Utilities

Southwestern Electric Power, a unit of American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP), has signed a confidential settlement of lawsuits and other actions that challenged the construction of its John W. Turk, Jr. Power Plant in Hempstead County, Ark. Under terms of the settlement, the litigants are withdrawing...

The Board of Directors of RGC Resources, Inc. (Nasdaq: RGCO), at its meeting on July 25, 2011, declared a two-for-one stock split in the form of a 100% share dividend upon the Corporation's issued and outstanding common stock payable on September 1, 2011 to shareholders of record on August 15, 2011...

Xcel Energy (NYSE: XEL) announces its next round of earnings this Thursday, July 28, 2011. Here is Benzinga's everything-that-matters guide for this Thursday's second quarter earnings announcement. Earnings and Revenue: Wall Street expects a EPS of 32 cents per share and revenues of $2.37...

Many traders and investors see the 52-week high or low as an important indicator. Stocks that have a long-term trend in a certain direction are likely to continue, as that trend is the path of least resistance. In this case, shares of Exelon (NYSE: EXC) are hitting new 52-week highs. Traders...

Southwestern Energy Company (NYSE: SWN) releases its next round of earnings this Thursday, July 28, 2011. Get prepared with Benzinga's ultimate preview for Southwestern Energy Company's second quarter earnings. Earnings and Revenue: Analysts are predicting an EPS reading of 43 cents per share...

Shares of Dominion Resources (NYSE: D) are higher on the session by 0.02%, currently trading at $49.79. The stock has been moving largely higher over the past five months and is currently trading above the 200-day moving average. Options traders are buying calls on the name today. A short while...

Dominion Resources (NYSE: D) announces its next round of earnings this Thursday, July 28, 2011. Get prepared with Benzinga's ultimate preview for Dominion Resources' second quarter earnings. Earnings and Revenue: Analysts are predicting an EPS reading of 59 cents per share and revenues of $3....

Bank of America Merrill Lynch is out with its report today on PPL (NYSE: PPL), upgrading PPL to Buy. In a note to clients, Bank of America Merrill Lynch writes, "We rate PPL as a Buy. We like PPL's quality generation portfolio, growing regulated earnings mix and attractive dividend yield. The...

Bank of America upgraded its rating on Ameren (NYSE: AEE) from Underperform to Neutral. At the same time, the rating agency raised its price target on the company's stock from $29 to $30. On Friday, AEE lost 0.37% of its value to end the week at $29.35.

Bank of America upgraded its rating on Calpine (NYSE: CPN) from Neutral to Buy. At the same time, the rating agency raised its price target on the company's stock from $17 to $20. On Friday, CPN lost 1.04% of its value to finish the day at $16.19. Its shares rebounded in today's pre-market trading...

Today Entergy Corporation (NYSE: ETR) communicated to its employees that the company's board of directors voted to approve the fabrication of fuel and the refueling of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant in October. This will be the plant's 29th refueling.   While the company has received a 20-...

Bank of America reiterated its Buy rating on Edison International (NYSE: EIX). At the same time, the rating agency left its price target on the company's stock at $43. On Friday, EIX added 0.23% to its value to end the day at $39.23.

Bank of America upgraded its rating on NRG Energy (NYSE: NRG) from Neutral to Buy. At the same time, the rating agency raised its price target on the company's stock from $25 to $31. On Friday, NRG lost 0.8% of its value to finish the week at $24.75.

Bank of America downgraded its rating on Portland General Electric Company (NYSE: POR) to Underweight. At the same time, the rating agency left its price target on the company's stock unchanged at $25. On Friday, POR lost 0.89% of its value to end the week at $25.63.

The earnings crunch continues this week even as the month of July winds to a close. Quarterly reports of note scheduled for the week include those from Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX), United Parcel Service (NYSE: UPS), Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM), Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX), Merck (NYSE: MRK) and Dow Chemical (...