NiSource (NYSE:NI) Releases Quarterly Earnings Results, Hits Expectations

NiSource (NYSE:NI) posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday. The utilities provider reported $0.16 EPS for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.16, FiscalAI reports. The firm had revenue of $1.34 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.15 billion. NiSource had a return on equity of 7.95% and a net margin of 13.20%.During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.22 EPS. NiSource updated its FY 2026 guidance to 2.020-2.070 EPS.

Here are the key takeaways from NiSource’s conference call:

• 2026 guidance was reaffirmed at adjusted EPS of $2.02–$2.07, with management maintaining its 6%–8% annual base-plan EPS growth target through 2030 and 9%–10% consolidated EPS CAGR target through 2033.
• NiSource advanced its data-center strategy through IURC approvals for Amazon and Alphabet agreements. The contracts are expected to provide approximately $1.4 billion in cumulative bill reductions for existing NIPSCO electric customers, with savings potentially beginning in the fourth quarter.
• Large-load demand remains strong, with 3 gigawatts in active negotiations and approximately 2 gigawatts of additional potential customers behind the existing 9-gigawatt pipeline; management is also evaluating ways to expand capacity beyond that pipeline.
• Second-quarter adjusted EPS declined to $0.16 from $0.22 year over year, as higher storm-related operating costs and expenses associated with maintaining workforce continuity during union negotiations offset rate and recovery-mechanism benefits.
• An Indiana regulatory order did not approve recovery through the requested natural-gas tracker at this stage, requiring NiSource to better demonstrate project benefits; management said it will pursue recovery through other mechanisms, including FMCA proceedings and future rate cases, without changing its capital or EPS outlook.

NiSource Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:NI traded down $0.56 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $42.82. 3,999,823 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,442,770. The stock has a market cap of $20.53 billion, a PE ratio of 22.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.19 and a beta of 0.55. The business’s fifty day moving average is $46.40 and its two-hundred day moving average is $46.43. NiSource has a one year low of $38.45 and a one year high of $49.21. The company has a current ratio of 0.50, a quick ratio of 0.56 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.31.

NiSource Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, August 20th. Investors of record on Friday, July 31st will be given a dividend of $0.30 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 31st. This represents a $1.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.8%. NiSource’s dividend payout ratio is currently 59.70%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other NiSource news, EVP Melody Birmingham sold 2,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $47.43, for a total value of $118,575.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 116,036 shares in the company, valued at $5,503,587.48. The trade was a 2.11% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Melanie B. Berman sold 15,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, May 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $47.68, for a total transaction of $715,200.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 35,990 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,716,003.20. The trade was a 29.42% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 27,500 shares of company stock worth $1,305,675. 0.37% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On NiSource

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Compound Planning Inc. grew its holdings in shares of NiSource by 3.7% in the fourth quarter. Compound Planning Inc. now owns 15,045 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $628,000 after purchasing an additional 535 shares in the last quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC grew its stake in shares of NiSource by 96.3% in the 4th quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 138,863 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $5,491,000 after buying an additional 68,119 shares in the last quarter. Strive Financial Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of NiSource in the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV raised its position in shares of NiSource by 35.9% during the 4th quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV now owns 40,276 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $1,682,000 after buying an additional 10,636 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Achmea Investment Management B.V. raised its position in shares of NiSource by 1.0% during the 4th quarter. Achmea Investment Management B.V. now owns 41,624 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $1,738,000 after buying an additional 421 shares in the last quarter. 91.64% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on NI. Citigroup lifted their price objective on NiSource from $47.00 to $49.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Monday, May 11th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of NiSource from $51.00 to $52.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, May 7th. Evercore set a $52.00 target price on shares of NiSource in a research note on Monday, May 11th. KeyCorp lowered their price target on shares of NiSource from $52.00 to $50.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, July 23rd. Finally, BMO Capital Markets dropped their price target on shares of NiSource from $51.00 to $49.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, July 17th. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, NiSource currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $49.70.

About NiSource

NiSource, Inc (NYSE: NI) is a publicly traded energy holding company headquartered in Merrillville, Indiana, that primarily owns and operates regulated local gas and electric utilities in the United States. Through its operating subsidiaries, the company delivers natural gas and electricity to residential, commercial and industrial customers and provides the associated distribution and transmission services that keep local energy systems functioning.

The company’s core activities include natural gas distribution, electric transmission and distribution, system operations, maintenance and emergency response.