PEG is a ratio used in stock analysis that incorporates a company's earnings growth.
It helps investors determine if a stock's price is reasonable relative to its expected future earnings growth rate.
Updated: February 19, 2026, 16:00 EST
Based on the provided analysis, here is an assessment of Public Service Enterprise Group (PEG).
Technical Analysis PEG exhibits strong positive momentum, outperforming the market over the past three months. It has recovered significantly from its 52-week low and is trading comfortably within the upper half of its yearly range. The stock appears to be in a technically healthy position without showing signs of being overbought.
Fundamental Analysis The company demonstrates robust revenue growth and strong profitability, with operating margins exceeding 26%. Its financial health is reasonable, supported by manageable debt levels and adequate interest coverage. While operational metrics like ROE are modest, this is typical for a capital-intensive utility, and its cash generation remains solid.
Valuation & Risk Valuation presents the main area of caution. While the forward P/E suggests earnings growth, the high PEG and EV/EBITDA ratios indicate the stock may be trading at a premium. The risk profile is favorable, characterized by low volatility and no short interest, which reduces downside pressure from speculative activity.
Buy Recommendation PEG is a high-quality utility stock with strong fundamentals, positive momentum, and a lower-risk profile. However, its current valuation appears full, potentially limiting near-term upside. For investors seeking a stable, defensive holding, PEG is a worthwhile candidate, but entry at current levels should be considered with the understanding that its premium valuation may cap returns. This is not investment advice, for reference only.
Based on a 12-month outlook for Public Service Enterprise Group (PEG), the stock is expected to demonstrate stable, moderate growth driven by its predictable utility business model and investments in infrastructure and renewable energy. Key catalysts include continued execution of its capital expenditure plan focused on grid modernization and clean energy transition, which should support steady earnings growth. The primary risk remains its current valuation; while the company's fundamentals are strong, its premium pricing may limit significant upward momentum, especially if interest rates remain elevated and pressure utility sector multiples. Considering the absence of a specific analyst target and the full valuation, a reasonable target price range is anticipated to be in the mid-$90s, implying modest upside from the current price of $86.95.
Most Wall Street analysts are optimistic about Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated's 12-month outlook, with consensus target around $85.68, indicating expected upside potential.
Overall, PEG has investment potential but also faces challenges. Here are key factors to weigh before investing.
PEG has demonstrated strong recent momentum with solid absolute returns and market outperformance over the past quarter. The stock shows resilience with moderate volatility and has recovered significantly from its 52-week low.
Short-term performance is robust, with a 9.5% surge over one month contributing significantly to the 3.82% three-month gain. PEG has notably outperformed the market by 3.84% over this period, indicating strong relative strength despite its lower beta characteristic.
Currently trading at $86.95, PEG sits comfortably in the upper half of its 52-week range ($74.67-$91.26), approximately 72% from trough to peak. The stock appears fairly valued given its recent recovery from the -14.1% maximum drawdown, showing neither extreme overbought nor oversold conditions.
| Period | PEG Return | S&P 500 |
|---|---|---|
| 1m | +8.0% | +1.0% |
| 3m | +4.0% | +1.9% |
| 6m | -2.5% | +6.5% |
| 1y | +1.2% | +12.1% |
| ytd | +5.8% | +0.2% |
Revenue & Profitability: PEG's Q3 2025 revenue grew to $3.23 billion from $2.81 billion in Q2, demonstrating strong top-line expansion. Profitability remains robust with a net income margin of 19.3%, despite a slight decline from the previous quarter's 20.9%, indicating effective cost management relative to revenue growth. Operating income margins above 26% reflect solid operational control.
Financial Health: The company shows moderate leverage with a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.38 and debt ratio of 41.3%, indicating manageable debt levels. However, liquidity appears constrained with a current ratio below 1.0, though the interest coverage ratio of 3.38 provides adequate protection for interest obligations.
