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Dominion Energy (D) is expected to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended September 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook gives a good sense of the company's earnings picture, but how the actual results compare to these estimates is a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price. The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on October 30. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower. While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it's worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise. This energy company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $1.19 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +12.3%. Revenues are expected to be $4.78 billion, up 5.6% from the year-ago quarter. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period. Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise Estimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core. The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier. Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only. A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP. Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell). For Dominion Energy, the Most Accurate Estimate is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +3.29%. On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3. So, this combination indicates that Dominion Energy will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate. While calculating estimates for a company's future earnings, analysts often consider to what extent it has been able to match past consensus estimates. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number. For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Dominion Energy would post earnings of $0.73 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.79, delivering a surprise of +8.22%. Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates four times. An earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss. That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported. Dominion Energy appears a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release. Among the stocks in the Zacks Utility - Electric Power industry, WEC Energy Group (WEC), is soon expected to post earnings of $0.95 per share for the quarter ended September 2026. This estimate indicates a year-over-year change of +14.5%. This quarter's revenue is expected to be $2.23 billion, up 6% from the year-ago quarter. The consensus EPS estimate for WEC Energy has been revised 2.4% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. However, a higher Most Accurate Estimate has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +2.89%. When combined with a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold), this Earnings ESP indicates that WEC Energy will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate. The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters. Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Dominion Energy Inc. (D) : Free Stock Analysis Report WEC Energy Group, Inc. (WEC) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

- Interested in NextEra Energy, Inc.? Here are five stocks we like better. - NextEra Energy reported strong earnings growth, with third-quarter adjusted EPS up 9.7% year over year and the company targeting the high end of its full-year guidance range of $3.92 to $4.02. - FPL continued to benefit from customer growth and significant capital investment, while raising its forecast for large-load demand to 8 GW by 2032 and citing strong hurricane-restoration performance from hardened and smart-grid infrastructure. - NextEra Energy Resources added 3.7 GW of renewable and storage projects to its backlog, which reached nearly 36.7 GW, while the company reaffirmed long-term EPS and dividend-growth targets and expects its Dominion Energy combination to close in the second half of 2027. - Utilities Are Bouncing Back—These 2 Giants Could Signal the Next Big Sector Rally NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE) reported third-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings-per-share growth of 9.7% from a year earlier and said it remains positioned to target the high end of its full-year adjusted EPS guidance range of $3.92 to $4.02. For the first nine months of 2026, adjusted EPS rose 9.5% year over year, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer John Ketchum said during the company's earnings call. He attributed the performance to continued execution at Florida Power & Light, or FPL, and NextEra Energy Resources. → The AI Sell-Off Continues—These 3 Stocks Keep Raising Guidance Anyway - 5 Oversold Corners of the Market That Could Bounce If Breadth Finally Improves "America needs more electrons on the grid," Ketchum said, describing affordability, reliability, scale and speed to market as central priorities amid rising electricity demand. FPL's earnings per share increased by $0.06 from the prior-year quarter, driven principally by approximately 9.2% year-over-year growth in regulatory capital employed, Chief Financial Officer Mike Dunne said. FPL spent approximately $2.4 billion on capital expenditures during the quarter and expects full-year capital investments of about $12 billion. → Tesla's Roadster Reveal Hints at 2 Much Bigger Moves - 5 Defensive Stocks to Watch as CPI and the Fed Put the Rally to the Test Third-quarter retail sales at FPL increased 2.8% year over year due to customer growth and weather. On a weather-normalized basis, retail sales increased 1.4%, also driven by customer growth. Ketchum also discussed FPL's response to Hurricane Isaias, saying the utility assembled a restoration workforce of approximately 17,000 people from 29 states. FPL restored power to more than 97% of affected customers by Tuesday after the storm exited its service area early Saturday, he said. → Luxury's Middle Market Is Cracking—These 3 Stocks Could Win The company said early forensic analysis showed that none of its hardened transmission or distribution poles failed during the storm. Underground neighborhood lines performed approximately 14 times better than overhead lines, while smart-grid technology avoided about 140,000 outages, according to Ketchum. FPL's typical residential bill is approximately 