Sectors & IndustriesUtilities

Best Utility Stocks to Buy Now (2026)

Top utility stocks in 2026 ranked by overall Due Diligence Score. See the best utility stocks to buy now, according to analyst forecasts for the utilities sector.

According to Zen Ratings, our proprietary rating system that evaluates 115 factors proven to drive growth in stocks and assigns each stock in our system an overall letter grade as well as 7 individual Component Grades for Value, Growth, Momentum, Sentiment, Safety, Financials, and proprietary AI algorithms, the 3 best utility stocks to buy right now are:

Central Puerto Sa (NYSE:CEPU) is the #1 top utility stock out of 106 with a Zen Rating of A. Stocks with a rating of A have had an average return of +32.52% per year. Learn more.

The Component Grade breakdown for Central Puerto Sa (NYSE:CEPU) is: Value: B, Growth: B, Momentum: B, Sentiment: B, Safety: C, Financials: C, and AI: C.

Central Puerto Sa (NYSE:CEPU) has a Due Diligence Score of 19, which is -14 points lower than the utility sector average of 33. Although this number is below the industry average, our proven quant model rates CEPU as a "A".It passed 7 out of 38 due diligence checks and has weak fundamentals. Central Puerto Sa has seen its stock return 24.28% over the past year, overperforming other utility stocks by 1 percentage points.

Central Puerto Sa has an average 1 year price target of $17.50, an upside of 6.51% from Central Puerto Sa's current stock price of $16.43.

Central Puerto Sa stock has a consensus Strong Buy recommendation according to Wall Street analysts. Of the 1 analyst covering Central Puerto Sa, 100% have issued a Strong Buy rating, 0% have issued a Buy, 0% have issued a Hold, while 0% have issued a Sell rating, and 0% have issued a Strong Sell.

Korea Electric Power (NYSE:KEP) is the #2 top utility stock out of 106 with a Zen Rating of A. Stocks with a rating of A have had an average return of +32.52% per year. Learn more.

The Component Grade breakdown for Korea Electric Power (NYSE:KEP) is: Value: A, Growth: B, Momentum: A, Sentiment: C, Safety: B, Financials: C, and AI: A.

Korea Electric Power (NYSE:KEP) has a Due Diligence Score of 39, which is 6 points higher than the utility sector average of 33. It passed 16 out of 38 due diligence checks and has average fundamentals. Korea Electric Power has seen its stock return 192.87% over the past year, overperforming other utility stocks by 170 percentage points.

Genie Energy (NYSE:GNE) is the #3 top utility stock out of 106 with a Zen Rating of A. Stocks with a rating of A have had an average return of +32.52% per year. Learn more.

The Component Grade breakdown for Genie Energy (NYSE:GNE) is: Value: C, Growth: B, Momentum: C, Sentiment: C, Safety: B, Financials: B, and AI: C.

Genie Energy (NYSE:GNE) has a Due Diligence Score of 48, which is 15 points higher than the utility sector average of 33. It passed 18 out of 38 due diligence checks and has strong fundamentals. Genie Energy has seen its stock lose -0.97% over the past year, underperforming other utility stocks by -24 percentage points.

Out of 66 utility stocks that have issued dividends in the past year, the 3 utility stocks with the highest dividend yields are:

Suburban Propane Partners (NYSE:SPH) has an annual dividend yield of 6.36%, which is 4 percentage points higher than the utility sector average of 2.69%. Suburban Propane Partners's dividend payout is not stable, having dropped more than 10% two times in the last 10 years. Suburban Propane Partners's dividend has not shown consistent growth over the last 10 years.

Suburban Propane Partners's dividend payout ratio of 48% indicates that its high dividend yield is sustainable for the long-term.

Avista (NYSE:AVA) has an annual dividend yield of 4.65%, which is 2 percentage points higher than the utility sector average of 2.69%. Avista's dividend payout is stable, having never dropped by more than 10% in the last 10 years. Avista's dividend has shown consistent growth over the last 10 years.

Avista's dividend payout ratio of 82.4% indicates that its high dividend yield is sustainable for the long-term.

Clearway Energy (NYSE:CWEN) has an annual dividend yield of 4.51%, which is 2 percentage points higher than the utility sector average of 2.69%. Clearway Energy's dividend payout is not stable, having dropped more than 10% one times in the last 10 years. Clearway Energy's dividend has shown consistent growth over the last 10 years.

Clearway Energy's dividend payout ratio of 74.3% indicates that its high dividend yield is sustainable for the long-term.

Utility stocks were up 0.68% in the last day, and up 1.46% over the last week. Southern Co was the among the top gainers in the utilities sector, gaining 4.4% yesterday.

Southern Company shares are trading higher after the company reported better-than-expected Q4 sales results.

Based on the Valuation rating, one of the 7 components of a stocks overall Zen Ratings grade, which evaluates factors including estimated earnings yield, earnings before interest and taxes/enterprise value, cash flow yield, free cash flow to price, and price-to-earnings growth (PEG ratio), the 3 most undervalued utility stocks right now are:

Korea Electric Power (NYSE:KEP) is the most undervalued utility stock based on its Valuation Rating of A. Valuation is one of 7 Component Grades used to calculate the overall Zen Rating.

Korea Electric Power has a valuation score of 71, which is 43 points higher than the utility sector average of 28. It passed 5 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Korea Electric Power's stock has gained 192.87% in the past year. It has overperformed other stocks in the utility sector by 170 percentage points.

PG&E (NYSE:PCG) is the second most undervalued utility stock based on its Valuation Rating of B. Valuation is one of 7 Component Grades used to calculate the overall Zen Rating.

PG&E has a valuation score of 57, which is 29 points higher than the utility sector average of 28. It passed 4 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

PG&E's stock has gained 15.58% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the utility sector by -8 percentage points.

Aes (NYSE:AES) is the third most undervalued utility stock based on its Valuation Rating of B. Valuation is one of 7 Component Grades used to calculate the overall Zen Rating.

Aes has a valuation score of 57, which is 29 points higher than the utility sector average of 28. It passed 4 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Aes's stock has gained 57.31% in the past year. It has overperformed other stocks in the utility sector by 34 percentage points.

43.66% of utility stocks rated by analysts are a buy right now. On average, analysts expect utility stocks to rise by 6.36% over the next year.

3.16% of utility stocks have a Zen Rating of A (Strong Buy), 5.26% of utility stocks are rated B (Buy), 61.05% are rated C (Hold), 25.26% are rated D (Sell), and 5.26% are rated F (Strong Sell).