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☆ New data centers require billions of dollars in utility system upgrades. You may end up paying for it.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Daniel Geiger | Ellen Thomas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

A record surge of data center construction is underway to provide the computing and storage that underpins society's fast-expanding digital footprint and powers artificial intelligence. In areas of the country where data centers have clustered, utilities have unveiled plans to spend billions of dollars to keep up. asked David Springe, the executive director of the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates. "Then you have the data centers that are having exponential load growth," Nelson said. Data centers also don't deliver the number of long term jobs – a key yardstick for public benefits – that other industries do.

Persons: Mike DeWine, David Springe, they're, Ryan Augsburger, Augsburger, Ron Nelson, Strategen, ratepayers, Nelson, Steve Helber, That's, PJM, David Lapp, Lapp, Jeffrey Shields, Shields, Kantele Franko, Shelby Moore, Meta, behemoth Blackstone, QTS, John Gavan, Daniel Tait, Tait Organizations: Amazon, Ohioans, Business, Wall, Boston Consulting Group, National Association of State, Consumer, Ohio Manufacturers ' Association, Web Services, Energy, Dominion Energy, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Tech, Wall Street titans, American Electric Power, Buckeye Power, AEP, Buckeye, AEP Ohio, Staff, Intel, Policy Institute Locations: Ohio, ratepayers, Chester , Va, Virginia, PJM, Chicago, New Jersey, New York City, Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Columbus , Ohio, Denver, New Albany , Ohio, Minnesota, Columbus, Mississippi

☆ Beyond the 'Magnificent 7': Morningstar's top strategist names other stocks to own
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Amala Balakrishner | In Amala-Balakrishner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

"The Magnificent Seven stocks generally are starting to run out of steam at this point because their valuations are getting pretty full at this point of time," Morningstar's Chief Markets Strategist David Sekera told CNBC Pro on Feb. 2. However, Sekera thinks things are looking up for small-caps and value stocks — the latter of which he says are trading at an 11% discount relative to Morningstar's fair value and look like a "good area for investors to overweight in U.S. stocks right now." Tech stocks The chief strategist remains bullish on tech, albeit outside of the Magnificent Seven, and named Cognizant Technology Solutions and Snowflake as picks to play the theme. Value in energy The energy sector — one of the laggards of the stock market last year — is also on Sekera's radar. Morningstar gives stocks a rating of between one and five stars, with a top rating indicating that the shares are undervalued.

Persons: David Sekera, Morningstar, Sekera, Russell, —, We're, doesn't, NiSource, Entergy Organizations: Big Tech, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia, Tesla, CNBC Pro, Dow, Nasdaq, Tech, Technology Solutions, APA Corp, Morningstar, Exxon, APA, Entergy, WEC Energy Locations: Suriname, United States

☆ There's a once-in-a-decade opportunity in a sector that pays high dividends. Morningstar's chief strategist shares 5 stocks trading at discounts not seen since 2009.
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Laila Maidan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The best opportunities today are in value stocks, meaning names trading at about a 22% discount to fair value, he said. Morningstar estimates fair value based on its projection of a company's future cash flows and the predictability of those flows. In fact, year-to-date, many utilities stocks have fallen by more than even long-dated bonds. What's great about utilities stocks is that they are very steady because demand for electricity is inelastic. It's a five-star-rated stock trading at a 23% discount to fair value and has about a 4.58% dividend yield.

Persons: Dave Sekera, Sekera, Travis Miller, It's Organizations: Stocks, Morningstar, Treasuries, NextEra Energy, Duke Energy, Electric Power Company Locations: AEP

☆ These stocks have earnings momentum heading into their reports this week
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( Pia Singh | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Another chunk of companies are set to report this week, and analysts think earnings are on their side. CNBC Pro screened for the S & P 500 companies reporting this week that analysts are most excited about, leading them to lift their earnings estimates. Earnings per share estimates are also up 18.1% and 29.6% in the past three and six months, respectively. First Solar has the highest changes in analysts' earnings per share estimates, up 90% and 115.1% in the past three and six months, respectively. Shares have slid about 9% this year, with losses accelerating this month after peer solar company SolarEdge cut its third-quarter guidance on slowing demand in Europe.

