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CMS or ETR or PPL
Which Stock Would AI Choose? CMS Energy (CMS) vs. Entergy (ETR) vs. PPL Corporation (PPL) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- ETR leads with superior YTD performance of approximately 27%, driven by strong Q1 earnings and a major data center deal with Meta, alongside a $57 billion capital plan.
- CMS and PPL show more modest YTD gains around 8%, reflecting steady utility operations amid rising power demand but less aggressive growth catalysts.
- All three maintain attractive dividend yields above 2%, with PPL at roughly 3%, appealing to income-focused investors in the regulated electric utility sector.
- Recent market activity highlights ETR's momentum from industrial demand and retail sales growth projected at 8.5% CAGR through 2029.
- CMS beat Q1 estimates with adjusted EPS of $1.13 and reaffirmed 2026 guidance, boosting its capital spending outlook.
- Utility sector relative performance favors growth-oriented plays like ETR amid data center expansion and clean energy transitions.
Introduction
This comparison examines CMS, ETR, and PPL, three established players in the U.S. regulated electric utility sector. These companies provide essential electricity and natural gas services to millions across Michigan, the Gulf South, and Pennsylvania/Kentucky/Rhode Island, respectively. Investors and traders interested in defensive sectors with stable dividends, exposure to rising data center demand, and infrastructure growth will find this analysis relevant. In recent market activity, shifting energy needs and capital investments have influenced their relative performance, offering insights into momentum, valuation, and positioning.
CMS Overview and Recent Performance
CMS Energy Corporation, headquartered in Jackson, Michigan, operates through electric utility, gas utility, and clean energy segments, serving 1.9 million electric and 1.8 million gas customers. Primarily focused on Michigan, it emphasizes regulated generation, transmission, distribution, and renewable initiatives via NorthStar Clean Energy. In recent weeks, CMS shares have traded around $76, with YTD gains near 8% and 1-year returns about 3%, underperforming broader market indices but aligning with sector stability. Q1 adjusted EPS of $1.13 beat estimates, with revenues up 11.5% to $2.7 billion, prompting a capital expenditure hike to $24 billion through 2030 amid rising demand. Sentiment has been supported by reaffirmed 2026 EPS guidance of $3.83–$3.90, though 1-month dips of nearly 4% reflect interest rate sensitivity typical for utilities.
ETR Overview and Recent Performance
Entergy Corporation (ETR), based in New Orleans, Louisiana, is an integrated energy firm focused on electric power production and retail distribution in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, serving 3.1 million customers with 25,000 MW capacity. Recent market activity has propelled ETR shares to around $116, boasting YTD performance of 27% and 1-year gains of 39%, outpacing peers. Q1 results featured adjusted EPS of $0.86 beating forecasts, revenues of $3.19 billion, and net income of $399 million, fueled by a key Electric Service Agreement with Meta and a capital plan expansion to $57 billion. This underscores robust 8.5% retail sales compound annual growth rate (CAGR) through 2029, enhancing positive sentiment despite regulatory and cost pressures.
PPL Overview and Recent Performance
PPL Corporation (PPL), headquartered in Allentown, Pennsylvania, delivers electricity and natural gas to 3.6 million customers via Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island regulated segments, generating from diverse sources including coal, gas, hydro, and solar. Shares hover near $38, with YTD returns around 8% and 1-year up 4-8%, reflecting consistent but tempered growth. Upcoming Q1 earnings on May 8 anticipate EPS of $0.61 (up 1.7% YoY) and revenues of $2.62 billion (up 4.7%), amid collaborations like nuclear exploration with X-energy and green energy partnerships. Recent weeks show minor pullbacks, with analysts noting data center potential but cautious EPS revisions, supporting steady market positioning.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
CMS, ETR, and PPL share regulated utility models emphasizing transmission, distribution, and generation, with sector exposure to rising electrification and renewables. Growth drivers diverge: ETR benefits from hyperscale data center pacts and 8.5% sales CAGR, contrasting CMS's Michigan-focused clean energy push and PPL's multi-state expansions including nuclear pilots. Recent momentum favors ETR (3-month +20%), over CMS and PPL (+5%). Risk factors include interest rate sensitivity (high debt/equity) and regulation; ETR shows higher leverage but offset by catalysts. Valuation sensitivity appears in P/E ratios (~20-30x), with PPL offering highest yield (3%) for income trade-offs versus ETR's growth premium. Market sentiment tilts toward data center beneficiaries like ETR.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI would currently favor ETR based on trend consistency from Q1 beats, stability via reaffirmed growth, data center catalysts, and superior relative YTD/1-year positioning at 27% and 39%. Probabilistic edges stem from capital plan expansions and sales momentum, positioning it ahead of CMS and PPL's steadier profiles.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
CMS’s FA Score shows that 0 FA rating(s) are green whileETR’s FA Score has 1 green FA rating(s), and PPL’s FA Score reflects 1 green FA rating(s).
