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Portland Gen Electric

Portland General Electric is a regulated electric utility providing generation, transmission, and distribution services in a service territory that includes about half of all Oregon residents and two thirds of the state's business activity. The company owns (wholly or through joint ventures) 3.5 gigawatts of gas, coal, wind, and hydro generation.

Portland General Electric

Earnings

News

Small Cap

Markets

Analyst Ratings

Trading Ideas

CMRE

Investors generally tend to cling to the price-to-earnings (P/E) metric while looking for bargain stocks. In addition to being a widely used tool for screening stocks, P/E is also a popular metric to work out the fair market value of a company. But even this ubiquitously used valuation multiple has a few limitations.


5 Value Stocks With Exciting EV-to-EBITDA Ratios to Snap Up

Alibaba Photo by zhu difeng on Shutterstock

Price Target

BABA

FATE

MNDY

SGMT

SPIR

ZBRA

Alibaba To Rally Over 13%? Here Are 10 Top Analyst Forecasts For Thursday

Pre-Market Outlook

USFD

The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed further improvement in the overall market sentiment, with the index moving to the &#34;Extreme Greed&#34; zone on Thursday.

U.S. stocks closed higher on Thursday, with the S&amp;P 500 settling at a fresh record high.

Investor Optimism Improves Following Economic Reports; S&amp;P 500 Settles At Record High

COIN

DASH

With U.S. stock futures trading mixed this morning on Friday, some of the stocks that may grab investor focus today are as follows:

Coinbase, PPL And 3 Stocks To Watch Heading Into Friday

Penny Stocks

ARMK

DDOG

JBLU

ORCL

PTEN

SPOT


	Barclays raised the price target for  Zscaler, Inc.  (NASDAQ: ZS) from $176 to $190. Barclays analyst Saket Kalia upgraded the stock from Equal-Weight to Overweight. Zscaler shares gained 6.7% to close at $163.59 on Friday.


Oracle To Rally Around 23%? Here Are 10 Other Analyst Forecasts For Monday

Long Ideas

Dividends

During times of turbulence and uncertainty in the markets, many investors turn to dividend-yielding stocks. These are often companies that have high free cash flows and reward shareholders with a  high dividend payout. 

Check Out 3 High-Yielding Dividend Stocks In Utilities Sector From Wall Street&#39;s Most Accurate Analysts

Short Ideas

BIPC

CDZI

OTTR

As of the close of business on Friday, 7/7, we captured the Top 10 Highest Short Interest % stocks within the Utilities sector.

The average short interest for stocks within the Utilities sector stands at 1.94%. Therefore, the below stocks are showing a more pessimistic outlook than their peers within the respective sector.

Short Interest Sector Focus: Utilities Sector

As of the close of business on Tuesday, 6/13, we captured the Top 10 Highest Short Interest % stocks within the Utilities sector.

The average short interest for stocks within the Utilities sector stands at 1.94%. Therefore, the below stocks are showing a more pessimistic outlook than their peers within the respective sector.

As of the close of business on Tuesday, 5/2, we captured the Top 10 Highest Short Interest % stocks within the Utilities sector.

The average short interest for stocks within the Utilities sector stands at 1.89%. Therefore, the below stocks are showing a more pessimistic outlook than their peers within the respective sector.

As of the close of business on Friday, 4/14, we captured the Top 10 Highest Short Interest % stocks within the Utilities sector.

The average short interest for stocks within the Utilities sector stands at 1.86%. Therefore, the below stocks are showing a more pessimistic outlook than their peers within the respective sector.

Portland General Electric Co Common Stock

Portland General Electric Co

POLA ORBIS HOLDINGS INC by Pola Orbis Holdings Inc

Pola Orbis Holdings Inc

POWER ONE RES CORP by POWER ONE RES CORP.

Power One Resources Corp

NOVX21 Inc

PornRocket

PANORO MINERALS LTD by Panoro Minerals Ltd.

Panoro Minerals Ltd

SOUTHPORT ACQ CORP A by Southport Acquisition Corporation

Southport Acquisition Corp

FC Porto Fan Token

Southport Acquisition Corp Units (1 Ord Class A & 1/2 War)

Southport Acquisition Corp Warrants (01/01/9999)