Persons: Azar —, Tinder, Entergy, Ingersoll Rand, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: CNBC Pro, Bank of America, JPMorgan, Energy, Marathon Petroleum, Micro Devices Locations: Europe

☆ America's electric grid is in shambles. Biden has made the largest federal investment ever to try and fix it.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Matthew Daly | Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Biden announced $3.5 billion for 58 projects across the country to strengthen the electric grid. This is the largest federal investment ever made in grid infrastructure, said US Energy Secretary. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said it was the largest federal investment ever in grid infrastructure, supporting projects that will harden electric systems and improve energy reliability and affordability. The federal spending, combined with money promised by private partners, could result in up to $8 billion in investments nationally to upgrade the grid, Granholm said. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe largest grant, $464 million, will go to improve five transmission projects across seven Midwestern states, from Iowa to North Dakota.

Persons: Biden, Jennifer Granholm, Granholm, Chip Somodevilla, ″, Mitch Landrieu, Joe Biden, Landrieu, Jonathan Foley, Foley, Tim Walz, Steve Karnowski Organizations: US Energy, Service, Wednesday, Energy, Biden, Resilience, White House, Minnesota Gov, AP, of Commerce, CPS Energy, Consumers Energy, Flint, DTE Energy, Portland General Electric Locations: Maui, California, Georgia, Louisiana, American, Oregon, Iowa, North Dakota, Hawaii, California , Oregon , Utah, Minnesota, Locust Grove, Orleans, San Antonio, Texas , Colorado , New Mexico, Wisconsin, Texas, Michigan, Grand Rapids, Detroit

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration on Wednesday announced $3.5 billion for 58 projects across the country to strengthen electric grid resilience as extreme weather events such as the deadly Maui and California wildfires continue to strain the nation’s aging transmission systems. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said it was the largest federal investment ever in grid infrastructure, supporting projects that will harden electric systems and improve energy reliability and affordability. The federal spending, combined with money promised by private partners, could result in up to $8 billion in investments nationally to upgrade the grid, Granholm said. Political Cartoons View All 1211 ImagesThe largest grant, $464 million, will go to improve five transmission projects across seven Midwestern states, from Iowa to North Dakota. In southeastern Pennsylvania, PECO Energy Co. will increase grid reliability and resilience through substation flood mitigation and replacing aging infrastructure.

Persons: —, Biden, Jennifer Granholm, Granholm, ″, Mitch Landrieu, Joe Biden, ” Landrieu, ”, Jonathan Foley, ” Foley, Isabella O'Malley Organizations: WASHINGTON, Wednesday, Energy, Biden, Resilience, White House, Entergy, CPS Energy, DTE Energy, PECO Energy, Portland General Electric, Associated Press Locations: Maui, California, Georgia, Louisiana, American, Oregon, Iowa, North Dakota, Hawaii, California , Oregon , Utah, San Francisco, Locust Grove , Georgia, Orleans, San Antonio, Minnesota, Texas , Colorado , New Mexico, Wisconsin, Texas, Michigan, Detroit, Pennsylvania, New York

☆ Beware these debt-laden stocks breaking down under the weight of higher rates
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Lisa Kailai Han | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Stocks have sold off as Wall Street accepted that the Federal Reserve might keep interest rates higher for longer to crush inflation. Corporate debt refinancings are going to start hitting profits more urgently starting in 2024, according to Wolfe Research chief investment strategist Chris Senyek. "[T]hat higher interest expense is likely to create a $5-$7/share headwind for S & P 500 operating EPS in 2024," Senyek said. Stocks have sold off as Wall Street accepted that the Federal Reserve might keep interest rates higher for longer to crush inflation. "[T]hat higher interest expense is likely to create a $5-$7/share headwind for S&P 500 operating EPS in 2024," Senyek said.