- CMS’s FA Score: 0 green, 5 red.
- ETR’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
- PPL’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
CMS’s TA Score shows that 3 TA indicator(s) are bullish while ETR’s TA Score has 3 bullish TA indicator(s), and PPL’s TA Score reflects 4 bullish TA indicator(s).
- CMS’s TA Score: 3 bullish, 6 bearish.
- ETR’s TA Score: 3 bullish, 5 bearish.
- PPL’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 6 bearish.
Price Growth
CMS (@Electric Utilities) experienced а 0.00% price change this week, while ETR (@Electric Utilities) price change was -2.11% , and PPL (@Electric Utilities) price fluctuated -3.03% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Electric Utilities industry was -0.67%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -1.56%, and the average quarterly price growth was +4.76%.
Reported Earning Dates
CMS is expected to report earnings on Jul 23, 2026.
ETR is expected to report earnings on Aug 05, 2026.
PPL is expected to report earnings on Jul 30, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Electric Utilities (-0.67% weekly)Electric utilities companies generate, transmit and distribute electricity to businesses/offices and residences. Companies may be owned by the government or investors or public shareholders, or a combination thereof. The industry also includes firms that buy and sell electricity. Companies in this industry typically require significant investments in infrastructure. Many firms in this industry pay substantial and regular dividends to shareholders. However, changes in interest rates (and their impact on debt burdens), natural disasters and changing commodity prices could be factors affecting energy utilities’ profit margins. NextEra Energy, Inc., Duke Energy Corporation, Dominion Energy Inc. and Southern Company are among U.S. electric utilities companies with the largest market capitalizations.
| CMS | ETR | PPL | |
| Capitalization | 22.6B | 50.6B | 26.5B |
| EBITDA | 3.4B | 6.24B | 3.82B |
| Gain YTD | 6.438 | 21.048 | 1.411 |
| P/E Ratio | 20.28 | 28.20 | 21.63 |
| Revenue | 8.82B | 13.3B | 9.31B |
| Total Cash | 175M | 3.57B | 1.24B |
| Total Debt | 19.1B | 34.1B | 20.2B |
CMS | ETR | PPL | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 57 | 64 | 66 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 65 Fair valued | 75 Overvalued | 53 Fair valued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 48 | 2 | 31 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 62 | 67 | 76 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 59 | 48 | 61 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 53 | 42 | 67 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 85 | 75 | 75 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
PPL's Valuation (53) in the Electric Utilities industry is in the same range as CMS (65) and is in the same range as ETR (75). This means that PPL's stock grew similarly to CMS’s and similarly to ETR’s over the last 12 months.
ETR's Profit vs Risk Rating (2) in the Electric Utilities industry is in the same range as PPL (31) and is somewhat better than the same rating for CMS (48). This means that ETR's stock grew similarly to PPL’s and somewhat faster than CMS’s over the last 12 months.
CMS's SMR Rating (62) in the Electric Utilities industry is in the same range as ETR (67) and is in the same range as PPL (76). This means that CMS's stock grew similarly to ETR’s and similarly to PPL’s over the last 12 months.
ETR's Price Growth Rating (48) in the Electric Utilities industry is in the same range as CMS (59) and is in the same range as PPL (61). This means that ETR's stock grew similarly to CMS’s and similarly to PPL’s over the last 12 months.
ETR's P/E Growth Rating (42) in the Electric Utilities industry is in the same range as CMS (53) and is in the same range as PPL (67). This means that ETR's stock grew similarly to CMS’s and similarly to PPL’s over the last 12 months.
| CMS | ETR | PPL | |
|---|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | N/A | N/A | 1 day ago 58% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 50% | 1 day ago 66% | 1 day ago 58% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 34% | 1 day ago 33% | 1 day ago 36% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 6 days ago 42% | 1 day ago 31% | 1 day ago 51% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 47% | 1 day ago 36% | 1 day ago 37% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 35% | 1 day ago 36% | 1 day ago 31% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 49% | 1 day ago 61% | 1 day ago 54% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 13 days ago 39% | 8 days ago 39% | 13 days ago 36% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 60% | 1 day ago 36% | 1 day ago 58% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 1 day ago 23% | 1 day ago 54% | 1 day ago 36% |
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CMS and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, CMS has been closely correlated with DTE. These tickers have moved in lockstep 85% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if CMS jumps, then DTE could also see price increases.
ETR and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, ETR has been closely correlated with AEE. These tickers have moved in lockstep 74% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if ETR jumps, then AEE could also see price increases.