<p>Investors generally tend to cling to the price-to-earnings (P/E) metric while looking for bargain stocks. In addition to being a widely used tool for screening stocks, P/E is also a popular metric to work out the fair market value of a company. But even this ubiquitously used valuation multiple has a few limitations.<br />
Although P/E is by far the most popular equity valuation ratio, a more complicated metric called EV/EBITDA does a better job of valuing a firm. Often viewed as a better substitute to P/E, this ratio offers a clearer picture of a company&#39;s valuation and its earnings potential.<br />
<strong>Navios Maritime Partners L.P.</strong> (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/nmm#NYSE">NMM</a>), <strong>Costamare Inc. </strong>(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/cmre#NYSE">CMRE</a>), <strong>The ODP Corporation</strong> (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/odp#NASDAQ">ODP</a>), <strong>ADT Inc. </strong>(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/adt#NYSE">ADT</a>) and <strong>Portland General Electric Company </strong>(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/por#NYSE">POR</a>) are some stocks with impressive EV-to-EBITDA ratios.</p>
<h3>Is EV-to-EBITDA a Better Substitute to P/E?</h3>
<p>EV-to-EBITDA is essentially the enterprise value of a stock divided by its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA). EV is the sum of a company&#39;s market capitalization, its debt and preferred stock minus cash and cash equivalents.<br />
EBITDA, the other component of the multiple, gives a better idea of a company&#39;s profitability as it removes the impact of non-cash expenses like depreciation and amortization that reduce net earnings. It is also often used as a proxy for cash flows.<br />
Just like P/E, the lower the EV-to-EBITDA ratio, the more attractive it is. A low EV-to-EBITDA ratio could signal that a stock is potentially undervalued.<br />
EV-to-EBITDA takes into account the debt on a company&#39;s balance sheet that the P/E ratio does not. Due to this reason, EV-to-EBITDA is generally used to value the potential acquisition targets as it shows the amount of debt the acquirer has to assume. Stocks boasting a low EV-to-EBITDA multiple could be seen as attractive takeover candidates.<br />
Another shortcoming of P/E is that it can&#39;t be used to value a loss-making firm. A company&#39;s earnings are also subject to accounting estimates and management manipulation. On the other hand, EV-to-EBITDA is difficult to manipulate and can also be used to value loss-making but EBITDA-positive companies.<br />
EV-to-EBITDA is also a useful tool in measuring the value of firms that are highly leveraged and have a high degree of depreciation. Moreover, it can be used to compare companies with different levels of debt.<br />
However, EV-to-EBITDA is not devoid of shortcomings and alone cannot conclusively determine a stock&#39;s inherent potential and future performance. The multiple varies across industries and is usually not appropriate while comparing stocks in different industries, given their diverse capital expenditure requirements.<br />
A strategy solely based on EV-to-EBITDA might not yield the desired results. However, you can club it with the other major ratios in your stock-investing toolbox, such as price-to-book (P/B), P/E and price-to-sales (P/S) to screen value stocks.</p>
<h3>Screening Criteria</h3>
<p>Here are the parameters to screen for value stocks:<br />
<strong>EV-to-EBITDA 12 Months-Most Recent less than X-Industry Median: </strong>A lower EV-to-EBITDA ratio represents a cheaper valuation.<br />
<strong>P/E using (F1) less than X-Industry Median:</strong> This metric screens stocks that are trading at a discount to their peers.<br />
<strong>P/B less than X-Industry Median:</strong> A lower P/B compared with the industry average implies that the stock is undervalued.<br />
<strong>P/S less than X-Industry Median:</strong> The lower the P/S ratio, the more attractive the stock is, as investors will have to pay a smaller price for the same amount of sales generated by the company.<br />
<strong>Estimated One-Year EPS Growth F(1)/F(0) greater than or equal to X-Industry Median: </strong>This parameter will help in screening stocks that have growth rates higher than the industry median.<br />
<strong>Average 20-day Volume greater than or equal to 100,000:</strong> The addition of this metric ensures that shares can be traded easily.<br />
<strong>Current Price greater than or equal to $5:</strong> This parameter will help in screening stocks that are trading at a minimum price of $5 or higher.<br />
<strong>Zacks Rank less than or equal to 2:</strong> It is a fundamental truth that stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) have always managed to beat adversities and outperform the market.<br />
<strong>Value Score of less than or equal to B: </strong>Our research shows that stocks with a Value Score of A or B, when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 or 2, offer the best upside potential.<br />
Here are our five picks out of the 10 stocks that passed the screen:<br />
<strong>Navios Maritime Partners</strong> is an international owner and operator of dry cargo vessels. This Zacks Rank #1 stock has a Value Score of A.<br />
Navios Maritime Partners has an expected earnings growth rate of 22.1% for 2024. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NMM&#39;s 2024 earnings has been revised 5.3% upward over the past 60 days.<br />
<strong>Costamare </strong>is a leading owner and provider of containerships and dry bulk vessels for charter. CMRE, a Zacks Rank #1 stock, has a Value Score of A.<br />
Costamare has an expected year-over-year earnings growth rate of 48.8% for 2024. The consensus estimate for CMRE&#39;s 2024 earnings has been revised 12% upward over the past 60 days.</p>
<p><strong>ODP </strong>is one of the leading providers of business services and supplies, products and technology solutions to small, medium and enterprise businesses. This Zacks Rank #1 stock has a Value Score of A.<br />
ODP has an expected year-over-year earnings growth rate of 7.7% for 2024. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company&#39;s 2024 earnings has been revised 5.6% upward over the past 60 days.<br />
<strong>ADT </strong>provides security and automation solutions for homes and businesses, primarily in the United States and Canada. This Zacks Rank #2 stock has a Value Score of A.<br />
ADT has an expected year-over-year earnings growth rate of 37.3% for 2024. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ADT&#39;s 2024 earnings has been stable over the last 60 days.<br />
<strong>Portland General Electric</strong> is a vertically integrated electric utility that is engaged in the generation, wholesale purchase and sale, transmission, distribution and retail sale of electricity to customers in Oregon. This Zacks Rank #2 stock has a Value Score of B.<br />
Portland General Electric has an expected earnings growth rate of 29.8% for 2024. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for POR&#39;s 2024 earnings has been revised 0.7% upward over the past 60 days.<br />
<em>Disclosure: Officers, directors and/or employees of Zacks Investment Research may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. An affiliated investment advisory firm may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material.</em><br />
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2292700/5-value-stocks-with-exciting-ev-to-ebitda-ratios-to-snap-up?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|rw-2292700">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a></p>


<p><a href="https://www.axios.com/pro/climate-deals/2024/05/28/portland-utility-commits-stake-grid-united-transmission" title="https://www.axios.com/pro/climate-deals/2024/05/28/portland-utility-commits-stake-grid-united-transmission">https://www.axios.com/pro/climate-deals/2024/05/28/portland-utility-commits-stake-grid-united-transmission</a></p>


'Portland utility commits stake in $3.2B Grid United transmission project' - Axios

<p>Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades and downgrades, please see our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/">analyst ratings page</a>.</p>
<ul>
<li>Stifel cut the price target for S<strong>pire Global, Inc.</strong> (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPIR#NYSE">SPIR</a>) from $24 to $20. Stifel analyst Erik Rasmussen maintained a Buy rating. Spire Global shares fell 6.8% to close at $11.34 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SPIR/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Oppenheimer boosted the price target for <strong>Analog Devices, Inc</strong>. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ADI#NASDAQ">ADI</a>) from $215 to $245. Oppenheimer analyst Rick Schafer maintained an Outperform rating. Analog Devices shares rose 1.8% to close at $215.75 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ADI/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Goldman Sachs cut <strong>Sagimet Biosciences Inc</strong>.. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SGMT#NASDAQ">SGMT</a>) price target from $27 to $23. Goldman Sachs analyst Andrea Tan maintained a Buy rating. Sagimet Biosciences shares rose 5.5% to close at $4.62 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/SGMT/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>HC Wainwright &amp; Co. slashed the price target for <strong>Fate Therapeutics, Inc</strong>. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FATE#NASDAQ">FATE</a>) from $7 to $5. HC Wainwright &amp; Co. analyst Raghuram Selvaraju maintained a Neutral rating. Fate Therapeutics shares gained 0.5% to close at $4.24 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/FATE/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Baird cut <strong>Accenture plc</strong> (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ACN#NYSE">ACN</a>) price target from $372 to $345. Baird analyst David Koning maintained a Neutral rating. Accenture shares gained 0.5% to close at $308.52 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ACN/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
<li>Needham boosted <strong>Zebra Technologies Corporation</strong> (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ZBRA#NASDAQ">ZBRA</a>) price target from $352 to $370. Needham analyst James Ricchiuti maintained a Buy rating. Zebra Technologies shares rose 0.9% to close at $323.87 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/ZBRA/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Mizuho raised the price target for <strong>Portland General Electric Company</strong> (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/POR#NYSE">POR</a>) from $42 to $45. Mizuho analyst Anthony Crowdell maintained a Neutral rating. Portland General Electric shares rose 0.8% to close at $44.64 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/POR/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>B of A Securities raised <strong>Alibaba Group Holding Limited</strong> (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BABA#NYSE">BABA</a>) price target from $99 to $103. B of A Securities analyst Eddie Leung maintained a Buy rating. Alibaba shares gained 1.9% to close at $80.99 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/BABA/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Keybanc raised <strong>monday.com Ltd</strong>. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MNDY#NASDAQ">MNDY</a>) price target from $275 to $280. Keybanc analyst Jackson Ader maintained an Overweight rating. monday.com shares jumped 21.4% to close at $220.72 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MNDY/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock.</a></li>
<li>Truist Securities cut <strong>Occidental Petroleum Corporation</strong> (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/OXY#NYSE">OXY</a>) price target from $84 to $69. Truist Securities analyst Neal Dingmann downgraded the stock from Buy to Hold. Occidental Petroleum shares climbed 0.5% to close at $63.38 on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/OXY/analyst-ratings">See how other analysts view this stock</a>.</li>
</ul>
<p>Check This Out: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38869663/wall-streets-most-accurate-analysts-say-hold-these-3-real-estate-stocks-delivering-high-dividend-yie">Wall Street&#8217;s Most Accurate Analysts Say Hold These 3 Real Estate Stocks Delivering High-Dividend Yields</a></p>


