PG&E Corporation (PCG - Free Report), a diversified utility holding company, engages in the business of electricity and natural gas distribution; electricity generation, procurement, and transmission; and natural gas procurement, transportation, and storage.

Stable financial position, steady growth in customer counts, a well-set of utility assets and disciplined investments in infrastructure projects will likely boost PG&E Corp.’s future performance. In addition, the company’s practice of paying dividend is commendable.

However, penalties levied for the San Bruno and Carmel incidents, stringent environmental regulations and several operational risks remain potential setbacks.

Estimate Trend & Surprise History

Investors should note that the fourth quarter Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings of 62 cents per share has remained stable over the last 7 days.

Coming to the earnings surprise, PG&E Corporation has surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the last four quarters, resulting in a positive average surprise of 0.66%.

Zacks Rank: Currently, PG&E Corporation has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) but that could change following its fourth quarter 2018 earnings report which has just released.

We have highlighted some of the key details from the just-released announcement below:

Earnings: PG&E Corporation exceeded earnings estimate by 29%. Operating earnings per share came in at 80 cents, compared with the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 62 cents.

Revenue: Revenues of $4,088 million missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4,285 million.

Stock Price: It would be interesting to see how the market reacts to the fourth quarter earnings beat during the trading session today.

Check back later for our full write up on this PG&E Corporation earnings report later!

Zacks' Top 10 Stocks for 2019

In addition to the stocks discussed above, would you like to know about our 10 finest buy-and-holds for the year?

Who wouldn't? Our annual Top 10s have beaten the market with amazing regularity. In 2018, while the market dropped -5.2%, the portfolio scored well into double-digits overall with individual stocks rising as high as +61.5%. And from 2012-2017, while the market boomed +126.3, Zacks' Top 10s reached an even more sensational +181.9%.