Persons: Stocks, Chris Senyek, —, Senyek, LSEG, RC Willey, George Frey, BAX Baxter, Lockheed Martin, Kellogg Organizations: Labor Department, Wall, Federal Reserve, Wolfe Research, CNBC, General Motors, United Auto Workers, GM, Whirlpool, Kellogg, RC, Bloomberg, Getty, Equity, Lockheed, AEP American Electric Power, Dominion Energy, Motors, Duke Energy, VZ Verizon Communications, Nasdaq, Stock Screener, Whirlpool Corp Locations: Draper , Utah

☆ Climate change turns US utilities grimly exciting
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Robert Cyran | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

A hotter and stormier world is making life unpleasantly exciting for shareholders, as Hawaiian Electric Industries (HE.N) shows. Yet while European firms have buried power lines underground to avoid damage from storm and fires, American utilities have generally balked. The firm said a second fire began in the same area several hours later, after the utility had turned off local power lines. Separately, Hawaiian Electric Industries, the parent company of Hawaiian Electric, said on Aug. 24 it had suspended its dividend. The company said HEI had withdrawn $170 million and Hawaiian Electric had withdrawn $200 million from their existing revolving unsecured credit facilities to strengthen their balance sheets.

Persons: Joe Biden, Jill Biden, Josh Green, Jaime Green ,, Lady of, Kevin Lamarque, HEI, Fitch, Lawrence, Peter Thal Larsen, Sharon Lam, Aditya Sriwatsav Organizations: Hawaii, REUTERS, Reuters, Hawaiian Electric Industries, United, Utilities, Hurricanes, Lawrence Berkeley National, Edison International, Consolidated Edison, Dow, Maui, Hawaiian Electric, Electric, Thomson Locations: Lady of Hawaii, Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, U.S, United States, Americas, Europe, Alaska, California, New York, Arkansas , Louisiana, Texas

☆ Republican-controlled states like Oklahoma are rushing to invest in clean energy, even as conservative groups push for more oil and gas
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

GOP-controlled states like Oklahoma are seeing major economic investment in clean energy industries. A solar power exec told The New York Times the "financial opportunity" is drawing people in. But as The Heritage Foundation pushes back against renewables, clean energy companies and projects are leading the way in Republican-led states. About two-thirds of new clean energy investment is in Republican states such as Oklahoma, Texas, and South Dakota, the Times reported. Peters, president of Solar Power of Oklahoma, told the Times, "but most people are doing this for the financial opportunity."

Persons: Trump, Entergy, J.W, Peters Organizations: New York Times, The Heritage Foundation, Service, Republican, The New York Times, Heritage Foundation, Times, US Steel, American Clean Power Association, Solar Power Locations: Oklahoma, Oklahoma , Texas, South Dakota, Arkansas, , Texas

☆ Morning Bid: Triple-A headache
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Four thousand U.S. dollars are counted out by a banker counting currency at a bank in Westminster, Colorado November 3, 2009. On Tuesday, Fitch became the second major agency, after Standard & Poor's in 2011, to strip the United States of its prized triple-A credit rating. Jefferies notes that, with two of the three major agencies listing U.S. debt at AA, U.S. bonds no longer count as AAA in some key indices. However, according to Jefferies, most investors have moved away from some of the stricter criteria around holding triple-A rated debt, given Germany is the only large issuer left with that rating. Chart shows that the U.S.'s long-term foreign currency rating was downgraded by Fitch to AA+ in 2023, following a similar move from S&P in 2011.

Persons: Rick Wilking, Amanda Cooper, Fitch, Jefferies, it's, Dupont Nemours, Kraft, Phillips, Ingersoll Rand, John Stonestreet Organizations: REUTERS, Standard, Capitol, Investors, Treasury, Moody's, Moody's Investors Service, U.S ., U.S, AA, AAA, CVS Health, Entergy, Kraft Heinz, Garmin, Brands, Bunge Ltd, Lincoln National, Occidental Petroleum, ETSY, Cognizant Technology Solutions, Atmos Energy, Equinix, Qualcomm, MGM Resorts, MetLife, Fitch, Reuters Graphics U.S, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Westminster , Colorado, U.S, United States, Aaa, Germany, Exelon, Albemarle, Occidental, Clorox

☆ These are JPMorgan's favorite stocks for August
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

JPMorgan Chase's favorite stocks list heading into August include two new picks — both of which are auto retail companies. The focus list is a compilation of the firm's best ideas across three investment strategies: growth, value and short ideas. CarGurus was named to the list as a growth idea. However, he said the company's stock price has recently "narrowed the gap" with premium competitors. The analyst's $121 price target is 17% above where shares closed Monday.