<p>Mizuho  analyst Anthony Crowdell   maintains Portland Gen Electric (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/POR#NYSE">POR</a>) with a Neutral and raises the price target from $42 to $45.</p>


Mizuho Maintains Neutral on Portland Gen Electric, Raises Price Target to $45

<p><strong>2024 Earnings&nbsp;Guidance</strong></p>
<p>PGE is reaffirming its estimate for full-year 2024 adjusted earnings&nbsp;guidance&nbsp;of&nbsp;$2.98&nbsp;to&nbsp;$3.18&nbsp;per diluted share based on the following assumptions:</p>
<ul>
<li>Exclusion of the impacts of the&nbsp;January 2024&nbsp;winter storm, including non-deferrable Reliability Contingency Event (RCE) costs and non-deferred incremental storm restoration costs;</li>
<li>An increase in energy deliveries of&nbsp;2%&nbsp;to&nbsp;3%, weather adjusted;</li>
<li>Normal temperatures in its utility service territory;</li>
<li>Hydro conditions for the year that reflect current estimates;</li>
<li>Wind generation based on five years of historical levels or forecast studies when historical data is not available;</li>
<li>Normal thermal plant operations;</li>
<li>Operating and maintenance expense between&nbsp;$815 million&nbsp;and&nbsp;$840 million&nbsp;which includes approximately&nbsp;$165 million&nbsp;of wildfire, vegetation management, deferral amortization and other expenses that are offset in other income statement lines;</li>
<li>Depreciation and amortization expense between&nbsp;$475 million&nbsp;and&nbsp;$525 million;</li>
<li>Effective tax rate of&nbsp;10%&nbsp;to&nbsp;15%;</li>
<li>Cash from operations of&nbsp;$700&nbsp;to&nbsp;$800 million;</li>
<li>Capital expenditures of&nbsp;$1,340&nbsp;million; and</li>
<li>Average construction work in progress balance of&nbsp;$795 million.</li>
</ul>


Guidance

Portland General Electric Reaffirms Its 2024 Guidance: Sees Adjusted EPS Of $2.98-$3.18 Vs. $3.07 Consensus, And Cash From Operations Of $700M-$800M

<p>Portland Gen Electric (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/POR#NYSE">POR</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $1.21 per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $1.09 by 11.01 percent. This is a 51.25 percent increase over earnings of $0.80 per share from the same period last year.  The company reported quarterly sales of $940.000 million which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $828.972 million by 13.39 percent.  This is a 26.17 percent increase over sales of $745.000 million the same period last year.</p>


Earnings Beats

Portland Gen Electric Q1 2024 Adj EPS $1.21 Beats $1.09 Estimate, Sales $940.000M Beat $828.972M Estimate

<p>The quarterly dividend is payable on or before&nbsp;July 15, 2024, to shareholders of record at the close of business on&nbsp;June 24, 2024.</p>


Reported Friday, Portland General Electric Announced An Increase In Its Quarterly Dividend To $0.50/Share, Up From $0.475/Share Last Quarter, Payable July 15, 2024

General

Portland General Electric shares are trading higher after the company reported Q4 financial results and issued FY24 guidance.

<p>2024 Earnings&nbsp;Guidance</p>
<p>PGE is initiating full-year 2024 adjusted earnings guidance of $2.98 to $3.18 per diluted share based on the following assumptions:</p>
<ul>
<li>Exclusion of the impacts of the January 2024 winter storm, including non-deferrable storm restoration costs and non-deferrable Reliability Contingency Event (RCE) costs;</li>
<li>An increase in energy deliveries between 2% and 3%, weather adjusted;</li>
<li>Normal temperatures in its utility service territory;</li>
<li>Hydro conditions for the year that reflect current estimates;</li>
<li>Wind generation based on five years of historical levels or forecast studies when historical data is not available;</li>
<li>Normal thermal plant operations;</li>
<li>Operating and maintenance expense between $815 million and $840 million which includes approximately $165 million of wildfire, vegetation management, deferral amortization and other expenses that are offset in other income statement lines;</li>
<li>Depreciation and amortization expense between $475 million and $525 million;</li>
<li>Effective tax rate of 10% to 15%;</li>
<li>Cash from operations of $700 to $800 million;</li>
<li>Capital expenditures of $1,310 million; and</li>
<li>Average construction work in progress balance of $720 million.</li>
</ul>


Small Business

Portland General Electric 2024 Guidance: Expects Adjusted EPS Of $2.98-$3.18 Vs. $3.08 Est.; Sees Cash From Operations Of $700M-$800M

<p>Portland Gen Electric (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/POR#NYSE">POR</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $0.67 per share which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $0.88 by 23.86 percent. This is a 19.64 percent increase over earnings of $0.56 per share from the same period last year.</p>


Portland Gen Electric Q4 EPS $0.67 Misses $0.88 Estimate

<h3>Companies Reporting Before The Bell</h3>
<p>&bull; Arbor Realty Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABR#NYSE">ABR</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $0.44 per share on revenue of $97.65 million.</p>
<p>&bull; Liberty Broadband (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LBRDK#NASDAQ">LBRDK</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $2.33 per share on revenue of $248.00 million.</p>
<p>&bull; Telephone and Data (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TDS#NYSE">TDS</a>) is estimated to report quarterly loss at $0.12 per share on revenue of $1.28 billion.</p>
<p>&bull; TC Energy (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TRP#NYSE">TRP</a>) is likely to report quarterly earnings at $1.09 per share on revenue of $4.21 billion.</p>
<p>&bull; United States Cellular (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USM#NYSE">USM</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.04 per share on revenue of $984.23 million.</p>
<p>&bull; Cinemark Hldgs (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CNK#NYSE">CNK</a>) is expected to report quarterly loss at $0.14 per share on revenue of $613.23 million.</p>
<p>&bull; Portland Gen Electric (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/POR#NYSE">POR</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $0.88 per share on revenue of $747.58 million.</p>
<p>&bull; Barnes Gr (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/B#NYSE">B</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $0.35 per share on revenue of $420.47 million.</p>
<p>&bull; DT Midstream (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DTM#NYSE">DTM</a>) is estimated to report quarterly earnings at $0.92 per share on revenue of $234.45 million.</p>
<p>&bull; American Axle &amp; Mfg Hldgs (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AXL#NYSE">AXL</a>) is projected to report quarterly loss at $0.19 per share on revenue of $1.42 billion.</p>
<p>&bull; Treehouse Foods (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/THS#NYSE">THS</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $0.73 per share on revenue of $925.44 million.</p>
<p>&bull; AdvanSix (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ASIX#NYSE">ASIX</a>) is estimated to report quarterly loss at $0.21 per share on revenue of $335.87 million.</p>
<p>&bull; Marcus &amp; Millichap (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MMI#NYSE">MMI</a>) is likely to report quarterly loss at $0.28 per share on revenue of $171.20 million.</p>
<p>&bull; Balchem (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BCPC#NASDAQ">BCPC</a>) is projected to report quarterly earnings at $0.93 per share on revenue of $234.66 million.</p>
<p>&bull; PPL (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PPL#NYSE">PPL</a>) is likely to report quarterly earnings at $0.38 per share on revenue of $1.90 billion.</p>
<p>&bull; Associated Cap Gr (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AC#NYSE">AC</a>) is expected to report quarterly loss at $0.03 per share on revenue of $5.11 billion.</p>
<p>&bull; Liberty Broadband (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LBRDA#NASDAQ">LBRDA</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $3.44 per share on revenue of $250.00 million.</p>
<p>&bull; Vulcan Materials (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VMC#NYSE">VMC</a>) is expected to report quarterly earnings at $1.39 per share on revenue of $1.83 billion.</p>
<p>&bull; Healthcare Realty Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HR#NYSE">HR</a>) is likely to report earnings for its fourth quarter.</p>
<p>&bull; Eni (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/E#NYSE">E</a>) is projected to report earnings for its fourth quarter.</p>
<p>&bull; NatWest Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NWG#NYSE">NWG</a>) is expected to report earnings for its fourth quarter.</p>
<h3>&nbsp;</h3>
<p>This article was generated by Benzinga&#39;s automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.</p>


