Utilities Sector Struggles Amidst Market Volatility

Strategic Insights -

As of Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015, the Utilities sector is down 0.2% compared to the S&P 500's 0.3% gain. Within the sector, stocks such as Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras, Western Gas Equity Partners, and Entergy are experiencing declines, while Sempra Energy, Dominion Resources, and Public Service Enterprise Group are gaining. The sector's struggling companies include Energy Company of Parana, Energy Company of Minas Gerais, and Companhia De Saneamento Basico Do Estado De, with Energy Company of Parana being the most significantly impacted.

Key Takeaways:

  • Energy Company of Parana (ELP) is down 4.5% as of noon trading, with 199,177 shares exchanged hands compared to its average daily volume of 633,100 shares.
  • Energy Company of Minas Gerais (CIG) is down 3.2% as of noon trading, with 2.4 million shares exchanged hands compared to its average daily volume of 3.9 million shares.
  • Companhia De Saneamento Basico Do Estado De (SBS) is down 3.0% as of noon trading, with 906,878 shares exchanged hands compared to its average daily volume of 2.2 million shares.
  • The Utilities sector is experiencing market volatility, with a notable decline in certain stocks within the sector.
  • Sempra Energy (SRE) is up 1.8%, Dominion Resources (D) is up 1.5%, and Public Service Enterprise Group (PEG) is up 1.2% as of noon trading.
  • TheStreet Ratings rates Energy Company of Parana as a hold, Energy Company of Minas Gerais as a sell, and Companhia De Saneamento Basico Do Estado De as a hold.
  • Top gainers within the sector include Sempra Energy, Dominion Resources, and Public Service Enterprise Group.

Statistics:

  • 1,510 issues are advancing within the NYSE, while 1,477 are declining.
  • 142 issues are unchanged.
  • The S&P 500 is up 0.3% as of Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015.
  • The Utilities sector is down 0.2% as of Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2015.

Sources:

  • TheStreet: Utility stocks (http://www.thestreet.com/quote/%5eDJI.html)
  • TheStreet: Dow Jones Industrial Average (http://www.thestreet.com/quote/%5eDJI.html)
  • TheStreet: Energy Company of Parana (http://www.thestreet.com/quote/ebr.b.html?cm_ven_int=tstwire)
  • TheStreet: Energy Company of Minas Gerais (http://www.thestreet.com/quote/cig.html?cm_ven_int=tstwire)
  • TheStreet: Companhia De Saneamento Basico Do Estado De (http://www.thestreet.com/quote/sbs.html?cm_ven_int=tstwire)
  • TheStreet: Utilities Select Sector SPDR (http://www.thestreet.com/quote/XLU.html?cm_ven_int=tstwire)
  • TheStreet: ProShares UltraShort Utilities (http://www.thestreet.com/quote/SDP.html?cm_ven_int=tstwire)