37% below the national average and is projected to rise an average of 2% annually through the end of the decade, Ketchum said. He added that the utility's non-fuel operations and maintenance expense is more than 70% below the industry average on a dollar-per-megawatt-hour basis. FPL raised its expectation for large-load demand to 8 gigawatts by 2032 from 6 gigawatts previously and remains confident it can announce a large-load transaction before year-end. FPL President and CEO Scott Bores said the company has more than 20 GW of large-load interest in its pipeline, though the projects involve complicated, multibillion-dollar agreements. NextEra Energy Resources reported adjusted earnings growth of approximately 13% year over year, contributing an increase of $0.06 per share. New investments, including federal hubs, contributed $0.09 per share, while the existing energy portfolio added $0.05 per share, Dunne said. The stronger existing-portfolio contribution reflected more normalized wind conditions. Wind resource was approximately 101% of the long-term average during the third quarter of 2026, compared with 90% in the same quarter of 2025. Energy Resources added 3.7 GW of renewable and storage projects to its backlog during the quarter, including 2.4 GW of battery storage. Its backlog reached nearly 36.7 GW after accounting for more than 1.8 GW of projects placed into service since the prior earnings call. - The company said it has added more than 15 GW to its backlog in the past 12 months. - Energy Resources has now completed more than two-thirds of the midpoint of its 2026-to-2029 development expectations. - The business has 17.6 GW remaining to add before reaching the midpoint of its backlog-development expectations for that period. Ketchum said Energy Resources has advanced more than 20 GW of large-load projects, including more than 18 GW of gas-fired generation. The company expects to derive value through federally supported hubs, where it would earn development, construction and operating fees without investing capital, and through projects it expects to own and operate. Energy Resources has signed definitive agreements for three projects in Texas and Pennsylvania totaling approximately 16.5 GW. Those projects have secured $5.7 billion in initial funding year to date, according to Ketchum. The company expects the projects to begin serving significant load through behind-the-meter generation as early as 2028 and 2029, with full campus requirements ramping between 2030 and 2032. Dunne said federal-hub payments are expected to be relatively modest in 2026 and 2027 before rising as projects advance. Operating fees from 2032 through 2052 are expected to generate roughly half the earnings per share that Energy Resources would receive if it owned the facilities, Ketchum said. NextEra said its Duane Arnold nuclear plant in Iowa remains on track to return to service no later than the first quarter of 2029. During the quarter, the company closed on a Department of Energy loan of up to $1.9 billion to support the plant restart. The company also executed a 20-year power purchase agreement for approximately 1 GW from its Point Beach nuclear plant in Wisconsin, subject to approval by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin. The agreement would extend contracting for the facility's full output into the 2050s. Ketchum said Point Beach's contribution under the new contract is expected to average roughly $0.21, with the new agreement taking effect as existing contracts roll off from 2031 through 2033. In renewable recontracting, NextEra said it executed contracts for more than 250 MW of existing projects during the quarter. Its year-to-date renewable recontracting total reached nearly 1,400 MW, with pricing averaging roughly $20 per megawatt-hour above recent realized pricing for those projects. The company said its regulated and invested capital, plus secured capital expenditures for electric and gas transmission, increased about 25% since December 2025 to approximately $12.7 billion. Dunne said NextEra continues to expect 20% to 25% compound annual growth in transmission rate base from 2025 through 2032, with gas-transmission opportunities representing a potential additional avenue for growth. NextEra reaffirmed its expectation to grow adjusted EPS by more than 8% annually through 2032 from a 2025 base of $3.71 per share and to target the same growth rate from 2032 through 2035. The company expects average annual operating cash flow growth from 2025 through 2032 to be at or above its adjusted EPS growth rate. The company also reaffirmed plans to grow dividends per share by roughly 10% annually through 2026 from a 2024 base, followed by approximately 6% annual growth from year-end 2026 through 2028. Regarding its pending combination with Dominion Energy, Ketchum said shareholders of both companies approved the transaction on Sept. 3. Regulatory hearings in Virginia and South Carolina are scheduled for November and December, with final orders expected in January 2027. North Carolina expert-witness hearings are scheduled to begin in February 2027. NextEra continues to expect the combination to close in the second half of 2027. Ketchum said the company has proposed commitments in Virginia involving customer bill credits, bill-assistance funding, workforce development, supplier spending and job creation, while noting that regulatory authorities will determine whether to approve the transaction. NextEra Energy, Inc is an energy infrastructure company headquartered in Juno Beach, Florida. Through its businesses, the company generates, transmits, distributes and sells electricity, with a focus on regulated utility operations and clean energy development. Florida Power & Light Company, NextEra Energy's principal regulated utility, serves customers across much of Florida. FPL operates electric generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure and provides retail electricity service to residential, commercial and industrial customers. NextEra Energy Resources develops, owns and operates renewable energy and energy storage projects, including wind and solar facilities. This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected]. The article "What NextEra Energy (NEE) Said on Its Q3 Earnings Call" was originally published by MarketBeat. View MarketBeat's top stocks for October 2026.