ASIX

BCPC

LBRDA

LBRDK

Earnings Scheduled For February 16, 2024

<p>The CNN Money Fear and Greed index showed further improvement in the overall market sentiment, with the index moving to the &quot;Extreme Greed&quot; zone on Thursday.</p>
<p>U.S. stocks closed higher on Thursday, with the S&amp;P 500 settling at a fresh record high.</p>
<p>On the economic data front, U.S. initial jobless claims declined by 8,000 from the previous week&rsquo;s revised reading to 212,000 during the period ending Feb. 9, versus market expectations of 220,000. U.S. retail sales fell 0.8% month-over-month in January compared to a revised 0.4% increase in December and versus market estimates of a 0.1% fall. Industrial production in the U.S. fell by 0.1% from the prior month in January.</p>
<p>Shares of <strong>US Foods Holding Corp. </strong> (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/usfd#NYSE">USFD</a>) gained more than 3% on Thursday after the company reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter revenue results and issued FY24 net sales guidance above estimates. <strong>Herbalife Ltd.</strong> (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/hlf#NYSE">HLF</a>) shares fell around 32% following weak quarterly earnings.</p>
<p>Most sectors on the S&amp;P 500 closed on a positive note, with energy, real estate and materials stocks recording the biggest gains on Thursday. However, information technology stocks bucked the overall market trend, closing the session lower.</p>
<p>The Dow Jones closed higher by around 349 points to 38,773.12 on Thursday. The S&amp;P 500 rose 0.58% at 5,029.73, while the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.30% at 15,906.17 during Thursday&rsquo;s session.</p>
<p>Investors are awaiting earnings results from <strong> PPL Corporation</strong> (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ppl#NYSE">PPL</a>), <strong> Portland General Electric Company</strong> (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/por#NYSE">POR</a>), <strong> TreeHouse Foods, Inc.</strong> (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ths#NYSE">THS</a>) and <strong> Cinemark Holdings, Inc.</strong> (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/cnk#NYSE">CNK</a>) today.</p>
<p>At a current reading of 76.3, the index moved to the &quot;Extreme Greed&quot; zone on Thursday versus a prior reading of 74.7.</p>
<p><strong>What is CNN Business Fear &amp; Greed Index?</strong></p>
<p>The Fear &amp; Greed Index is a measure of the current market sentiment. It is based on the premise that higher fear exerts pressure on stock prices, while higher greed has the opposite effect. The index is calculated based on seven equal-weighted indicators. The index ranges from 0 to 100, where 0 represents maximum fear and 100 signals maximum greediness.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/24/02/37150283/jim-cramer-toasts-anheuser-busch-and-molson-coors-but-recommends-buying-this-beer-stock"><em> Jim Cramer Toasts Anheuser-Busch And Molson Coors, But Recommends Buying This Beer Stock</em></a></p>


Investor Optimism Improves Following Economic Reports; S&P 500 Settles At Record High

<p>With U.S. stock futures trading mixed this morning on Friday, some of the stocks that may grab investor focus today are as follows:</p>
<p>Wall Street expects <strong> PPL Corporation </strong> (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ppl#NYSE">PPL</a>) to report quarterly earnings at 38 cents per share on revenue of $1.90 billion before the opening bell, according to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>. PPL shares fell 0.4% to $26.35 in after-hours trading.</p>
<p><strong>DoorDash Inc</strong> (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/dash#NASDAQ">DASH</a>) reported mixed financial results for its fourth quarter. The company said it expects first-quarter marketplace GOV to be between $18.5 billion and $18.9 billion and adjusted EBITDA in the range of $320 million to $380 million. DoorDash shares fell 6.8% to $117.65 in the after-hours trading session.</p>
<p>Analysts are expecting <strong> TreeHouse Foods, Inc. </strong> (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ths#NYSE">THS</a>) to earn 73 cents per share on revenue of $925.44 million for the latest quarter. The company will release earnings before the markets open. TreeHouse Foods shares gained 2.2% to close at $42.74 on Thursday.</p>
<p><em>Check out our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket/"> premarket coverage here </a> </em></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/coinbase-alternative/">Coinbase</a> Global, Inc. </strong> (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/coin#NASDAQ">COIN</a>) reported better-than-expected financial results for its fourth quarter on Thursday. Coinbase shares jumped 14.3% to $189.36 in the after-hours trading session.</p>
<p>Analysts expect <strong> Portland General Electric Company </strong> (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/por#NYSE">POR</a>) to report quarterly earnings at 88 cents per share on revenue of $747.58 million before the opening bell. Portland General Electric shares rose 2.7% to $41.90 in after-hours trading.</p>
<p>Check This Out: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/24/02/37150283/jim-cramer-toasts-anheuser-busch-and-molson-coors-but-recommends-buying-this-beer-stock"><em> Jim Cramer Toasts Anheuser-Busch And Molson Coors, But Recommends Buying This Beer Stock </em></a></p>


<p><strong>Portland Gen Electric</strong> (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/POR#NYSE">POR</a>) is set to give its latest quarterly earnings report on Friday, 2024-02-16. Here's what investors need to know before the announcement.</p>
<p>Analysts estimate that Portland Gen Electric will report an <strong>earnings per share</strong> (EPS) of $0.88. </p>
<p>Portland Gen Electric bulls will hope to hear the company announce they've not only beaten that estimate, but also to provide positive guidance, or forecasted growth, for the next quarter.</p>
<p>New investors should note that it is sometimes not an earnings beat or miss that most affects the price of a stock, but the guidance (or forecast).</p>
<h3>Past Earnings Performance</h3>
<p>Last quarter the company missed EPS by $0.08, which was followed by a 0.0% drop in the share price the next day.</p>
<p>Here's a look at Portland Gen Electric's past performance and the resulting price change:</p>
<p>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th><strong>Quarter</strong></th>
<th><strong>Q3 2023</strong></th>
<th><strong>Q2 2023</strong></th>
<th><strong>Q1 2023</strong></th>
<th><strong>Q4 2022</strong></th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><strong>EPS Estimate</strong></td>
<td>0.54</td>
<td>0.47</td>
<td>0.66</td>
<td>0.63</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>EPS Actual</strong></td>
<td>0.46</td>
<td>0.44</td>
<td>0.80</td>
<td>0.56</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Price Change %</strong></td>
<td>-2.65%</td>
<td>-0.67%</td>
<td>-1.06%</td>
<td>3.03%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</p>
<p><img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1708005678_0.png" alt="eps graph" /></p>
<h3>Stock Performance</h3>
<p>Shares of Portland Gen Electric were trading at $40.03 as of February 13. Over the last 52-week period, shares are down 19.33%. Given that these returns are generally negative, long-term shareholders are likely upset going into this earnings release. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/POR/earnings"><strong>To track all earnings releases for Portland Gen Electric visit their earnings calendar on our site.</strong></a></p>
<p><em>This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.</em></p>


