Majority of S&P 500 Utility Stocks Exceed Earnings Expectations This Week
Utilities Earnings Performance: Most S&P 500 utilities exceeded Wall Street's earnings forecasts this week, with only three companies missing estimates, while only three out of twelve reported revenue shortfalls.
Sector Growth and Investment: The utilities sector is experiencing significant growth driven by increased power demand, leading to substantial investments in generation capacity, with expectations of sustained high earnings growth.
Key Company Reports: NextEra Energy reported strong Q3 results and a $40 billion infrastructure plan, while Dominion Energy and Southern Company also exceeded earnings expectations, though American Electric Power and Xcel Energy faced challenges.
Upcoming Reports: Notable utility companies like Duke Energy, Vistra, and Consolidated Edison are set to report their results next week, with analysts projecting positive earnings for each.
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Analyst Views on XLU

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- Market Theme Reset: Strong market themes often require a reset before advancing, and nuclear stocks are currently undergoing this phase.
- Nuclear Stocks Movement: The movement of nuclear stocks indicates they are in a transitional period, potentially setting the stage for future growth.
Types of Market Crashes: Stock market bubbles can lead to two distinct types of crashes when they burst: sector-specific crashes and systemic crashes.
Sector-Specific Crashes: An example of a sector-specific crash is the dot-com collapse that occurred between 2000 and 2002, which primarily affected technology stocks.
Systemic Crashes: In contrast, systemic crashes impact the entire market, as seen during the financial crisis of 2008-09, where widespread declines occurred across various sectors.
Uniqueness of Bubbles: Each stock market bubble is unique, much like snowflakes, indicating that the circumstances and outcomes of each bubble's burst can vary significantly.

- Bond Market Performance: The bond market experienced its best year since 2020, surprising income investors who were losing hope.
- Future Outlook: Despite some emerging risks, the outlook for the bond market in 2026 remains positive.
Market Performance: The S&P 500 has achieved a 16% return in 2025, but investors are advised to look beyond the final week of the year.
Focus on Future Catalysts: Key factors that could drive market momentum into early 2026 include earnings growth, leadership changes at the Federal Reserve, and a Supreme Court ruling on President Trump's tariffs.
Expert Insight: Ulrike Hoffman-Burchardi, UBS Wealth Management's chief investment officer, emphasizes that the catalysts for 2026 are more significant than the potential for a year-end rally.
Investment Strategy: Investors should prioritize understanding these upcoming catalysts rather than being distracted by short-term market fluctuations.

Dividend Declaration: State Street® Utilities Select Sector SPDR® ETF (XLU) has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.3172 per share, payable on December 24 to shareholders of record on December 22, with an ex-dividend date also on December 22.
Yield Information: The 30-Day SEC Yield for XLU is reported at 2.73% as of December 18.
Market Predictions: Insights are provided on the 2026 market outlook, discussing potential sector outperformers and laggards as the market undergoes changes.
Energy Supply Issues: The U.S. has ordered a Washington coal plant to remain operational to prevent winter energy shortages, while the Pacific Northwest has experienced significant power outages due to severe storms.
- Utility Stocks Performance: Utility stocks are currently experiencing a decline in value.
- Investment Opportunity: Despite the downturn, they are considered undervalued and present a compelling investment opportunity.