Persons: CarGurus, Raj Gupta, Gupta, Carvana, Jeremy Tonet, Tonet, It's Organizations: JPMorgan, CMS Energy, Caterpillar, HP Locations: Entergy

☆ Third quarter is a key time for extreme weather events. Here's what to expect for exposed stocks
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

The third quarter is a key time for extreme weather events. An El Niño weather pattern is widely expected for 2023. "Following three years of La Niña, climate scientists expect 2023 to have El Niño conditions with near-100% certainty given current signals," Karp said in a note to clients last month. Insurers are also among the stocks to typically move in relation to extreme weather events. This year should be a fairly typical one for hurricanes, as El Niño is typically linked to a less severe season.

Persons: Nature, —, Sophie Karp, La, Karp, El, bode, Morgan Stanley, Andrei Stadnik, Stadnik, Matthew Carletti doesn't, hasn't, Jefferies, Yaron Kinar, Brown, Arthur J, Gallagher, Aon, Niño, Generac, Aaron Jagdfeld, Bob Huang, bullish, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, Energy, DTE Energy, WEC Energy, CNBC Pro's, WEC, Xcel Energy, Portland General Electric, Edison International, CenterPoint, Southern Company, Duke Energy, Nextera Energy, El, Insurance Australia Group, Suncorp, Arch Capital, Everest Re, Bloomberg, Arch Locations: El, Canada, U.S, Gulf, Pacific Northwest, California, Michigan, Avista, Portland, American, Mexico, CenterPoint Energy, Bermuda, Texas

☆ Shell restarts Norco, Louisiana refinery after power outage, fire
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-25 | by ( Erwin Seba | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Companies Entergy Corp FollowShell PLC FollowHOUSTON, June 25 (Reuters) - Shell Plc (SHEL.L) has begun restarting its 227,900 barrel-per-day (bpd) refinery in Norco, Louisiana after it was shut following a power outage, a company spokesperson said on Sunday. Shell gradually began resuming operations at the Norco refinery on Saturday, the sources said. The power interruption took place on Saturday at an Entergy substation supplying the Norco refinery, Shell spokesperson Curtis Smith. DU-5 is the only CDU at the Norco refinery. In a notice posted to area residents, Shell said power was restored to the refinery on Saturday afternoon.

Persons: Curtis Smith, Norco, Shell, Erwin Seba, Lisa Shumaker, Sherry Jacob, Phillips Organizations: Entergy, Shell, HOUSTON, Shell Plc, DU, Thomson Locations: Norco , Louisiana, United States

☆ Big Tech earnings, crucial inflation call — here comes the biggest week of earnings season
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-22 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

Stocks stuck to a holding pattern this week as investors brace for an incoming wave of Big Tech earnings and the Fed's favorite inflation reading. Earnings reports have generally been better than expected so far this first quarter. Humana (HUM) reports before the bell Wednesday; Meta Platforms and Pioneer Natural Resources (PXD) report after the bell Wednesday. ET: Personal Spending & Income (includes PCE Price Index) Club trades this week Just one trade: We added 150 shares of Coterra Energy (CTRA) on Wednesday. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade.

Twilio CEO Jeff Lawson bought $10 million worth of his company's stock last week, putting him at the top of the list for insider buying, according to VerityData and securities filings. Twilio, like many other tech stocks, deflated in 2022, and the stock is down about 80% since mid-October 2021. A $10 million buy from Twilio CEO Jeff Lawson on Feb. 24. A nearly $2 million buy from Impinj chairman Steve Sanghi on Feb. 23. On the smaller side, Charles Rivers Labs director Richard Wallman made his second insider buy in three months.