A Preview Of Portland Gen Electric's Earnings

<p>B of A Securities  analyst Julien Dumoulin-Smith   downgrades Portland Gen Electric (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/POR#NYSE">POR</a>) from Buy to Neutral and lowers the price target from $55 to $43.</p>


Downgrades

B of A Securities Downgrades Portland Gen Electric to Neutral, Lowers Price Target to $43

<p>UBS  analyst Gregg Orrill   upgrades Portland Gen Electric (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/POR#NYSE">POR</a>) from Neutral to Buy and lowers the price target from $47 to $45.</p>


Upgrades

UBS Upgrades Portland Gen Electric to Buy, Lowers Price Target to $45

<p>Barclays  analyst Nicholas Campanella   maintains Portland Gen Electric (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/POR#NYSE">POR</a>) with a Overweight and lowers the price target from $47 to $45.</p>


Barclays Maintains Overweight on Portland Gen Electric, Lowers Price Target to $45

<p>Thursday marks the last chance for investors to receive the next  dividend payout from <strong>Portland Gen Electric</strong> (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/POR#NYSE">POR</a>). </p>
<h3>What's Happening</h3>
<p>The company announced on Friday that it would pay shareholders a quarterly dividend of 47.5 cents per share. On Friday, Portland Gen Electric will go ex-dividend, meaning the stock will trade lower to reflect that payout. In other words, the stock will likely open 47.5 cents lower than it would have opened on any other day.</p>
<p>In order to be eligible to receive a company's dividend, shareholders must own the stock prior to the ex-dividend date—in this case, Friday. Shareholders who own POR as of the end of Thursday's session are eligible to receive the 47.5 cents dividend payout for every share that they own. </p>
<p>According to the company, this dividend will be paid out to shareholders on January 15, 2024. Investors will then be able to either reinvest those dividends back into the stock or use the payment in some other way. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/POR">See current stock movements Portland Gen Electric on Benzinga.</a></p>


Portland Gen Electric: Dividend Insights

<p>Portland Gen Electric (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/POR#NYSE">POR</a>) has observed the following analyst ratings within the last quarter: </p>
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th style="text-align: right;"><strong>Bullish</strong></th>
<th style="text-align: right;"><strong>Somewhat Bullish</strong></th>
<th style="text-align: right;"><strong>Indifferent</strong></th>
<th style="text-align: right;"><strong>Somewhat Bearish</strong></th>
<th style="text-align: right;"><strong>Bearish</strong></th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><strong>Total Ratings</strong></td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">4</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>Last 30D</strong></td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>1M Ago</strong></td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>2M Ago</strong></td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><strong>3M Ago</strong></td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>In the last 3 months, 6 analysts have offered 12-month price targets for Portland Gen Electric. The company has an average price target of $43.33 with a high of $47.00 and a low of $40.00. </p>
<p>Below is a summary of how these 6 analysts rated Portland Gen Electric over the past 3 months. The greater the number of bullish ratings, the more positive analysts are on the stock and the greater the number of bearish ratings, the more negative analysts are on the stock</p>
<p><img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2023/1702306842_0.png" alt="price target chart" /></p>
<p>This current average has decreased by 5.8% from the previous average price target of $46.00. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/POR/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights"><strong>Stay up to date on Portland Gen Electric analyst ratings.</strong></a></p>
<h1>How Are Analyst Ratings Determined?</h1>
<p>Benzinga tracks 150 analyst firms and reports on their stock expectations. Analysts typically arrive at their conclusions by predicting how much money a company will make in the future, usually the upcoming five years, and how risky or predictable that company's revenue streams are.</p>
<p>Analysts attend company conference calls and meetings, research company financial statements, and communicate with insiders to publish their ratings on stocks. Analysts typically rate each stock once per quarter or whenever the company has a major update.</p>
<p>Some analysts also offer predictions for helpful metrics such as earnings, revenue, and growth estimates to provide further guidance as to what to do with certain tickers. It is important to keep in mind that while stock and sector analysts are specialists, they are also human and can only forecast their beliefs to traders.</p>
<p>This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.</p>


6 Analysts Have This to Say About Portland Gen Electric

<p>Barclays  analyst Nicholas Campanella   upgrades Portland Gen Electric (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/POR#NYSE">POR</a>) from Equal-Weight to Overweight and announces $47 price target.</p>


Barclays Upgrades Portland Gen Electric to Overweight, Announces $47 Price Target

Apple, Cardinal Health Among 12 Companies To Announce Dividend Increases In First Half Of May

<p><a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice &amp; Trading Tips</a></p>
<p>There&rsquo;s no denying that the concept of <a href="https://investorplace.com/industries/energy/utility/">utility stocks</a> to buy is incredibly boring. However, with the market incurring some choppy price action, going for aggressive gambits isn&rsquo;t always prudent. If you&rsquo;re playing the black pieces, it might just be best to counter your opponent&rsquo;s (Mister Market) moves.</p>



<p>Utility stocks to buy will do that for you. Fundamentally, this arena benefits from a natural monopoly. Essentially, would-be rivals don&rsquo;t even bother competing against entrenched enterprises. Not only is the competition itself stiff, multiple barriers to entry (such as regulations) stand in the way.</p>



<p>Plus, these companies &ndash; thanks to their entrenched profile &ndash; often provide robust passive income. With that, below are utility stocks to buy.</p>



<h2>Duke Energy (DUK)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/duke-energy-1600-300x169.png" alt="The logo for Duke Energy (DUK) is seen on a sign at one of the company's offices."><div>Source: Jonathan Weiss / Shutterstock.com</div></div><p>Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, <strong>Duke Energy</strong> (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/duk-stock-quote/"><strong>DUK</strong></a>) specializes in the regulated electric market. Primarily, the company generates, transmits, distributes and sells electricity in the Carolinas, Florida and the Midwest. Analysts rate shares a <a href="https://www.tipranks.com/stocks/duk/forecast">consensus moderate buy</a> though the average price target of $99.80 requires a rethink since it implies a downside risk of roughly 3%.</p>



<p>Fundamentally, though, Duke definitely warrants consideration among utility stocks to buy. The reason centers on millennial migration trends. With costs of living rising stoutly, young people are having trouble making ends meet. By moving away from overpriced metropolitan areas to places like the Midwest which Duke serves, they&rsquo;re able to live a more sustainable lifestyle. Of course, that should benefit Duke in the long run.</p>



<p>For fiscal 2024, analysts are looking for earnings per share of $5.97 on revenue of $30.06 billion. Last year, the company posted earnings of $5.56 on sales of $29.06 billion. Further, the blue-sky target calls for $6 EPS on revenue of $31.16 billion. Thanks to the fundamentals of migration, DUK ranks among the top utility stocks to buy.</p>