NextEra Energy, Inc. NEE reported third-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $1.24 per share, up 9.7% from $1.13 a year ago. The figure beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.20 by 3.3%. Strong contributions from Florida Power & Light ("FPL") and NextEra Energy Resources supported earnings growth. GAAP earnings per share were $2.28 compared with $1.18 in the year-ago quarter. Total operating revenues increased 1.6% year over year to $8.09 billion but missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $9.08 billion by 10.9%. NextEra Energy, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | NextEra Energy, Inc. Quote Operating revenues increased from $7.97 billion in the third quarter of 2025 to $8.09 billion in the reported quarter, primarily supported by higher revenues at FPL. By segment, FPL generated $5.42 billion in operating revenues, up 2.6% year over year. NextEra Energy Resources contributed $2.52 billion, down 1.9% from the prior-year quarter. Corporate and Other revenues totaled $153 million compared with $115 million a year ago. FPL reported third-quarter net income of $1.62 billion, up 10.7% from $1.46 billion in the year-ago quarter. Earnings per share increased to 77 cents from 71 cents. Growth was primarily driven by continued disciplined capital investments. FPL's regulatory capital employed increased approximately 9.2% year over year. Capital expenditures totaled approximately $2.4 billion during the quarter, while full-year investments are expected to reach approximately $12 billion. The utility added more than 86,000 customers year over year and increased its large-load expectations from 6 gigawatts ("GW") to 8 GW by 2032. NextEra Energy Resources reported adjusted earnings of $1.25 billion compared with $1.10 billion a year ago. Adjusted earnings per share increased to 59 cents from 53 cents, benefiting from contributions from new investments and existing energy assets. NextEra Energy Resources added 3.7 GW of renewables and storage to its development backlog. During the quarter, the segment added approximately 2.4 GW of battery storage, 0.7 GW of wind and 0.6 GW of solar projects to its backlog. The total development backlog reached approximately 36.7 GW after accounting for projects placed into service and other changes. The segment also expanded its regulated transmission investments. Regulatory and invested capital, along with secured capital expenditures across electric and natural gas transmission, increased approximately 25% to $12.7 billion since December 2025. Total operating expenses were $5.51 billion, down 1.3% from $5.58 billion in the year-ago quarter. Lower depreciation and amortization expenses, which declined to $1.65 billion from $2.10 billion, supported the decrease. However, fuel, purchased power and interchange expenses increased to $1.70 billion from $1.42 billion. Other operations and maintenance expenses increased to $1.43 billion from $1.41 billion. Operating income rose 3.8% year over year to $2.62 billion. As of Sept. 30, 2026, NextEra Energy reported cash and cash equivalents of $5.58 billion and total assets of $245.05 billion. Long-term debt stood at $97.13 billion, while total equity was $72.87 billion. During the first nine months of 2026, net cash provided by operating activities totaled $12.32 billion compared with $9.99 billion in the year-ago period. Net cash used in investing activities was $26.99 billion, while financing activities provided $17.52 billion. NextEra Energy maintained its 2026 adjusted earnings per share guidance of $3.92-$4.02 and continues to target the high end of the range. The company expects adjusted earnings per share growth of at least 8% annually through 2032 and targets the same growth rate through 2035, using 2025 adjusted earnings of $3.71 per share as the base. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 EPS is currently pegged at $4.03. The company also continues to advance its pending combination with Dominion Energy following shareholder approval in September. Subject to regulatory approvals, the transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2027. The combined company is expected to deliver adjusted earnings per share growth exceeding 9% annually through 2032. NextEra Energy carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Xcel Energy XEL is set to release third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 29. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings per share is pegged at $1.35. XEL's long-term (three-to-five years) earnings growth rate is 7.29%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter earnings per share indicates year-over-year growth of 8.87%. Dominion Energy D is scheduled to announce third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 30. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings per share is pegged at $1.17. The consensus estimate for third-quarter earnings per share indicates growth of 10.38% from the prior-year actual. Exelon Corporation EXC is scheduled to announce third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 30. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at 80 cents per share. Exelon's long-term earnings growth rate is estimated at 6.39%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter earnings per share indicates a decline of 6.98% from the year-earlier level. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) : Free Stock Analysis Report Exelon Corporation (EXC) : Free Stock Analysis Report Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) : Free Stock Analysis Report Dominion Energy Inc. (D) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). 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NextEra Energy NEE is scheduled to release its third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 21, before market open. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is currently pegged at $1.19 per share on revenues of $9.05 billion. Third-quarter earnings estimates have declined 3.25% over the past 60 days. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for quarterly revenues indicates a year-over-year increase of 13.65%. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research NextEra Energy's earnings beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 6.82%. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Our proven model predicts an earnings beat for NextEra Energy this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy), or 3 (Hold) increases the chances of an earnings beat. That is the case here, as you can see below. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter. NEE's Earnings ESP: NextEra Energy has an Earnings ESP of +2.74%. Zacks Rank of NEE: The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #3. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Some companies in the same industry with the right combination of the two factors for an earnings beat this season are American Electric Power AEP, Dominion Energy D and PPL Corporation PPL. AEP, D and PPL currently have an Earnings ESP of +3.46%, +1.03% and +0.78%, respectively. Currently, AEP and D carry a Zacks Rank #3 each, while PPL has a Zacks Rank #2. NextEra Energy's subsidiary, Florida Power & Light ("FPL"), continues to benefit from Florida's strong economic growth and steady customer additions. Strategic grid investments, electricity rates nearly 25% below the national average and expanding renewable energy capacity support customer retention and lower fuel costs. Rising electricity demand in the region is likely to have boosted the company's earnings. NextEra Energy's Energy Resources segment continues to benefit from the expansion of its renewable energy and storage portfolio. Following the addition of 3.6 gigawatts (GW) of new projects during the second quarter, its backlog reached nearly 35.1 GW. The addition of new renewable generation capacity is likely to have supported the segment's third-quarter earnings. NextEra Energy is poised to have benefited from strategic infrastructure investments and rising electricity demand from AI applications and data centers across its service territories. Newly commissioned projects are also likely to have supported the company's quarterly earnings. However, higher development costs for natural gas projects compared with renewable energy and battery storage might have weighed on NextEra Energy's profitability. Elevated interest rates are expected to have increased borrowing costs and pressured profit margins, while localized supply-chain disruptions might have affected operations and project execution. Return on equity ("ROE") is a financial ratio that measures how well a company uses its shareholders' equity to generate profits. The company's current ROE indicates that it is using shareholders' funds more efficiently than peers. NextEra Energy's trailing 12-month ROE is 12.28%, ahead of the industry average of 11.48%. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research NEE's shares have gained 0.2% in the past month compared with the Zacks Utility – Electric Power industry's rise of 3.5%. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The company is currently valued at a premium compared with its industry on a forward 12-month P/E basis. NextEra Energy is trading at 18.51X compared with its industry's 14.38X. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Florida's strengthening economy continues to drive electricity demand and steady customer additions, supporting NextEra Energy's long-term growth prospects. Ongoing investments in renewable energy and battery storage enhance service reliability and strengthen its clean energy portfolio. The company's disciplined cost management helps maintain electricity bills well below the national average, supporting customer affordability and attracting new customers. Rising electricity demand from data centers is expected to have created additional growth opportunities. Although NextEra Energy's ROE remains above the industry average, its premium valuation, elevated borrowing costs and higher development expenses for natural gas projects compared with renewables remain key concerns. NextEra Energy's third-quarter earnings are likely to come above estimates, and its long-term outlook remains solid. Ongoing investments in renewable energy and Florida's robust economic expansion continue to create new growth opportunities. Rising electricity demand and consistent customer additions position the company for sustained long-term growth. Yet, its premium valuation remains a concern, suggesting investors may be better off waiting for a more attractive entry point. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE) : Free Stock Analysis Report PPL Corporation (PPL) : Free Stock Analysis Report American Electric Power Company, Inc. (AEP) : Free Stock Analysis Report Dominion Energy Inc. (D) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

