Entergy Corporation (ETR), headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, produces and retails distribution of electricity. Valued at $50.3 billion by market cap, the company delivers electricity to utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. Entergy also owns and operates nuclear plants in the northern U.S.
Shares of this leading integrated energy company have underperformed the broader market over the past year. ETR has gained 19.4% over this time frame, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has rallied nearly 20.4%. However, in 2026, ETR stock is up 16.7%, surpassing the SPX’s 13.7% rise on a YTD basis.
Narrowing the focus, ETR’s outperformance is apparent compared to State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU). The exchange-traded fund has gained about 3.2% over the past year. Moreover, ETR’s double-digit returns on a YTD basis outshine the ETF’s 3.8% gains over the same time frame.
ETR has faced relative headwinds over the past year due to earnings and revenue misses relative to market expectations, negative year over year earnings drag from milder weather compared to prior-year heat spikes, and higher operating, depreciation, and interest expenses driven by parent financing.
On Jul. 29, ETR shares closed down by 4% after reporting its Q2 results. Its adjusted EPS of $1.03 beat Wall Street expectations of $0.94. The company’s revenue was $3.52 billion, missing Wall Street forecasts of $3.53 billion. ETR expects full-year adjusted EPS in the range of $4.25 to $4.45.
For the current fiscal year, ending in December, analysts expect ETR’s EPS to grow 12.5% to $4.40 on a diluted basis. The company’s earnings surprise history is mixed. It beat or matched the consensus estimate in three of the last four quarters while missing the forecast on another occasion.
Among the 23 analysts covering ETR stock, the consensus is a “Strong Buy.” That’s based on 16 “Strong Buy” ratings, one “Moderate Buy,” and six “Holds.”
This configuration is more bullish than three months ago, ith a “Moderate Buy” overall, consisting 15 analysts suggesting a “Strong Buy.”
On Jul. 31, Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. (MFG) analyst Anthony Crowdell maintained a “Buy” rating on ETR and set a price target of $121, implying a potential upside of 12.2% from current levels.
The mean price target of $124.31 represents a 15.3% premium to ETR’s current price levels. The Street-high price target of $139 suggests an upside potential of 28.9%.
On the date of publication, Neha Panjwani did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.