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:

Pampa Energy (NYSE:PAM) is the #1 top utility stock out of 108 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 Pampa Energy (NYSE:PAM) is: Value: B, Growth: C, Momentum: C, Sentiment: B, Safety: C, Financials: C, and AI: C.

Pampa Energy (NYSE:PAM) has a Due Diligence Score of 30, which is -3 points lower than the utility sector average of 33. Although this number is below the industry average, our proven quant model rates PAM as a "A".It passed 9 out of 33 due diligence checks and has average fundamentals. Pampa Energy has seen its stock return 9.76% over the past year, underperforming other utility stocks by -6 percentage points.

Pampa Energy has an average 1 year price target of $99.25, an upside of 17.94% from Pampa Energy's current stock price of $84.15.

Pampa Energy stock has a consensus Buy recommendation according to Wall Street analysts. Of the 2 analysts covering Pampa Energy, 50% have issued a Strong Buy rating, 0% have issued a Buy, 50% have issued a Hold, while 0% have issued a Sell rating, and 0% have issued a Strong Sell.

Central Puerto Sa (NYSE:CEPU) is the #2 top utility stock out of 108 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: C, Momentum: C, Sentiment: C, Safety: B, Financials: C, and AI: C.

Central Puerto Sa (NYSE:CEPU) has a Due Diligence Score of 29, which is -4 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 11 out of 38 due diligence checks and has average fundamentals. Central Puerto Sa has seen its stock return 20.08% over the past year, overperforming other utility stocks by 4 percentage points.

Sabesp (NYSE:SBS) is the #3 top utility stock out of 108 with a Zen Rating of B. Stocks with a rating of B have had an average return of +19.88% per year. Learn more.

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

Sabesp (NYSE:SBS) has a Due Diligence Score of 27, which is -6 points lower than the utility sector average of 33. Although this number is below the industry average, our proven quant model rates SBS as a "B".It passed 11 out of 38 due diligence checks and has average fundamentals. Sabesp has seen its stock return 31.39% over the past year, overperforming other utility stocks by 16 percentage points.

Out of 76 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 6.84%, which is 4 percentage points higher than the utility sector average of 2.98%. 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 65.3% indicates that its high dividend yield is sustainable for the long-term.

Aes (NYSE:AES) has an annual dividend yield of 4.79%, which is 2 percentage points higher than the utility sector average of 2.98%. Aes's dividend payout is stable, having never dropped by more than 10% in the last 10 years. Aes's dividend has shown consistent growth over the last 10 years.

Aes's dividend payout ratio of 37.6% indicates that its high dividend yield is sustainable for the long-term.

Avista (NYSE:AVA) has an annual dividend yield of 4.78%, which is 2 percentage points higher than the utility sector average of 2.98%. 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 78.2% indicates that its high dividend yield is sustainable for the long-term.

Utility stocks were down -1.21% in the last day, and down -3.64% over the last week. Oklo was the among the top losers in the utilities sector, dropping -11.24% yesterday.

Shares of uranium and nuclear companies are trading lower amid rising oil prices and bond yields, which may dampen interest in the sector due to its heavy borrowing needs over long project lifecycles.

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 16.26% in the past year. It has overperformed other stocks in the utility sector by 1 percentage points.

Enel Chile Sa (NYSE:ENIC) is the second 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.

Enel Chile Sa 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.

Enel Chile Sa's stock has gained 18.08% in the past year. It has overperformed other stocks in the utility sector by 2 percentage points.

Pampa Energy (NYSE:PAM) 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.

Pampa Energy has a valuation score of 43, which is 15 points higher than the utility sector average of 28. It passed 3 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Pampa Energy's stock has gained 9.76% in the past year. It has underperformed other stocks in the utility sector by -6 percentage points.

32.91% of utility stocks rated by analysts are a hold right now. On average, analysts expect utility stocks to rise by 15.15% over the next year.

2.08% of utility stocks have a Zen Rating of A (Strong Buy), 4.17% of utility stocks are rated B (Buy), 56.25% are rated C (Hold), 29.17% are rated D (Sell), and 8.33% are rated F (Strong Sell).