Operational Efficiency: PEG's operational efficiency is mixed, with a modest ROE of 3.7% and low asset turnover of 0.057, typical for capital-intensive utilities. The cash conversion cycle of 58 days and operating cash flow to sales ratio of 32.5% demonstrate reasonable working capital management and cash generation capabilities relative to industry standards.
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Try Now & Get Tesla Stock RewardBased on PEG's PE ratio of 20.85 (TTM), the stock appears moderately valued relative to the broader market. However, the forward PE of 16.74 suggests expectations for earnings growth. The high PEG ratio of 2.45 indicates the stock is potentially overvalued when growth is considered, and the elevated EV/EBITDA of 50.48 further signals a premium valuation relative to its operating cash flow.
A peer comparison cannot be meaningfully conducted as industry average data is not available. This lack of a benchmark prevents an assessment of whether PEG's valuation multiples represent a premium or discount to its sector peers. Analysis would be significantly strengthened by having the relevant industry comparisons for context.
Volatility Risk: PEG exhibits low volatility risk, with a beta of 0.616 indicating it is approximately 40% less volatile than the broader market. This is further supported by a manageable one-year maximum drawdown of -14.1%, suggesting historically modest price declines during market downturns.
Other Risks: A notable positive is the apparent absence of short interest, which removes the risk of a short squeeze and indicates minimal speculative betting against the stock. However, the overall risk profile remains subject to macroeconomic factors affecting the utility sector and potential regulatory changes.
Based on the analysis, I would take a neutral stance on PEG.
Bullish factors include strong revenue growth, solid dividend payments, and appealing valuation metrics like the forward PE. Potential headwinds involve its elevated PEG ratio suggesting overvaluation, recent underperformance versus the market, and sensitivity to rising interest rates.
This stock is likely best suited for long-term, income-focused investors who prioritize stability and dividends over high growth, given its defensive utility profile and low volatility.
Based on the provided data, PEG appears to be overvalued. The key metric signaling this is the PEG ratio of 2.45, which is high and suggests the price is expensive relative to its earnings growth rate. This is supported by an elevated PS ratio of 3.7. While the forward P/E of 16.74 indicates growth expectations and profitability is robust, the stock's valuation multiples are not justified by its modest operational efficiency, such as a low ROE of 3.7%, which is typical for utilities but doesn't support a significant premium.
Based on the provided information, here are the key risks of holding Public Service Enterprise Group (PEG) stock:
1. Industry and Regulatory Risk: As a utility, PEG's operations and profitability are heavily subject to regulatory changes and macroeconomic factors that can impact rate structures and capital costs. 2. Liquidity Risk: The company's constrained liquidity, indicated by a current ratio below 1.0, presents a risk in meeting its short-term obligations, especially if faced with unforeseen expenses. 3. Operational Efficiency Risk: PEG's low return on equity (3.7%) and asset turnover (0.057) reflect the challenges of its capital-intensive business model, posing a risk to achieving superior shareholder returns. 4. Financial Leverage Risk: While currently manageable, the company's moderate leverage (debt-to-equity of 1.38) carries inherent risk if rising interest rates significantly increase borrowing costs.
Based on PEG's regulated utility model and current trajectory, here is a 2026 forecast:
For 2026, PEG's target price is projected in a base case range of $95-$105, with a bullish scenario potentially reaching $110-$120, driven by steady execution of its $15-$18 billion capital expenditure plan focused on grid hardening and renewable energy investments. Key growth assumptions include constructive rate case outcomes allowing for earned returns on these investments and a stable interest rate environment that supports premium utility valuations. However, this forecast is highly sensitive to regulatory decisions and macroeconomic factors, creating significant uncertainty around the precise price target.
Growth Drivers: 1. Execution of a multi-billion dollar capital expenditure plan for infrastructure and clean energy. 2. Favorable regulatory outcomes in rate cases to earn returns on invested capital. 3. Long-term tailwinds from the energy transition benefiting its strategic investments.