<h2>Portland General Electric (POR)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/electricity-wire-1600-300x169.jpg" alt="A concept image of electricity flowing between two disconnected electric cables."><div>Source: ESB Professional / Shutterstock.com</div></div><p>Based in its namesake city, <strong>Portland General Electric</strong> (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/por-stock-quote/"><strong>POR</strong></a>) is an integrated electric utility company. It engages in the generation, wholesale purchase, transmission, distribution and retail sale of electricity in the state of Oregon. In addition to six thermal plants, it operates three wind farms and seven hydroelectric facilities.</p>



<p>Fundamentally, Portland General should benefit from a similar migration trend that may boost Duke Energy. Due to rising costs, young people may be attracted to moving to less-crowded states like Oregon. Certainly, Portland offers a nice balance of economic resilience, growth and overall livability. Not surprisingly, the company carries a moderate buy assessment with an average price target of $45.43.</p>



<p>For fiscal 2024, covering experts believe EPS will land at $5.97 on revenue of $30.06 billion. Moreover, the blue-sky targets call for EPS of $6 on sales of $31.16 billion. Last year, Portland General posted earnings of $5.56 and a top-line print of $29.06 billion.</p>



<p>Lastly, the utility firm provides a forward annual dividend yield of 4.08%. It&rsquo;s an underappreciated idea for utility stocks to buy.</p>



<h2>Exelon (EXC)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/exc-exelon-1600-300x169.png" alt="The logo for Exelon (EXC) is visible at the top of an office building."><div>Source: photosounds / Shutterstock.com</div></div><p>Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, <strong>Exelon</strong> (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/exc-stock-quote/"><strong>EXC</strong></a>) is a utility service holding firm. <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/EXC/profile/">Per its corporate profile</a>, Exelon engages in the energy distribution and transmission businesses in the U.S. and Canada. Primarily, it purchases and regulates the retail sale of electricity and natural gas. It&rsquo;s also involved in their transmission and distribution.</p>



<p>Analysts are generally optimistic about EXC stock, rating it a <a href="https://www.tipranks.com/stocks/exc/forecast">consensus moderate buy</a>. The average price target lands at $39.90, which implies roughly 6% upside. However, the high-side target calls for $45, driving the projection up to a 19% return.</p>



<p>Financially, Exelon is a consistent performer. Over the past four quarters ending in the first quarter of this year, the company&rsquo;s average positive earnings surprise came out to 1.13%. That&rsquo;s inclusive of a Q1 miss to the tune of 2.9% negative surprise.</p>



<p>For fiscal 2024, analysts see a ho-hum print. However, in 2025, they project EPS to rise to $2.61 on revenue of $22.19 billion. In 2023, the company posted earnings of $2.38 on sales of $21.73 billion. Finally, with a forward yield of 4.02%, Exelon makes a no-nonsense idea for utility stocks to buy.</p>



<p><em>On the date of publication, Josh Enomoto</em><em> did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article.&nbsp;</em><em>The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com&nbsp;</em><a href="https://investorplace.com/corporate/investorplace-publishing-guidelines/" target="_blank"><em>Publishing Guidelines</em></a><em>.</em><em></em></p>
<div><p>A former senior business analyst for Sony Electronics, Josh Enomoto has helped broker major contracts with Fortune Global 500 companies. Over the past several years, he has delivered unique, critical insights for the investment markets, as well as various other industries including legal, construction management, and healthcare. Tweet him at @EnomotoMedia.</p></div><h3>More From InvestorPlace</h3>
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<p>The post <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/05/blackout-proof-your-portfolio-3-utility-stocks-to-own-now/">Blackout-Proof Your Portfolio: 3 Utility Stocks to Own Now</a> appeared first on <a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace</a>.</p>

Blackout-Proof Your Portfolio: 3 Utility Stocks to Own Now

<p><a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice &amp; Trading Tips</a></p>
<p>After several months of gangbuster growth in the employment arena, the Federal Reserve finally got some &ldquo;good&rdquo; bad news &ndash; and that sets the stage for certain stocks to buy.</p>



<p>In April, the economy <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/05/03/jobs-report-april-2024-us-job-growth-totaled-175000-in-april.html">added 175,000 jobs</a>, much lower than the 240,000 expected by analysts. Further, the latest print represented a substantial drop from March&rsquo;s result of 315,000 jobs added. As well, the unemployment rate ticked up to 3.9%. Expectations called for the rate to hold steady at 3.8%.</p>



<p>On one hand, this dynamic means that the Fed finally may have the excuse to lower interest rates. But on the other hand, a slowing economy could reward some enterprises over others. With that in mind, below are stocks to buy following April&rsquo;s lackluster report.</p>



<h2>Ollie&rsquo;s Bargain Outlet (OLLI)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/olli-stock-1-300x169.jpg" alt="The exterior of an Ollie's Bargain outlet retail location"><div>Source: George Sheldon / Shutterstock.com</div></div><p>As a retailer of brand name merchandise at reduced rates, <strong>Ollie&rsquo;s Bargain Outlet</strong> (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/olli-stock-quote/"><strong>OLLI</strong></a>) offers a viable idea for stocks to buy. Under a challenging economic environment, it&rsquo;s not that people are not opening their wallets. Rather, they want to do so with the least pain possible. The dynamic suits OLLI to a &ldquo;T,&rdquo; making it an attractive idea.</p>



<p>Certainly, the company deserves consideration thanks to its consistent performances. In fiscal 2024, the company&rsquo;s average positive earnings surprise came out to 8.6%. It&rsquo;s not the most sterling print ever. However, what I appreciate about Ollie is that it&rsquo;s consistently profitable and it gets the job done.</p>



<p>For this consistency, OLLI stock trades at a trailing-year revenue multiple of 2.3X. That&rsquo;s really hot for the industry and it&rsquo;s one of the items that&rsquo;s not on sale here. Still, analysts project solid fiscal expansion this year, with earnings per share landing at $3.21 on revenue of $2.27 billion. Last year, the company posted EPS of $2.91 on sales of $2.1 billion.</p>



<h2>Ross Stores (ROST)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/ROST1600-300x169.jpg" alt="Photo of the storefront of a Ross store"><div>Source: Shutterstock</div></div><p>Falling under the apparel retail space, <strong>Ross Stores</strong> (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/rost-stock-quote/"><strong>ROST</strong></a>) is an off-price department store retailer. At first glance, it might not seem that relevant of an idea. However, with the unemployment rate ticking higher, it implies that more companies are not hiring and even laying folks off. If that&rsquo;s the case, people need to dress for success. Ross enables this endeavor to happen at a reduced cost.</p>



<p>While it might be an oddball narrative, the market appreciates the thesis apparently. In fiscal 2023, Ross Stores&rsquo; average positive earnings surprise came out to nearly 9%. Again, it&rsquo;s not an exciting print but the company consistently beats its bottom-line targets. That&rsquo;s all you can ask for during this challenging time.</p>



<p>As a retailer, ROST trades at a hot revenue multiple; we&rsquo;re talking 2.21X trailing-year sales. However, analysts are looking forward to fiscal expansion for this year. EPS could reach $5.94 on sales of $21.3 billion. Last year, the company delivered earnings of $5.56 with a top line of $20.38 billion. Given the rising relevance, ROST is one of the stocks to buy.</p>



