Zacks Research Issues Optimistic Forecast for Spire Earnings

Key Points

• Zacks Research raised its Q4 2026 EPS forecast for Spire to a loss of $0.98 per share from a prior estimate of $1.00, while projecting FY2027 earnings of $5.49 per share.
• Spire recently exceeded quarterly expectations, reporting a $0.26-per-share loss versus the estimated $0.32 loss, while revenue rose 19.2% year over year to $420.2 million. The company maintained FY2026 guidance of $3.90–$4.10 EPS.
• Analyst sentiment is broadly positive, with a “Moderate Buy” consensus rating and an average price target of $94 versus the stock’s $83.25 opening price. Spire also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.825 per share, representing a 4.0% annualized yield.

Spire Inc. (NYSE:SR - Free Report) - Equities researchers at Zacks Research upped their Q4 2026 earnings per share estimates for shares of Spire in a research report issued on Wednesday, September 2nd. Zacks Research analyst Team now forecasts that the utilities provider will earn ($0.98) per share for the quarter, up from their prior estimate of ($1.00). The consensus estimate for Spire's current full-year earnings is $4.01 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Spire's Q2 2027 earnings at $4.07 EPS, FY2027 earnings at $5.49 EPS, Q1 2028 earnings at $2.10 EPS and Q2 2028 earnings at $4.26 EPS.

Spire (NYSE:SR - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 5th. The utilities provider reported ($0.26) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of ($0.32) by $0.06. Spire had a net margin of 21.48% and a return on equity of 8.65%. The firm had revenue of $420.20 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $394.62 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.01 EPS. Spire's revenue was up 19.2% on a year-over-year basis. Spire has set its FY 2026 guidance at 3.900-4.100 EPS.

Several other equities analysts have also commented on the stock. Wolfe Research started coverage on shares of Spire in a report on Tuesday, May 26th. They issued a "peer perform" rating on the stock. Mizuho began coverage on shares of Spire in a report on Tuesday, July 7th. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $88.00 target price for the company. BTIG Research set a $101.00 target price on Spire in a research report on Thursday, July 23rd. Weiss Ratings raised Spire from a "buy (b-)" rating to a "buy (b)" rating in a research report on Friday, July 24th. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded Spire from a "strong sell" rating to a "sell" rating in a research note on Saturday, August 8th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have assigned a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $94.00.

Spire Price Performance

Shares of SR opened at $83.25 on Friday. Spire has a 1-year low of $73.91 and a 1-year high of $95.31. The stock has a market cap of $4.92 billion, a PE ratio of 9.28, a P/E/G ratio of 1.85 and a beta of 0.54. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $81.47 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $85.57. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.61, a current ratio of 0.37 and a quick ratio of 0.27.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Spire

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in SR. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Spire during the fourth quarter worth $25,000. MV Capital Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Spire in the fourth quarter valued at $33,000. SHP Wealth Management purchased a new position in Spire in the fourth quarter valued at $35,000. Headlands Technologies LLC purchased a new position in Spire in the second quarter valued at $38,000. Finally, International Assets Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in Spire during the 4th quarter worth $43,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.36% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity at Spire

In related news, SVP Ryan L. Hyman sold 3,822 shares of Spire stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, June 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $80.51, for a total value of $307,709.22. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president owned 14,295 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,150,890.45. The trade was a 21.10% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Paul D. Koonce bought 500 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 11th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $78.46 per share, for a total transaction of $39,230.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the director owned 8,000 shares in the company, valued at $627,680. This trade represents a 6.67% increase in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this purchase provides additional information. Company insiders own 2.26% of the company's stock.

Spire Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 11th will be given a dividend of $0.825 per share. This represents a $3.30 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, September 11th. Spire's dividend payout ratio is currently 36.79%.

About Spire

Spire Inc NYSE: SR, formerly known as The Laclede Group, is a regulated natural gas distribution company headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. Through its three operating divisions—Spire Missouri, Spire Alabama and Spire Mississippi—the company delivers natural gas to more than 1.7 million residential, commercial and industrial customers. Spire's service territory spans key markets in the central and southern United States, including metropolitan St. Louis, central Alabama and central Mississippi.

Founded in 1857 as the Laclede Gas Light Company, the business has grown through strategic acquisitions, notably Alabama Gas Corporation in 2013 and Mississippi Gas in 2016.

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