FirstEnergy (NYSE:FE) Sets New 1-Year High - Should You Buy?

Key Points

• FirstEnergy Corporation's stock hit a new 52-week high of $47.65 during trading, indicating strong market performance with a current trade of $47.57.
• Analyst ratings for the stock show a consensus of "Moderate Buy," with eight analysts recommending buying shares and a price target averaging $46.83.
• FirstEnergy announced a quarterly dividend of $0.445, which translates to a dividend yield of 3.7%, scheduled for payment on December 1st.

FirstEnergy Corporation (NYSE:FE - Get Free Report)'s share price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $47.65 and last traded at $47.57, with a volume of 444745 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $46.97.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. KeyCorp reiterated an "overweight" rating and set a $46.00 target price (down previously from $47.00) on shares of FirstEnergy in a research report on Wednesday, July 16th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a "buy (b)" rating on shares of FirstEnergy in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Barclays upgraded shares of FirstEnergy from an "equal weight" rating to an "overweight" rating and increased their target price for the stock from $43.00 to $49.00 in a research report on Monday, August 25th. UBS Group set a $44.00 price objective on shares of FirstEnergy and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Tuesday, June 24th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on shares of FirstEnergy from $48.00 to $47.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, September 25th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $46.83.

FirstEnergy Price Performance

The company has a market cap of $27.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.03, a PEG ratio of 2.88 and a beta of 0.52. The company has a quick ratio of 0.51, a current ratio of 0.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.68. The company's fifty day moving average price is $44.16 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $42.19.

FirstEnergy (NYSE:FE - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 30th. The utilities provider reported $0.52 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.50 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $3.40 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.45 billion. FirstEnergy had a net margin of 9.31% and a return on equity of 11.31%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.56 earnings per share. FirstEnergy has set its FY 2025 guidance at 2.400-2.600 EPS. On average, equities research analysts forecast that FirstEnergy Corporation will post 2.66 EPS for the current fiscal year.

FirstEnergy Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 7th will be given a $0.445 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 7th. This represents a $1.78 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.7%. FirstEnergy's dividend payout ratio is presently 78.76%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On FirstEnergy

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. State of Wyoming bought a new position in FirstEnergy during the second quarter worth about $25,000. Oliver Lagore Vanvalin Investment Group bought a new position in FirstEnergy during the second quarter worth about $26,000. Investment Research & Advisory Group Inc. bought a new position in FirstEnergy during the second quarter worth about $26,000. N.E.W. Advisory Services LLC bought a new position in FirstEnergy during the first quarter worth about $27,000. Finally, Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC increased its position in FirstEnergy by 186.4% during the second quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC now owns 676 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 440 shares during the period. 89.41% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

FirstEnergy Company Profile

FirstEnergy Corp., through its subsidiaries, generates, transmits, and distributes electricity in the United States. It operates through Regulated Distribution and Regulated Transmission segments. The company owns and operates coal-fired, nuclear, hydroelectric, wind, and solar power generating facilities.

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