Goldman Sachs has highlighted three U.S. utilities as particularly worth monitoring heading into the first-quarter earnings season, reiterating Buy recommendations on each. The firm said investors should watch for updates on capital expenditure programs, exposure to large-load customers - including data center demand - and regulatory considerations that could affect growth and funding plans.
The bank signaled that some companies may deliver what it called "meaning updates" around load and capex outlooks on upcoming calls, and that such disclosures could pave the way for stronger reported earnings growth if the information proves constructive.
American Electric Power
Goldman Sachs views American Electric Power as well positioned entering its first-quarter 2026 results. The firm noted AEP's proactive approach to large-load tariffs, which it says leaves the utility in a favorable affordability position for customers. Management has identified an incremental capital opportunity estimated at $5 billion to $8 billion in addition to a $72 billion base capital plan, with other opportunities still under consideration.
Goldman Sachs expects AEP's upcoming earnings call to provide further specifics on how the company plans to fund this incremental spending and to clarify the size and scope of the capex upside bucket. While AEP's management has suggested the possibility of an interim capital plan update prior to its traditional third-quarter update, Goldman Sachs believes it is more likely that additional details will be communicated on the second-quarter call - particularly if conditions needed to close the Bloom transaction are satisfied.
Xcel Energy
The investment bank maintained a constructive view on Xcel Energy ahead of its first-quarter 2026 earnings call. Goldman reiterated its expectation that Xcel will sustain earnings growth at about a 9% compound annual growth rate through 2030. In the prior quarter's earnings call, Xcel outlined roughly $10 billion of incremental capital expenditure opportunities outside its current plan. Those opportunities are tied to outstanding requests for proposals, recent transmission awards, and demand from data center customers.
Goldman Sachs said it expects Xcel to provide additional color on the incremental capex opportunities and the timeline for folding that spending into its formal capital plan during upcoming communications with investors.
NextEra Energy
Goldman Sachs identified NextEra Energy as offering the most upside to first-quarter earnings relative to market expectations among the three utilities profiled. The bank highlighted the potential for additional upside from any large-load announcements in Florida during the year, noting NextEra's favorable positioning to serve data center customers.
Goldman Sachs also pointed to a supportive regulatory backdrop in Florida that the firm says allows NextEra to expand capacity within the state despite recent supply chain constraints. The bank noted that NextEra has also been mentioned in press reports in connection with development of major natural gas-fired power plants in Pennsylvania and Texas.
Across the three companies, Goldman Sachs retained Buy ratings and emphasized capital spending plans and large-load dynamics as key items investors should monitor during the first-quarter earnings season. The firm expects that clear updates from management teams on funding and timelines for incremental capex could be an important driver of earnings revisions.