Utilities

Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: SYMX) announced today that it has agreed with Zhongjixuan Investment Management Company Ltd. ("ZJX") and China Energy Industry Holding Group Co., Limited to extend the closing period of their March 31, 2011 share purchase agreement through December 31, 2011...

NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NRG) announced a definitive agreement to acquire Energy Plus Holdings LLC, a Philadelphia-based retail electricity and natural gas provider for $190 million in cash. The transaction will add immediate scale to NRG's expanding retail customer base in the Northeast as more...

Black Hills Corp. (NYSE: BKH) utility subsidiary Black Hills Energy - Colorado Electric today issued a request for proposals for 50 percent ownership in Black Hills Energy's 29 megawatt wind project, to be located in Huerfano County, Colo. The Colorado Public Utilities Commission approved the...

Avista (NYSE: AVA) customers could receive a decrease in their electric prices and a slight increase in natural gas prices on Oct. 1 if the Idaho Public Utilities Commission approves two annual price adjustment requests filed today by the company - Residential Exchange Credit and Purchase Gas Cost...

Wunderlich has published a report on Great Plains Energy Incorporated (NYSE: GXP) after talking with upper management. In the report, Wunderlich wrote, "We hosted meetings with management of Great Plains Energy (GXP) following last week's analyst meeting. Feedback was generally mixed, as investors...

Gabelli & Co. is out with a research report on American Waters Works (NYSE: AWK) and is raising its estimates. It has a Buy rating on shares. In a note to clients, Gabelli & Co. writes, "We have raised our 2011 EPS estimate to $1.70, from $1.65, following 2Q and 1H results. Higher results...

ISI is out with its report today on Southern Company (NYSE: SO), upgrading SO to Hold from Sell. In its report, ISI writes, "We now rate SO Hold, Low Risk, with a $38 12-month target price. SO is more fully priced than other stocks in our Regulated sub-group, but nonetheless we see minimal...

Goldman Sachs is out with its report today on NRG Energy (NYSE: NRG), raising its PT on NRG to $26 from $23. In its report, Goldman Sachs writes, "We increase our 12-month, EV/EBITDA-based target price by $3, to $26, due to our higher estimates and the likelihood of an increased buyback." Goldman...

Jefferies & Co. is out with a research report on PNM Resources (NYSE: PNM) and is upgrading shares to Buy with a Hold is raising its price target to $16 from $15.50. In a note to clients, Jefferies & Co. writes, "We are upgrading PNM Resources to Buy from Hold based on potential future...

Wunderlich Securities has lowered the price target on Great Plains Energy (NYSE: GXP) from $23 to $20 and maintains its Buy rating.

ISI Group has upgraded Consolidated Edison (NYSE: ED) from Sell to Hold and has raised the price target from $49 to $51.50.

Goldman Sachs has raised the price target on NRG Energy (NYSE: NRG) from $23 to $26 and maintains its Neutral rating.

Jefferies & Company has upgraded PNM Resources (NYSE: PNM) from Hold to Buy and has raised the price target from $15.50 to $16.

Below are the top small-cap gas utilities stocks on the NYSE and the NASDAQ in terms of revenue. The trailing-twelve-month revenue at Targa Resources Inc (NYSE: TRGP) is $6.09 billion. TRGP's PEG ratio is 0.87. The trailing-twelve-month revenue at NewJersey Resources Corporation (NYSE: NJR) is $2...

Credit Suisse is upgrading shares of Edison International (NYSE: EIX) to Outperform and it has a $41 price target on shares. In a note to clients, Credit Suisse writes, "Our take. We think EIX's share price fails to reasonably value the Southern California Edison (SCE) utility let alone any option...