<h2>Procter &amp; Gamble (PG)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/shutterstock_1073950868-300x169.png" alt="Procter &amp; Gamble Union Distribution Center. P&amp;G is an American Multinational Consumer Goods Company"><div>Source: Jonathan Weiss / Shutterstock.com</div></div><p>A household goods giant, <strong>Procter &amp; Gamble</strong> (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/pg-stock-quote/"><strong>PG</strong></a>) benefits from everyday utility. It doesn&rsquo;t matter what&rsquo;s going on with the economy. Chances are, you&rsquo;re going to eat. Moreover, you will engage in many other activities that require care items, which P&amp;G provides. Further, as a family brand, the company benefits from generational awareness.</p>



<p>Basically, if your parents happened to use certain P&amp;G products, there&rsquo;s a good chance you&rsquo;ll use them too. That familiarity just doesn&rsquo;t apply to many other enterprises, which could give PG an edge as one of the stocks to buy. To be sure, this isn&rsquo;t the most exciting company out there. However, it&rsquo;s consistently profitable, yielding an average earnings surprise of 6.55% in the past four quarters since the first quarter of 2024.</p>



<p>For the current fiscal year, covering experts project EPS to land at $6.55 on sales of $84.36 billion. Last year, it delivered earnings of $5.90 per share on sales of $82.01 billion. With a forward dividend yield of 2.41%, PG makes a nice addition to your stocks to buy.</p>



<h2>Grocery Outlet (GO)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/comsumer-goods-grocery-store-1600-300x169.png" alt="Empty grocery cart in a grocery store aisle. Consumer goods."><div>Source: gyn9037 / Shutterstock</div></div><p>A self-explanatory business, <strong>Grocery Outlet</strong> (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/go-stock-quote/"><strong>GO</strong></a>) operates in the grocery store industry. However, it distinguishes itself from the competition through its independent operations. It also offers various food categories &ndash; including fresh produce and meat &ndash; at discounted prices. Obviously, that presents an attractive business model during this challenging economic environment.</p>



<p>That said, GO stock is itself challenged. In the business week ending May 10, the company suffered a nearly 20% drop in equity value. Unfortunately, management didn&rsquo;t impress with its <a href="https://www.supermarketnews.com/news/grocery-outlet-stock-takes-dive-disappointing-earnings-report">latest Q1 earnings report</a>. It&rsquo;s a shame because, in the three quarters preceding Q1, the average earnings surprise stood at 16.8%.</p>



<p>However, with Grocery Outlet brought back to reality, it&rsquo;s possible that GO could be a de-risked opportunity. It&rsquo;s going to be a tough call and analysts have downgraded their expectations. Still, if the original revenue forecast for fiscal 2024 of $4.35 billion holds true, GO could be off to the races. It&rsquo;s not unreasonable to think this given that consumers must spend on the essentials and thus forego discretionary items.</p>



<p>For speculators, it&rsquo;s one of the stocks to buy.</p>



<h2>Portland General (POR)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/electricity-power-lines-1600-300x169.png" alt="Numerous electric lines are seen at sunset."><div>Source: Pand P Studio / Shutterstock.com</div></div><p>A relatively small utility firm, <strong>Portland General</strong> (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/por-stock-quote/"><strong>POR</strong></a>) presents an intriguing idea for stocks to buy. As a utility company, it enjoys a natural monopoly. Basically, would-be competitors don&rsquo;t even bother due to the high barriers to entry. At the same time, Portland General benefits from geographic advantages. Namely, young people are moving to more rural regions due to cost-of-living incentives.</p>



<p>In other words, Portland General &ndash; while it may be a smaller entity &ndash; is positioned where the money will be. That makes it a hidden gem among stocks to buy. Further, people must pay their utility bills and so the prioritization effect could benefit shares as well. While it&rsquo;s trading flat for the year, over the past month, shares gained over 9%.</p>



<p>For the current fiscal year, experts believe EPS will reach $3.07 on revenue of $3.04 billion. Last year, the company posted earnings of $2.38 on sales of $2.92 billion. And in the following year, revenue could swing up again to $3.21 billion.</p>



<p>Portland General also carries a robust forward yield of 4.49%.</p>



<h2>Encore Capital (ECPG)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/debt-ceiling-money-man-figure-1600-300x169.jpg" alt="Plastic figurine of man under ceiling of $5 and $1 bills. stocks to sell"><div>Source: shutterstock.com/MrIncredible</div></div><p>A terribly cynical idea for stocks to buy, <strong>Encore Capital</strong> (NASDAQ:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/ecpg-stock-quote/"><strong>ECPG</strong></a>) is a specialty finance firm. <a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/ECPG/profile">Per its public profile</a>, Encore offers debt recovery solutions and other related services for consumers. The company purchases portfolios of defaulted consumer receivables at deep discounts to face value. It then &ldquo;manages&rdquo; these debts by working with individuals to repay their obligations.</p>



<p>Obviously, it&rsquo;s not the most heartwarming company: no one likes being called hundreds of times to pay off financial obligations. At the same time, it&rsquo;s a necessary service. Plus, consumers shouldn&rsquo;t be in over their heads to begin with. However, with the challenges of the current economic cycle, you got to imagine that business will be good for Encore.</p>



<p>Indeed, for fiscal 2024, covering experts believe EPS will soar to $5.62. Last year, the company produced earnings of $2.13 per share. Further, the high-side target calls for $5.76 per share. On the top line, revenue could hit $1.41 billion, up 15.1% from last year&rsquo;s print of $1.22 billion.</p>



<h2>Robert Half (RHI)</h2>



<a href="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/rhi1600.jpg"><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/rhi1600-300x169.jpg" alt="Robert Half website zoomed in on the logo"></a><p>As an employment services specialist, <strong>Robert Half</strong> (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/rhi-stock-quote/"><strong>RHI</strong></a>) presents an interesting business. Yes, it&rsquo;s somewhat controversial among some circles, with the criticism that it fleeces the flock. However, that&rsquo;s really the case for any middleman entity. Still, in the current environment, Robert Half could rise to the forefront with its focus on accounting and similar roles.</p>



<p>As <em>The Wall Street Journal</em> pointed out, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/why-its-harder-than-ever-to-land-white-collar-job-978c7bc7">white-collar jobs are harder to get these days</a>. That&rsquo;s probably going to be truer as the months tick by. With companies suffering from economic troubles themselves, layoffs could materialize. Naturally, this dynamic suggests that the labor market could become much more competitive. That&rsquo;s when Robert Half could flex its muscles with its connections.</p>



<p>To be sure, RHI represents the riskiest idea arguably on this list of stocks to buy. Currently, analysts rate shares as a <a href="https://www.tipranks.com/stocks/rhi/forecast">consensus moderate sell</a>. That&rsquo;s based on downward expectations for earnings and revenue in fiscal 2024. However, a recovery could take place in fiscal 2025.</p>



<p>Still, what if the recovery occurred earlier than expected? That&rsquo;s the crux of the buy argument for Robert Half.</p>



<p><em>On the date of publication, Josh Enomoto</em><em> did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article.&nbsp;</em><em>The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com&nbsp;</em><a href="https://investorplace.com/corporate/investorplace-publishing-guidelines/" target="_blank"><em>Publishing Guidelines</em></a><em>.</em><em></em></p>
<div><p>A former senior business analyst for Sony Electronics, Josh Enomoto has helped broker major contracts with Fortune Global 500 companies. Over the past several years, he has delivered unique, critical insights for the investment markets, as well as various other industries including legal, construction management, and healthcare. Tweet him at @EnomotoMedia.</p></div><h3>More From InvestorPlace</h3>
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<p>The post <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/05/slow-jobs-fast-profits-7-stocks-to-scoop-up-after-aprils-lackluster-report/">Slow Jobs, Fast Profits: 7 Stocks to Scoop Up After April&#8217;s Lackluster Report</a> appeared first on <a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace</a>.</p>

