NiSource Inc

Let’s take a look at analysts’ views and price targets on the utility stocks under review in this series.

Let’s take a look at how institutional investors have interacted with the utility stocks under review in this series recently.

Let’s take a look at where the stocks of the top-performing utilities of the last five years could go in the short term.

All the stocks under consideration in this series are currently trading at their respective multiyear highs.

NextEra Energy (NEE), NiSource (NI), and CMS Energy (CMS) have beaten their peers as well as the broader markets in terms of total returns in the last five years.

Utilities have not only proved to be a shelter amid market uncertainty but also significantly beaten broader markets in the long term.

NRG Energy (NRG), the leading merchant power player stock and one of the smallest components of the S&P 500 Utilities Index (XLU), has a mean price target of $36.50 against its current market price of $31.20.

Duke Energy is trading at $77.5. Wall Street analysts gave Duke Energy a mean target price of $81.5.

In this part of our series, we’ll take a look at S&P 500 Utilities (XLU) stocks that offer attractive upside potential.

According to Wall Street analysts’ estimates, PPL (PPL) offers the highest potential upside of nearly 22% in a year.

On February 23, 2017, the S&P 500 Utilities Sector surged and closed at its highest level since September 27, 2016.

A $7-billion company, NiSource is currently trading at a dividend yield of 3%, while the Utilities Select Sector SPDR yields 3.5%.

NiSource (NI) has a one-year median price target of $24.04, as compared to a current market price of $22.70.

On February 17, 2017, NiSource stock was trading at a 2% premium and 3% discount to its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, respectively.

NiSource (NI) stock had been trending upward around this time last year. But this year, it has yet to see such action.

On February 15, 2017, NRG Energy had the highest implied volatility among the utility companies that make up the Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU).

On January 18, 2017, NRG Energy (NRG) had a short interest-to-equity float ratio of 6.7%, the highest among the utility stocks that make up XLU.

On January 18, 2017, NRG Energy (NRG) had the highest implied volatility among the utility companies that make up the Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU).

On January 5, 2017, NRG Energy (NRG) had a short interest-to-equity float ratio of 6.7%—the highest among the utility stocks that make up XLU.

On December 15, 2016, NRG Energy had a short interest-to-equity float ratio of 6.7%—the highest among the utility stocks that make up the Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF.

On December 15, 2016, NRG Energy had the highest implied volatility among the utility companies that make up the Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF.

On December 6, 2016, NRG Energy (NRG) had a short interest-to-equity float ratio of 7.4%—the highest among the utility stocks that make up XLU.

On December 6, NRG Energy (NRG) had the highest implied volatility among the utility companies that make up the Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU).

On November 8, NRG Energy (NRG) had the highest implied volatility among the utility companies that make up the Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU).

In the last three months, NRC Energy’s stock has fallen 24.7%—the most among the utility stocks in the table above.

On October 26, 2016, NRG Energy (NRG) had the highest implied volatility among the utility companies that make up the Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU).

As of October 19, NRG Energy (NRG) has the highest short interest-to-equity float ratio among utility stock companies that are part of the XLU at 5.1%.

As of October 13, 2016, NRG Energy (NRG) has the highest short interest-to-equity float ratio among utility stock companies that are part of XLU at 5.1%.

Institutional investors’ percentage of float held in NI rose by 2.6% from 86.5% on June 30, 2016, to 88.8% on August 28.

For 2Q16, NiSource (NI) paid a $0.16 dividend per share.

According to analysts’ estimates, NiSource’s dividends are expected to fall by over 9% in the next two years.

Currently, NiSource (NI) is trading at a forward dividend yield of 2.7%.

At the end of the second quarter of 2016, NiSource (NI) had a total debt of $7.3 billion.

NiSource’s (NI) adjusted EPS (earnings per share) grew by 8%–10% historically because its pipeline segment was growing at a double-digit pace.

NiSource’s consolidated ROE currently stands below the industry average because of the legacy goodwill it capitalized during the Columbia Gas acquisition.

NiSource (NI) was trading at an EV-to-EBITDA (enterprise value to earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization) multiple of 11.2x as of September 6, 2016.

NiSource (NI) might be better placed on the revenue growth front than the industry because of its heavy gas distribution operations.

As of September 6, 2016, NiSource (NI) was trading at a 4% discount and a 6% premium to its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, respectively.

NiSource (NI), a gas utility holding company with mostly regulated operations, exited its pipeline business Columbia Pipeline Group last year.

According to Wall Street analysts’ estimates, NiSource (NI) has a one-year median price target of $25.11 compared to its current market price of $25.94.

NiSource has returned a massive 56% in the last 12 months. It has rallied by more than 50% in the last year.

On August 2, NiSource was trading at an EV-to-EBITDA (enterprise value to earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization) multiple of 11.8x.

NiSource (NI) reported its 2Q16 earnings on August 2, 2016. It reported net operating earnings of $0.08 per share in the quarter.

According to Wall Street analysts’ estimates, NiSource (NI) has a one-year median price target of $22.65 compared to its current market price of $26.

NiSource’s (NI) stock is currently trading at 4% and 16% premiums to its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, respectively.

On July 25, NiSource was trading at an EV-to-EBITDA (enterprise value to earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization) multiple of 11.2x.

Following the spin-off of its pipeline business, NiSource’s (NI) utility rate base is valued at nearly $8 billion.

Analysts are expecting NiSource (NI) to report earnings per share (or EPS) of $0.07 in 2Q16. In the same quarter last year, it posted EPS of $0.18.

NiSource will report its 2Q16 results on August 2, 2016. According to estimates, NiSource is expected to report revenue of $1 billion for the quarter.

As of June 29, 2016, NRG Energy (NRG) has the highest short-interest-to-equity float ratio of all utility stocks (XLU).

Columbia Pipeline Group has reaffirmed its 2015 targets in its 2Q15 and 3Q15 earnings releases—its only earnings releases since separating from NiSource.

Columbia Pipeline Group has traded below its 50-day moving average since the end of August, except for on November 3, the day it announced its 3Q15 results.

Mutual funds currently own ~20% of outstanding corporate bonds—a gaining trend. Bond mutual funds thus have an increasing role in credit intermediation.

The Federal Open Market Committee’s June statement didn’t elicit a strong reaction in either direction from investment-grade bonds, especially not from Treasuries.

Glenview Capital Management increased its stake in Teradyne (TER) by 4 million shares from its 3Q14 position to nearly 12 million shares.

Adage Capital raised its position in NiSource Inc. (NI) in the third quarter. The position accounted for 0.52% of the fund’s total 3Q14 portfolio.

Adage Capital raised its position in Citigroup Inc. (C) in the third quarter. The position accounted for 0.98% of the fund’s total 3Q portfolio.

Adage Capital exited a position in Kinder Morgan Inc (KMI) in the third quarter. The position accounted for 0.37% of the fund’s total 2Q portfolio.

Adage Capital’s US long portfolio grew from $38.69 billion in 2Q14 to $40.2 billion in 3Q14. The portfolio comprised around 699 stocks.