Recent analyst optimism around Dominion Energy (D) has been driven by a stronger earnings outlook, repeated estimate beats in recent quarters, and reaffirmed guidance supported by data center demand in key utility segments. The recent optimism around Dominion Energy is showing up in the tape, with the share price at US$63.56 after a 1-day share price return of 1.11% and a 7-day share price return of 3.11%, even though the 90-day share price return is down 10.53%. Scan how other utilities are positioned for data center demand and earnings momentum by checking our curated list of 41 power grid technology and infrastructure stocks alongside Dominion Energy. Recent enthusiasm around Dominion Energy could reflect improving conviction in the utility's earnings power, or it could say more about changing sentiment after a weaker 90 day stretch. How does that backdrop line up with today's valuation? On the most followed view, Dominion Energy's fair value of $71.64 sits above the last close at $63.56, which puts recent optimism against a still discounted narrative using a 7.24% required return on future cash flows. Planned investment of nearly US$65b from 2026 to 2030 in grid modernization, infrastructure upgrades and renewable deployment, including roughly US$2b of battery projects over five years, creates a visible pipeline of capital that can translate into higher regulated asset value and long-term earnings. See why 55 investors see Dominion Energy as 11% undervalued. Result: Fair Value of $71.64 (UNDERVALUED) Still, the narrative around Dominion Energy depends on big swing factors, including Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind costs and whether regulators ultimately approve the proposed NextEra merger. Find out about the key risks to this Dominion Energy narrative. The 11% undervalued fair value narrative for Dominion Energy looks different when viewed through the P/E ratio. The stock trades on 22.3x earnings, which is above both the global integrated utilities average of 17.9x and the 20.4x peer average, and also above its own fair ratio of 22.3x. This gap points to less room for error if earnings or regulatory outcomes disappoint, even when an underpriced cash flow profile is implied by fair value estimates. It raises a simple question for investors: Is the bigger risk now paying a higher multiple on earnings for a company that appears inexpensive on cash flows, or ignoring those cash flows altogether? See what the numbers say about this price — find out in our valuation breakdown. Mixed signals around Dominion Energy can be confusing at first glance. Move quickly, review the underlying data, and carefully weigh the 3 key rewards and 2 important warning signs. Do not stop at a single utility story. Use this moment to broaden your watchlist with ideas that match your risk profile, return goals, and time horizon. - Target potential mispricing by reviewing companies that screen as quality and attractively valued through the 33 high quality undervalued stocks. - Strengthen your income stream by focusing on resilient payers screened as 8 dividend fortresses. - Prioritize capital protection first by checking companies highlighted as a 32 resilient stocks with low risk scores. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include D. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email [email protected]

Have you been searching for a stock that might be well-positioned to maintain its earnings-beat streak in its upcoming report? It is worth considering Dominion Energy (D), which belongs to the Zacks Utility - Electric Power industry. This energy company has seen a nice streak of beating earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. The average surprise for the last two quarters was 7.48%. For the most recent quarter, Dominion Energy was expected to post earnings of $0.73 per share, but it reported $0.79 per share instead, representing a surprise of 8.22%. For the previous quarter, the consensus estimate was $0.89 per share, while it actually produced $0.95 per share, a surprise of 6.74%. With this earnings history in mind, recent estimates have been moving higher for Dominion Energy. In fact, the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) for the company is positive, which is a great sign of an earnings beat, especially when you combine this metric with its nice Zacks Rank. Our research shows that stocks with the combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time. In other words, if you have 10 stocks with this combination, the number of stocks that beat the consensus estimate could be as high as seven. The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a version of the Zacks Consensus whose definition is related to change. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier. Dominion Energy currently has an Earnings ESP of +1.03%, which suggests that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This positive Earnings ESP when combined with the stock's Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) indicates that another beat is possibly around the corner. We expect the company's next earnings report to be released on October 30, 2026. With the Earnings ESP metric, it's important to note that a negative value reduces its predictive power; however, a negative Earnings ESP does not indicate an earnings miss. Many companies end up beating the consensus EPS estimate, though this is not the only reason why their shares gain. Additionally, some stocks may remain stable even if they end up missing the consensus estimate. Because of this, it's really important to check a company's Earnings ESP ahead of its quarterly release to increase the odds of success. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Dominion Energy Inc. (D) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