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<p><a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace - Stock Market News, Stock Advice &amp; Trading Tips</a></p>
<p>With the market facing uncertainties tied to economic concerns, monetary policy questions and geopolitical flashpoints (to name but a few), investors have every reason to consider <a href="https://investorplace.com/industries/energy/utility/">utility stocks</a> to buy. No, one shouldn&rsquo;t go full bore into the sector and ignore others. However, this segment is incredibly relevant if you want to march through the slog.</p>



<p>Fundamentally, utilities benefit from the natural monopoly. Essentially, would-be competitors don&rsquo;t even bother putting up a rival offering. With extraordinarily high barriers to entry that includes among other things steep regulations, utility companies find that their businesses are entrenched. Further, their customers have little recourse but to pay up.</p>



<p>It&rsquo;s not an exciting industry but it should get you through the storm. On that note, below are utility stocks to buy.</p>



<h2>Duke Energy (DUK)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/duke-energy-1600-300x169.png" alt="The logo for Duke Energy (DUK) is seen on a sign at one of the company's offices."><div>Source: Jonathan Weiss / Shutterstock.com</div></div><p>For utility giant <strong>Duke Energy</strong> (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/duk-stock-quote/"><strong>DUK</strong></a>), the core bullish narrative arguably comes down to <a href="https://www.businesstodaync.com/wealthy-millennials-are-moving-to-north-carolina/#:~:text=advancement%20as%20well.-,Looking%20only%20at%20people%20who%20moved%20into%20or%20out%20of,%24200%2C000%20annually%E2%80%94to%20its%20population.&amp;text=17.3%25%20in%202022-,Overall%2C%20wealthy%20millennials%20are%20moving%20to%20North%20Carolina%20at%20the,highest%20rate%20in%20the%20nation.">millennial migration trends</a>. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Duke provides energy resources to the Carolinas, Florida and the Midwest. These regions represent popular destination spots for young people seeking respite from soaring costs of living.</p>



<p>Financially, Duke is a consistently profitable enterprise. Over the last four quarters since the first quarter of 2024, the company&rsquo;s average earnings per share came in at $1.45. That said, it incurred a negative earnings surprise of almost 1%, which presents a bit of a hiccup. Moving forward, though, the catalyst of the migration dynamic should allow the company to reach key fiscal targets.</p>



<p>For the current year, covering experts are looking for earnings of $5.97 per share on sales of $30.06 billion. Last year, the company posted EPS of $5.56 on sales of $29.06 billion. In fiscal 2025, projections call for EPS of $6.33 with a top line of $31.07 billion. With a forward dividend yield of 3.98%, DUK ranks among the utility stocks to buy.</p>



<h2>Sempra (SRE)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/sre-sempra-energy-1600-300x169.png" alt="The logo for Sempra (SRE) is seen at the top of an office building."><div>Source: Michael Vi / Shutterstock.com</div></div><p>Based in San Diego, California, <strong>Sempra</strong> (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/sre-stock-quote/"><strong>SRE</strong></a>) commands a geographic advantage. With covering over large areas of the lucrative Southern California market, it basically enjoys permanent relevance. Yes, we do hear stories about people leaving the Golden State. However, certain areas &ndash; such as Sempra&rsquo;s hometown &ndash; will <a href="https://worldpopulationreview.com/us-cities/san-diego-ca-population#:~:text=San%20Diego%20Population%20Growth&amp;text=San%20Diego%20is%20expected%20to,become%20a%20white%2Dminority%20city.">continue to grow for decades</a>.</p>



<p>Another benefit for Sempra is that the underlying economy. California represents the economic engine of the U.S. and it will probably retain this title simply because of location. It&rsquo;s an international border state along with owning some of the most important port cities. There&rsquo;s a reason why so many multinational enterprises do business in California. Political bickering won&rsquo;t change that.</p>



<p>For fiscal 2024, analysts are looking for earnings to reach $4.81 per share on revenue of $16.22 billion. That&rsquo;s somewhat disappointing compared to last year&rsquo;s results of $4.61 EPS on sales of $16.72 billion. However, it&rsquo;s also worth pointing out that the company provides a forward yield of 3.22%. Combined with the strength of the California economic machinery, SRE is one of the top utility stocks to buy.</p>



<h2>Portland General (POR)</h2>



<div><img width="300" height="169" src="https://investorplace.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/electricity-wire-1600-300x169.jpg" alt="A concept image of electricity flowing between two disconnected electric cables."><div>Source: ESB Professional / Shutterstock.com</div></div><p>A lesser-known name among utility stocks to buy, <strong>Portland General</strong> (NYSE:<a href="https://investorplace.com/stock-quotes/por-stock-quote/"><strong>POR</strong></a>) deserves consideration for its hidden-gem potential. Fundamentally, the company also benefits from migration trends. While it&rsquo;s not the most favorite destination, <a href="https://www.koin.com/news/these-are-the-oregon-cities-millennials-are-moving-to-the-most-study/#:~:text=Here%20is%20where%20millennials%20moved%20to%20the%20most%20in%202022&amp;text=As%20for%20Portland%2C%20it's%20still,city%20on%20the%20list%2C%20either.">young people are still moving to Portland</a> in droves. By logical deduction, this dynamic should help boost the underlying utility company. After all, those folks have to get their power from somewhere.</p>



<p>Financially, the company incurred a choppy ride, with fiscal 2023 seeing some big misses against bottom-line targets. However, in the first quarter of 2024, Portland General managed to <a href="https://www.tipranks.com/stocks/por/earnings">post revenue of $841 million</a>. This figure easily exceeded the consensus estimate calling for $828.94 million. And that sets up POR stock nicely for meeting full-year 2024 targets.</p>



<p>Overall, analysts are looking for EPS of $3.07 on revenue of $3.04 billion. Last year, the utility firm delivered earnings of $2.38 per share on sales of $2.92 billion. However, with the Q1 print, it&rsquo;s possible that the blue-sky sales target of $3.29 billion is on the table.</p>



<p><em>On the date of publication, Josh Enomoto</em><em> did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article.&nbsp;</em><em>The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com&nbsp;</em><a href="https://investorplace.com/corporate/investorplace-publishing-guidelines/" target="_blank"><em>Publishing Guidelines</em></a><em>.</em><em></em></p>
<div><p>A former senior business analyst for Sony Electronics, Josh Enomoto has helped broker major contracts with Fortune Global 500 companies. Over the past several years, he has delivered unique, critical insights for the investment markets, as well as various other industries including legal, construction management, and healthcare. Tweet him at @EnomotoMedia.</p></div><h3>More From InvestorPlace</h3>
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<p>The post <a href="https://investorplace.com/2024/05/3-utility-stocks-to-keep-your-portfolio-humming-through-the-slog/">3 Utility Stocks to Keep Your Portfolio Humming Through the Slog</a> appeared first on <a href="https://investorplace.com">InvestorPlace</a>.</p>

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In a report released today, Sophie Karp from KeyBanc maintained a Hold rating on Portland GE (POR – Research Report). The company's shares closed y...

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