Scotiabank Analysts Lower Earnings Estimates for FirstEnergy

FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE:FE - Free Report) - Scotiabank dropped their FY2025 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for FirstEnergy in a research report issued to clients and investors on Wednesday, March 19th. Scotiabank analyst A. Weisel now expects that the utilities provider will post earnings per share of $2.52 for the year, down from their previous forecast of $2.89. Scotiabank has a "Sector Outperform" rating and a $44.00 price target on the stock. The consensus estimate for FirstEnergy's current full-year earnings is $2.66 per share. Scotiabank also issued estimates for FirstEnergy's FY2026 earnings at $2.70 EPS.

Other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. UBS Group increased their target price on shares of FirstEnergy from $41.00 to $43.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Friday, March 21st. Wolfe Research lowered shares of FirstEnergy from an "outperform" rating to a "peer perform" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on FirstEnergy from $48.00 to $41.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 28th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on FirstEnergy from $52.00 to $48.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, March 20th. Finally, Guggenheim lowered their price objective on FirstEnergy from $52.00 to $45.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 28th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $45.00.

Remove Ads

FirstEnergy Price Performance

NYSE FE traded up $0.93 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $39.41. The stock had a trading volume of 6,744,933 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,172,988. The firm's 50 day moving average is $39.90 and its 200 day moving average is $41.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.58, a current ratio of 0.56 and a quick ratio of 0.46. The stock has a market capitalization of $22.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.42, a PEG ratio of 2.07 and a beta of 0.48. FirstEnergy has a twelve month low of $36.81 and a twelve month high of $44.97.

FirstEnergy (NYSE:FE - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 26th. The utilities provider reported $0.67 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.70 by ($0.03). The firm had revenue of $3.20 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.53 billion. FirstEnergy had a return on equity of 11.38% and a net margin of 6.64%.

FirstEnergy Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, June 1st. Investors of record on Wednesday, May 7th will be paid a $0.445 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, May 7th. This represents a $1.78 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.52%. This is an increase from FirstEnergy's previous quarterly dividend of $0.43. FirstEnergy's payout ratio is currently 104.71%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Covestor Ltd lifted its stake in FirstEnergy by 69.3% during the fourth quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 623 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 255 shares during the last quarter. Kestra Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in FirstEnergy during the fourth quarter worth approximately $26,000. Lee Danner & Bass Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of FirstEnergy during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. True Wealth Design LLC boosted its holdings in shares of FirstEnergy by 4,571.4% in the 3rd quarter. True Wealth Design LLC now owns 654 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 640 shares in the last quarter. Finally, WASHINGTON TRUST Co grew its position in shares of FirstEnergy by 293.0% in the 4th quarter. WASHINGTON TRUST Co now owns 786 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 586 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.41% of the company's stock.

About FirstEnergy

FirstEnergy Corp., through its subsidiaries, generates, transmits, and distributes electricity in the United States. It operates through Regulated Distribution and Regulated Transmission segments. The company owns and operates coal-fired, nuclear, hydroelectric, wind, and solar power generating facilities.