Utilities

Williams Companies (NYSE: WMB) announces its next round of earnings this Wednesday, August 3, 2011. Here is Benzinga's everything-that-matters guide for this Wednesday's second quarter earnings announcement. Earnings and Revenue: Ahead of the company's earnings announcement, analysts are...

Bank of America has published a report on Wisconsin Energy Corporation (NYSE: WEC) changing estimates on the energy holding company. In the report, Bank of America wrote, "Wisconsin Energy reported Q2 operating EPS of $0.41 vs. $0.37 last year. This was ahead of our $0.37E and the $0.40 consensus...

Wunderlich is out with its report today on DTE Energy (NYSE: DTE), maintaining Hold. In a note to clients, Wunderlich writes, "Management expects to give additional details on its reduced emissions fuel strategy this fall. In the meantime, we would argue the stock already anticipates a...

Wells Fargo Securities is out with a research report on AmeriGas Partners, L.P. (NYSE: APU) and is upgrading shares to Market Perform and it has a $42-$44 price target. In a note to clients, Wells Fargo Securities writes, "We are raising our rating on APU to Market Perform from Underperform based...

Wells Fargo has upgraded the following companies: AmeriGas Partners (NYSE: APU) to Market Perform EV Energy Partners (NASDAQ: EVEP) to Outperform

Energy Transfer Equity, L.P. (NYSE: ETE) and Southern Union Company (NYSE: SUG) announced today that the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (HSR Act) has expired in connection with the previously announced amended and restated merger agreement under which...

Newmont Mining (NEM): Q2 EPS of $0.90 misses by $0.09. Revenue of $2.40B (+10.7% Y/Y) misses by $110M. Calpine (CPN): Q2 EPS of -$0.14 misses by $0.15. Revenue of $1.63B (+14% Y/Y) beats by $180M. Aon Corporation (AON): Q2 EPS [...]

OG&E announced today that it will seek an annual rate increase of approximately $73 million that if approved would be effective in 2012. In its filing at the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, the company said it will request approval to recover costs for nearly $500 million in new investments...

Wunderlich Securities reiterated its Hold rating on DTE Energy (NYSE: DTE). At the same time, the rating agency left its price target on the company's stock unchanged at $52. On Thursday, DTE added 0.34% to its value to end the day at $50.88.

Wunderlich Securities reiterated its Buy rating on Great Plains Energy (NYSE: GXP). At the same time, the rating agency left its price target on the company's stock unchanged at $23. On Thursday, GXP lost 1.56% of its value to finish the day at $20.17. Its shares continued to slide in today's pre-...

US stock futures are lower this morning, after Thursday's House budget vote on the US debt ceiling was rescheduled. Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 55 points to 12,138.00 and S&P 500 index futures fell 5.70 points to 1,291.10. Nasdaq 100 futures dropped 7.75 points to 2,362....

Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX) is projected to report its Q2 EPS at $3.56 on revenue of $71.58 billion. Aon Corporation (NYSE: AON) is expected to report its Q2 EPS at $0.82 on revenue of $2.74 billion. Newell Rubbermaid Inc (NYSE: NWL) is estimated to report its Q2 EPS at $0.42 on revenue of $...

Wunderlich Securities reiterated its Hold rating on Wisconsin Energy (NYSE: WEC). At the same time, the rating agency raised its price target on the company's stock from $30 to $31. On Thursday, WEC lost 0.96% of its value to end the day at $30.97.

Wunderlich Securities reiterated its Hold rating on ITC Holdings (NYSE: ITC). At the same time, the rating agency left its price target on the company's stock unchanged at $73. On Thursday, ITC lost 0.41% of its value to end the day at $70.95.

Here is our latest update on the stock trading technique called 'Buying Dividends'. This is the process of buying stocks before the ex dividend date and selling the stock shortly after the ex date at about the same price, yet still being entitled to the dividend. This technique generally works only...