☆ Biden admin offers $1.2 billion for distressed, shut nuclear plants
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, March 2 (Reuters) - The Biden administration said on Thursday it is offering a fresh round of $1.2 billion in aid to extend the life of distressed nuclear power plants which, for the first time, could offer funding to a plant that has recently closed. President Joe Biden's climate team believes nuclear power is a crucial source of virtually carbon-free electricity needed to be maintained and expanded to reach his pledge of what it calls 100% clean electricity by 2035. The funding comes from the $6 billion Civil Nuclear Credit program, created by the 2021 infrastructure law, and will be distributed by the Department of Energy (DOE). Holtec International, the current owner, had applied for the first round of funding, but the DOE rejected it. Last year, the DOE provided $1.1 billion in conditional CNC funding to Pacific Gas & Electric's Diablo Canyon nuclear plant that had been set to fully shut in 2025.

☆ Morning Bid: Growth trumps rates
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

While there were some questions about seasonal adjustments in the data, economists were impressed that sales growth was pretty broad based and have scrambled to re-crunch first quarter U.S. output forecasts as a result. There may be a more mixed picture from Thursday's data slate on producer prices, housing starts and weekly jobless claims. Even though rates futures and Treasury yields ticked back a bit today, pricing now has Fed policy rates moving as high as 5.25% and staying above 5% all year. And while full-year earnings growth estimates for S&P500 companies have sunk to zero, consensus forecasts are now pencilling in a rebound of almost 12% next year. Uncertainty about the pace of growth and annual tax receipts in April makes it difficult for government officials to predict the exact "X-date", it said.

☆ Key inflation data in the week ahead will offer clues to future Fed rate moves and the market's path
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-11 | by ( Zev Fima | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Looking forward The January consumer price index (CPI) , which calculates the average change over time in prices that shoppers pay for goods and services, is slated for Tuesday. Economists and investors will use the number to gauge the odds of a soft landing or hard landing for the economy. The producer price index (PPI) for January, which calculates the change in selling prices received by producers of goods and services, is out on Thursday. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio.

With a majority of S & P 500 companies having posted their quarterly results, investors' focus will turn toward inflation and the consumer price index reading in the upcoming week. The three major indexes are on pace to end the week down, with the S & P 500 poised to post its worst performance since December. Sharp declines for Alphabet , which is off by more than 9% this week, dragged the tech-heavy index. January's consumer price index With the latest Powell speech in the books, investors are now looking ahead to the consumer price index for insight into the pace of inflation. "Retail sales and CPI is really driven by the consumer, and a lot of eyes are on how the consumer doing," Bruno said.

☆ An influx of natural disasters and rising storm-recovery costs means Americans will have to pay pricier utility bills for decades
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-11 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Utility bills are costing Americans more than ever, thanks to natural disasters rocking power grids. Companies have taken on billions in debt to strengthen their grids against storms, according to WSJ. One in six US households are behind on their utility bills, the National Energy Assistance Directors' Association reported. According to a November release from the National Energy Assistance Directors' Association, one in six households in the US are behind on their utility bills. The families owe a total of $16.1 billion as of August 2022, an $8 billion increase from December 2019.

☆ The Fed could lay the groundwork for a year end rally in the week ahead
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Patti Domm | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

The coming week is also the busiest of the corporate earnings season, with about a third of the S & P 500 companies releasing results. "Historically, the market waits for the last Fed rate hike to be introduced and then the market climbs higher. The S & P 500 was up more than 8.8% for the month. The Dow was up 5.7% on the week, the S & P 500 was up 5.7% and the Nasdaq was up 2.2%. The 50-day moving average is 3,841 for the S & P 500, and it was well above it Friday afternoon for the second time in the past week.

☆ A Florida security contractor fired a worker via Signal chat 10 minutes after they raised concerns about COVID-19 safety, lawsuit says
▼ + stars: | 2022-02-16 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Florida security contractor fired a worker after they raised concerns about COVID-19 safety, a lawsuit says. The worker also raised concerns about firearm storage, said the Department of Labor, which is bringing the suit. Employees at companies including Amazon, GameStop, and Instacart have complained about unsafe working conditions during the pandemic, including a lack of personal protective equipment, hazard pay, and clear COVID-19 safety policies. The worker raised concerns about the relocation in a group chat with supervisors on encrypted-messaging app Signal, citing concerns about COVID-19 policies and secure firearm storage, the lawsuit says. VRP Group fired the worker in the Signal chat "less than ten minutes after his first text asking about the COVID-19 protocols," the DOL says in the lawsuit.

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