With a market cap of $55.2 billion, Dominion Energy, Inc. (D) provides regulated electricity and natural gas services, primarily through its Dominion Energy Virginia, Dominion Energy South Carolina, and Contracted Energy segments. The company generates, transmits, and distributes electricity to millions of residential, commercial, industrial, and government customers in states such as Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, while also operating renewable energy and renewable natural gas facilities. The Richmond, Virginia-based company is expected to unveil its fiscal Q3 2026 results before the market opens on Friday, Oct. 30. Before the event, analysts anticipate Dominion Energy to report an adjusted EPS of $1.17, up 10.4% from $1.06 in the year-ago quarter. It has exceeded Wall Street's bottom-line estimates in each of the past four quarters. - Bill Gates Says Despite Elon Musk Being Mean to Him, He's Still 'In Awe' of His Work — 'He's Brilliant, He's Rich, He's Influential' - Dear Intel Fans, Mark Your Calendars for October 29 - At 97, Charlie Munger Borrowed $37 Million to Go All-In on Alibaba — 2 Years Later He Called It One of the 'Worst Mistakes' of His Life - Stop Missing Market Moves: Get the FREE Barchart Brief – your midday dose of stock movers, trending sectors, and actionable trade ideas, delivered right to your inbox. Sign Up Now! For fiscal 2026, analysts predict Dominion Energy to post adjusted EPS of $3.59, a rise of nearly 5% from $3.42 in fiscal 2025. Moreover, adjusted EPS is projected to grow 6.1% year-over-year to $3.81 in fiscal 2027. Dominion Energy stock has risen 1.8% over the past 52 weeks, lagging behind the S&P 500 Index's ($SPX) 15.5% gain. However, the stock has outpaced the State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF's (XLU) 10.3% drop over the same period. Dominion Energy reported better-than-expected Q2 2026 adjusted EPS of $0.79 and revenue increased to $4.48 billion on Jul. 31. The company also reported 22% growth in adjusted operating earnings from its Virginia segment to $670 million, driven by strong demand from data centers, with contracted data center capacity increasing to 53.8 GW as of July, up 5.3 GW from December. However, the stock fell marginally on that day as operating expenses rose to $4.15 billion from $2.71 billion a year earlier. Analysts' consensus rating on D stock is cautiously optimistic, with a "Moderate Buy" rating overall. Out of 17 analysts covering the stock, opinions include four "Strong Buys" and 13 "Holds." This configuration is more bullish than three months ago, with two analysts suggesting a "Strong Buy." The average analyst price target for Dominion Energy is $70.75, indicating a potential upside of 12.6% from the current levels. On the date of publication, Sohini Mondal did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Barchart.com

Wall Street bankers reveled in a merger boom driven by a wave of megadeals that kicked off this spring. But a worrisome third quarter lull is raising questions about how long the momentum can last.  Global mergers and acquisitions activity slowed sharply in the third quarter from the second, according to Mergermarket data. In the US, where the downshift was even worse, third quarter M&A activity fell by nearly half to $535 billion. "We're at a crossroads," said Lucinda Gutherie, head of Mergermarket. 2026 is still on pace for a record year in worldwide M&A deals by dollar value, according to Mergermarket data.  Huge deals like SpaceX's (SPCX) $55 billion acquisition of AI coding platform Cursor, announced in June, and NextEra Energy's (NEE) $67 billion merger with Dominion Energy disclosed in May, can take months to pull together. It's "natural to have a slowdown as the market digests those transactions," Guthrie said, adding that historically the third quarter often lulls while bankers take vacation. But the reasons not to do a deal have been mounting in recent weeks, she said. Market conditions tightened through September as the Federal Reserve raised interest rates by 25 basis points and Treasury yields surged to multidecade highs. A sharp rise in interest rates over recent months has raised financing costs and pressured stock values. Gutherie also pointed to recent calls for a slowdown in the tech industry's artificial intelligence race and the lengthening toll of the US war in Iran on energy and other prices. "While some of the investment banking slowdown can be attributed to a long summer … an unhappy bond market implies a deeper freeze in future activity," UBS analyst Erika Najarian wrote earlier this week.  The outlook for mergers and other dealmaking activities will be in focus for investors later this month when Wall Street's biggest banks begin reporting quarterly earnings.  Their forecasts for dealmaking fees have been mixed. Bank of America (BAC) CEO Brian Moynihan noted a year-over-year drop of at least 10% in overall investment banking fees at a Barclays conference last month. JPMorgan (JPM), however, has projected growth in the mid-to-high teens, while Citigroup (C) said it expected single-digit growth. Some analysts remain optimistic that a long-awaited rebound in private equity exits will help sustain the merger cycle. "We are still believers in the notion that there should be an acceleration of M&A activity," Oppenheimer analyst Chris Kotowski said in a Friday note. On Tuesday, smart ring maker Oura postponed its planned initial public offering, joining companies like Holtec Nuclear and Bamboo Insurance, citing "market conditions" for the retreat from their planned public debuts.  