2 billion over 10 years. Nearly 70% are allocated to strengthening system safety and reliability, while about 19% are dedicated to customer growth. These investments support rate base growth of 7% in Missouri and 7.5% in Tennessee.
SR’s Headwinds
Spire is a holding company with no significant assets. It is dependent on its subsidiaries for cash flow and dividend distributions. Any failure by the subsidiaries to generate stable earnings and cash flow can adversely impact the company’s financial flexibility, liquidity position, debt obligations and shareholder returns.
The company remains subject to numerous environmental, safety and regulatory compliance requirements. Any failure to meet these standards may increase costs, cause service interruptions and pressure the margin.
Price Performance of SR
In the past three months, Spire shares have plunged 8.3% compared with the industry’s 5.1% fall.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Stocks to Consider
Some better-ranked stocks in the same sector include American States Water (AWR - Free Report) , Brookfield Infrastructure (BIPC - Free Report) and Clean Energy Fuels (CLNE - Free Report) . ALL stocks carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for American States Water’s 2026 EPS is pegged at $3.71, suggesting year-over-year growth of 10.09%. AWR's dividend yield is 2.62%
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Brookfield Infrastructure's 2026 sale is pegged at $3.81billion, suggesting year-over-year growth of 3.82%. BIPC dividend yield is 4.38%
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Clean Energy Fuels' 2026 sales is pegged at $433.60 million, suggesting year-over-year growth of 2.06%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CLNE’s 2026 earnings has moved up 25% in the past 60 days.