Nisource Surges 1.74 on 60 Volume Boost to 220M Drives 498th Liquidity Rank as Earnings Outlook and Analyst Upgrades Signal Optimism

Nisource (NYSE:NI) rose 1.74% on Aug. 4, with a trading volume of $0.22 billion, up 60.6% from the prior day and ranking 498th in market liquidity. The utility company is set to release Q2 2025 earnings on Aug. 6, with consensus estimates pointing to $0.21 per share and $1.15 billion in revenue, reflecting a 6.1% year-over-year increase. Recent regulatory developments, including new electric and gas rates in service regions, and infrastructure investments are expected to support earnings, though higher depreciation costs may temper gains.

Barclays upgraded its price target for Nisource to $44 from $42 while maintaining an Overweight rating, citing potential near-term progress in tariff outcomes and contracting opportunities in Q3 2025. The firm valued the company’s Generation Company at $0.22 per share, assuming a 2.6 gigawatt capacity ramp. Despite no immediate GenCo announcement expected in Q2 results, the bank remains confident in Nisource’s long-term growth trajectory, supported by its 39-year consecutive dividend record and strategic focus on renewable energy projects like the Dunns Bridge II solar initiative.

Jefferies adjusted its price target from $45 to $48 and back to $45, maintaining a Buy rating, reflecting optimism around data center developments and customer engagement. The company reaffirmed annual earnings guidance following Q1 results, where adjusted EPS of $0.98 exceeded estimates, despite revenue falling short. A $0.28 quarterly dividend, payable Aug. 20, and shareholder approval of board nominees further underscore management confidence. Analysts note Nisource’s Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and positive Earnings ESP metrics, though quantitative models suggest limited upside in the upcoming earnings report.

Strategies leveraging high-volume stocks have generated 166.71% returns since 2022, outperforming benchmarks by 137.53%. This highlights liquidity-driven opportunities in volatile markets, particularly for firms like Nisource with strong institutional interest and regulatory visibility.