But that recovery still faces obstacles, as the backlog of unsold private equity portfolio companies remains concentrated in midsize businesses, where elevated interest rates make transactions tougher to justify, PwC's US and Mexico deals lead Kevin Desai said. Overall, "our pipeline and our [deal] volume is up considerably year-over-year," Desai told Yahoo Finance. "We're doing more diligence, we're doing more pre-deal services, but the number of failed deals continues to mount up," he added.  David Hollerith covers a range of developments throughout the financial sector, from Wall Street to banking and asset management to crypto and fintech. Email him at [email protected]. Follow him on X at @DsHollers. Click here for in-depth analysis of the latest stock market news and events moving stock prices Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance

NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) has outlined its growth targets for 2026 and beyond. This comes as the company advances plans to acquire Dominion Energy Inc (NYSE:D). It’s a $67 billion all-stock transaction expected to close before the end of next year. If the merger is completed as expected, it would result in the largest US electricity producer. NextEra’s business is already growing, and Dominion is expected to increase the growth rate. The deal’s promise is exciting, but its value to investors ultimately depends on NextEra securing regulatory approvals and successfully integrating Dominion assets. NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) has reaffirmed its 2026 adjusted EPS guidance of $3.92 to $4.02 and said it was targeting the high end of that range. NextEra also said it expects adjusted EPS to grow at a compound annual rate of at least 8% through 2032 and is targeting the same growth rate through 2035, off the 2025 base. NextEra also plans to continue rewarding its shareholders with higher dividends. The company expects its dividend per share to grow at a roughly 10% annual rate through 2026, off the 2024 base. It expects the dividend to grow 6% a year through 2028 from the 2026 base. The EPS and dividend growth projections give investors a financial foundation for evaluating the Dominion deal. NextEra does not need Dominion simply to prevent a growth slowdown. Instead, it’s looking to add another growth engine through the acquisition. NextEra expects Dominion to be immediately accretive to adjusted EPS. The combined company is expected to deliver 9%+ adjusted EPS growth through 2032 and is targeting the same growth rate through 2035, off NextEra’s 2025 base. The combined company would operate the largest natural gas-fired generation fleet in the U.S. and the second-largest nuclear fleet. NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) expects to close the Dominion transaction in the second half of 2027. The biggest near-term test is whether NextEra can secure the regulatory approvals to close the deal in the expected time. The companies are trying to improve the deal’s approval chances through an expanded benefits package submitted to Virginia regulators. In updated filings, they have proposed to double residential bill credits to four years. Additionally, they are committing to shielding retail customers from grid costs associated with Northern Virginia's rapidly expanding AI data centers. And that’s not all. They have also added $100 million to Dominion's low-income bill assistance program through 2038 and another $100 million for workforce development. These commitments matter because the deal’s expected benefits hinge on regulatory approvals. The merger could strengthen NextEra’s growth trajectory if it closes on time and with favorable conditions. But the thesis weakens if the deal’s closing is delayed or regulators impose conditions that materially diminish the deal’s expected economic benefits. Insider Monkey’s hedge fund database suggests that elite investors are paying attention to NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE)'s growth prospects. But major funds are showing divergent trades. The number of hedge funds holding NextEra stock increased to 80 in Q2 from 74 in Q1. GQG Partners remained the largest hedge fund holder, though it did reduce its stake by 20% to 7.42 million shares. But Marshall Wace, the second-largest holder, increased its stake 350% to 3.37 million shares. Balyasny Asset Management also raised its stake by 2,084% to 1.62 million shares. Regarding bearish bets, some 49.8 million NextEra shares were shorted as of August 31. That represents 2.39% of the float and remained essentially unchanged from the previous reading. The big question right now is whether NextEra can maintain its standalone growth while absorbing Dominion. The reaffirmed 2026 outlook and 2035 projections provide a solid starting point. But regulatory approvals and execution remain major tests. While we acknowledge the potential of NEE as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: Northrop Grumman (NOC) Secures $4.8 Billion Army Contract. Execution Is the Bigger Test and Pentagon Adds $13.4 Billion to Boeing (BA) Contract. That Isn’t an Immediate Financial Windfall. Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.

