Utilities

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) unveils its next round of earnings this Tuesday, August 2, 2011. Get prepared with Benzinga's ultimate preview for Duke Energy's second quarter earnings. Earnings and Revenue: Analysts are predicting an EPS reading of 30 cents per share and revenues of $3.32 billion....

Entergy (NYSE: ETR) announces its next round of earnings this Tuesday, August 2, 2011. Get the latest predictions in Benzinga's essential guide to the company's second quarter earnings report. Earnings and Revenue: Analysts are predicting an EPS reading of $1.76 per share and revenues of $2....

FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) announces its next round of earnings this Tuesday, August 2, 2011. Here's Benzinga's essential guide to FirstEnergy's second quarter earnings report. Earnings and Revenue: Based on estimates, investors are readying for a positive EPS reading of 75 cents per share and...

Citi has published a report on Questar Corporation (NYSE: STR) covering Q2 results. In the report, Citi wrote, "STR reported recurring EPS of $0.22 versus both our estimate and the Street at $0.20. Better than expected results out of Questar Gas ($0.02p/s) and Wexpro (~$0.01p/s) were able to...

Ladenburg Thalmann is out with a research report on SJW Corp. (NYSE: SJW) and is reiterating its Buy rating and $29 price target on shares after earnings. In a note to clients, Ladenburg Thalmann writes, "Heavy winter rains replenished the company's supplies of inexpensive surface water and ended...

According to Citi, Energen (NYSE: EGN) reported recurring EPS of $0.87 vs. consensus of $0.77p/s. Citi said that much better than expected results out of E&P (+$0.20p/s) helped offset lower results out of Alagasco (-$0.04p/s). “We maintain our Buy / Medium Risk Rating & $69 Target.”...

Deutsche Bank is out with a research report on Southern Company (NYSE: SO) and it has a Hold rating and a $40 price target on shares. In a note to clients, Deutsche Bank writes, "SO reported Q2 EPS of $0.71 ($0.70 on a diluted basis) beating our $0.63E by $0.08. In light of a stronger-than-...

Jefferies & Company has raised the price target on Exelon (NYSE: EXC) from $47.50 to $49.50 and maintains its Buy rating.

Stocks trading at or near 52-week highs and lows provide excellent trading opportunities, as volatility tends to increase at such levels and entry/exit points become more clearly defined. The following stocks hit new 52-week highs in Wednesday's trading session (listed from highest total volume to...

The S&P 500 (SPX) took a major hit in Wednesday's trading session, finishing down 27.05 points, or 2.03%, from Tuesday's close to 1304.89. The selling began just after the opening bell, and the index extended its losses throughout the session, closing near the low of the day (1303.49), as...

TransAlta Corporation (NYSE: TAC) today announced that President and Chief Executive Officer Steve Snyder will retire, effective January 1, 2012. Dawn Farrell, TransAlta's Chief Operating Officer, will succeed Mr. Snyder as President and CEO on January 2, 2012. "On behalf of my fellow directors...

AmeriGas Partners, L.P. (NYSE: APU) today announced that it is commencing an offer to purchase for cash any and all of its $350,000,000 aggregate principal amount of outstanding 7 ⅛% Senior Notes due 2016 on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in its Offer to Purchase and Consent...

AmeriGas Partners, L.P. (NYSE: APU) today announced that it and its wholly owned subsidiary, AmeriGas Finance Corp. , intend to offer, subject to market and other conditions, $450 million aggregate principal amount of senior notes due 2019 in a registered public offering. The proceeds from the...

Constellation Energy Nuclear Group (NYSE: CEG) announced today the end of the strike at Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station in Scriba, NY. The work stoppage ended once IBEW Local 97 ratified the Tentative Agreement reached on July 22 between the union and CENG with a vote of 395-64, or 86% approval...

Boeing Co (NYSE: BA) reported a 20% rise in its second-quarter profit. Boeing's quarterly profit surged to $941 million, or $1.25 per share, from $787 million, or $1.06 per share, in the year-earlier period. Its revenue gained 6% y/y to $16.54 billion from $15.57 billion. However, analysts were...