Chicago’s Exelon Corporation (EXC - Get Rating) is a prominent nuclear electric power generation company with the most electricity and natural gas consumers in the United States. 

The company serves commercial, industrial, governmental, and residential consumers and distribution utilities, municipalities, cooperatives, and financial organizations. Its shares have gained 19.5% in price year-to-date.

While last year’s passage of a clean energy bill in Illinois to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2050 has aided EXC’s nuclear business, the company’s continuing disadvantage in nuclear power’s competitive battle with cheaper, existing sources of energy might fuel bearish sentiment among investors.

So, here is what could shape EXC’s performance in the near term:

Positive Development

For 2021, customers of the six EXC utilities achieved another year of historically high electric service dependability because of the company’s strategic investments in energy grid resiliency and modernization, along with its dedication to operational excellence and affordability. Exelon’s findings highlight the significance of protecting the grid against the effects of climate change to counteract the trend of diminishing grid dependability.

Nuclear Energy Industry Challenges

The United States Energy Information Administration claims that nuclear power capacity is expected to decline by more than 20 GW by 2050. Furthermore, higher nuclear fuel costs could hurt nuclear power’s long-term competitiveness versus cheaper forms of renewable energy, particularly natural gas, and government-subsidized renewables. EXC said last year that its facilities were losing hundreds of millions of dollars because the plants, which were built decades ago, are still unable to compete in today’s market with alternative types of energy.

Poor Profitability

EXC’s 28% trailing-12-months gross profit margin is 33.4% lower than the 42.1% industry average. Also, its trailing-12-months ROA, net income margin, and ROC are 47%, 55.5%, and 5.1%, lower than their respective industry averages. In addition, its 22% CAPEX/Sales multiple is 22.5% lower than the compared to the 28.4% industry average.

Discounted Valuation

In terms of forward non-GAAP PEG, the stock is currently trading at 3.15x, which is 11.1% lower than the 3.54x industry average. Also, its 2.50x  trailing-12-months EV/Sales is 45.5% lower than the 4.58x industry average. Furthermore, EXC’s 1.32x trailing-12-months Price/Sales is 48.2% lower than the 2.55x industry average.

POWR Ratings Reflect Uncertainty

EXC has an overall C rating, which equates to a Neutral in our proprietary POWR Ratings system. The POWR ratings are calculated by considering 118 distinct factors, with each factor weighted to an optimal degree.

Our proprietary rating system also evaluates each stock based on eight distinct categories. EXC has a D grade for Quality which is justified given its poor profitability.

Among  the 62 stocks in the F-rated Utilities – Domestic industry, EXC is ranked #36.

Beyond what I have stated above, you can view EXC ratings for Stability, Momentum, Growth, Value, and Sentiment here.

Bottom Line

Although Illinois lawmakers’ passage of a comprehensive clean energy bill allowed EXC to keep its loss-making nuclear power plants open, the stock’s upside could be limited given that the nuclear power plant operator is competing against cheaper natural gas and subsidized wind and solar. In addition, analysts expect its EPS and revenue to decline 19.9% and 49.5%, respectively,  in its fiscal 2022. Therefore, we think investors should wait before scooping up its shares.

How Does Exelon Corporation (EXC) Stack Up Against its Peers?

While EXC has an overall C rating, one might want to consider its industry peer, Brookfield Infrastructure Corp. (BIPC - Get Rating), which has an overall B (Buy) rating.

EXC shares were unchanged in premarket trading Tuesday. Year-to-date, EXC has gained 20.32%, versus a -7.50% rise in the benchmark S&P 500 index during the same period.

About the Author: Pragya Pandey

Pragya is an equity research analyst and financial journalist with a passion for investing. In college she majored in finance and is currently pursuing the CFA program and is a Level II candidate. More...

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