Dominion Energy, Inc. D used its second-quarter 2026 call to pair unchanged guidance with a six-month schedule reset for Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW). Project execution returned to investor focus. Management emphasized record demand, data center contracting and the infrastructure needed to support large loads. Those themes framed analyst scrutiny. CFO Steven Ridge said second-quarter operating earnings were $0.79 per share, including $0.03 of RNG 45Z credits. The result topped the $0.73 Zacks Consensus Estimate by 8.20%. Dominion Energy Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Dominion Energy Inc. Quote Revenues of $4.48 billion topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 10.30%. CFO Ridge called the first half strong. Dominion reaffirmed 2026 operating earnings guidance of $3.45 to $3.69 per share, with a $3.57 midpoint, plus credit, dividend and long-term growth guidance. CFO Ridge said the 2026 equity program is complete and FFO-to-debt remained above 15%. Chair, president and CEO Robert Blue said CVOW was 81% complete, with 31 turbines installed and a 32nd underway. More than 450 megawatts of capacity were already on the grid. CEO Blue said the final turbine is now expected at year-end 2027, a six-month shift. The project cost estimate increased about 2% to $11.65 billion after adding $288 million for the extra two quarters. A Barclays analyst asked about further slippage. CEO Blue said the revised plan reflects actual Portsmouth loadouts, added weather and vessel-maintenance contingency, and longer jacking at difficult sites. He remained confident in the updated date. CFO Ridge said Dominion has more than 53 gigawatts of data center capacity in contracting stages, including 12 gigawatts under electric service agreements. Contracts increased by more than five gigawatts since year-end. CFO Ridge also said nine of the DOM Zone's 10 highest peak days occurred this year, including the eight highest summer peaks in the past two months. The large-load framework is designed to protect existing customers from cost shifts and stranded costs. CEO Blue said air permits were filed for nearly five gigawatts of combined-cycle capacity at Canadys and Mount Storm. A Goldman Sachs analyst asked whether Mount Storm was incremental, and CFO Ridge said it is already in the current capital plan. CEO Blue said state and federal applications were filed for the proposed NextEra Energy combination. The transaction includes $2.25 billion of shareholder-funded bill credits for Dominion customers. CEO Blue said Virginia hearings begin Nov. 17. The proposed South Carolina schedule sets a Dec. 8 hearing and a final order by Jan. 29, 2027. A Barclays analyst asked whether Virginia's review could be extended. CEO Blue said the current timeline is sufficient, citing the commission's experience with statutory deadlines and prior mergers. A Jefferies analyst asked about a transmission fault that prompted data centers to switch to backup power. Executive vice president and CEO of Utilities Edward Baine said the fault was rare and the centers had been expected to ride through the momentary event. Utilities CEO Baine said no significant incremental grid investment is needed from the event, but customer collaboration and mitigation work will continue. CEO Blue said Dominion will keep investing in transmission and applying lessons learned. CFO Ridge said the five-year forecast includes $2 billion for batteries, about 3% of the capital plan. He identified a fall technical conference and the next integrated resource plan as steps toward acceleration. CEO Blue returned to three priorities: meeting financial commitments, hitting major CVOW milestones and securing constructive regulatory outcomes. His closing message remained centered on execution. CFO Ridge's demand commentary added system expansion for large loads while maintaining credit targets. Broader financial guidance stayed unchanged despite the CVOW schedule reset. D currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), with a Value Score of D, Growth Score of F, Momentum Score of B and VGM Score of F. Under Zacks methodology, better Style Scores are associated with better expected performance, making momentum the strongest style reading. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. The Style Scores complement the Zacks Rank, with the framework favoring Rank #1 or #2 stocks paired with A or B scores. D's profile combines a stronger Momentum grade with weaker Value, Growth and VGM readings and an unfavorable Rank. The Zacks Rank can change as estimates are revised after the just-reported results. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Dominion Energy Inc. (D) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research