📊 FE Key Takeaways
Is Firstenergy Corp. (FE) a Good Investment?
FirstEnergy demonstrates stable revenue growth and solid operating margins typical of regulated utilities, but faces significant financial stress from high leverage and negative free cash flow. The company's ability to fund capital expenditures and debt service depends heavily on continued regulatory support and operational efficiency.
FirstEnergy shows solid top-line growth and resilient operating profitability for a regulated utility, with revenue up 12.0% and operating income reaching $2.21B. However, weaker net income, high leverage, thin liquidity, and negative free cash flow driven by heavy capital spending temper the quality of that growth. The fundamentals support stability more than upside, with execution on cash flow and balance sheet discipline likely determining improvement.
Why Buy Firstenergy Corp. Stock? FE Key Strengths
- Strong revenue growth of 12.0% YoY indicates robust demand and/or successful rate recovery
- Solid operating margin of 14.6% and interest coverage ratio of 7.2x demonstrates operational efficiency and debt servicing capability
- Substantial operating cash flow of $3.7B provides a foundation for capital investments and debt reduction
- Revenue growth is strong at 12.0% YoY, indicating healthy demand recovery or favorable rate/base dynamics
- Operating margin of 14.6% and interest coverage of 7.2x suggest the core business remains financially productive and debt service is currently manageable
- Operating cash flow of $3.70B provides meaningful internal funding capacity despite large capital requirements
FE Stock Risks: Firstenergy Corp. Investment Risks
- Negative free cash flow of -$1.0B indicates capital expenditures ($4.7B) exceed operating cash generation, creating funding dependency
- High leverage with debt-to-equity ratio of 2.04x and long-term debt of $25.5B significantly constrains financial flexibility
- Declining net income (-19.7% YoY) despite revenue growth signals margin compression or increased operating costs, concerning for profitability sustainability
- Very weak liquidity position with current ratio of 0.57x and minimal cash equivalents ($57M) relative to total liabilities
- Net income declined 19.7% YoY, pointing to pressure below the operating line and weaker earnings quality
- Leverage is elevated with debt/equity at 2.04x and long-term debt of $25.51B, limiting financial flexibility
- Liquidity is weak and free cash flow is negative at -$1.00B, increasing reliance on external financing if capex remains high
Key Metrics to Watch
- Free cash flow trend and capital expenditure scaling in relation to operating cash flow
- Debt reduction progress and refinancing rates in current interest rate environment
- Net income recovery and operating margin sustainability
- Current ratio improvement and working capital management
- Free cash flow trend relative to capital expenditures
- Net income and debt reduction progress
Firstenergy Corp. (FE) Financial Metrics & Key Ratios
💡 AI Analyst Insight
The current ratio below 1.0x warrants monitoring of short-term liquidity.
FE Profit Margin, ROE & Profitability Analysis
FE vs Utilities Sector: How Firstenergy Corp. Compares
How Firstenergy Corp. compares to Utilities sector averages
Sector benchmarks are approximate industry averages. Actual sector performance may vary.
Is Firstenergy Corp. Stock Overvalued? FE Valuation Analysis 2026
Based on fundamental analysis, Firstenergy Corp. shows some fundamental concerns relative to the Utilities sector in 2026.
Note: This is a fundamental analysis based on SEC filings. For P/E ratio, price targets, and market-based valuation, consult financial data providers. This is not investment advice.
Firstenergy Corp. Balance Sheet: FE Debt, Cash & Liquidity
FE Revenue & Earnings Growth: 5-Year Financial Trend
5-Year Trend Summary: Firstenergy Corp.'s revenue has shown modest growth of 2% over the 5-year period. The most recent EPS of $1.92 reflects profitable operations.
FE Revenue Growth, EPS Growth & YoY Performance
FE Quarterly Earnings & Performance
| Quarter | Revenue | Net Income | EPS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q3 2025 | $3.7B | $419.0M | $0.73 |
| Q2 2025 | $3.3B | $45.0M | $0.08 |
| Q1 2025 | $3.3B | $253.0M | $0.44 |
| Q3 2024 | $3.5B | $400.0M | $0.69 |
| Q2 2024 | $3.0B | $45.0M | $0.08 |
| Q1 2024 | $3.2B | $253.0M | $0.44 |
| Q3 2023 | $3.5B | $334.0M | $0.58 |
| Q2 2023 | $2.8B | $187.0M | $0.33 |
Data sourced from SEC EDGAR 10-Q quarterly filings. Figures may represent quarterly or cumulative values.
Firstenergy Corp. Dividends, Buybacks & Capital Allocation
FE SEC Filings: Latest 10-K & 10-Q Analysis
Access official SEC EDGAR filings for Firstenergy Corp. (CIK: 0001031296)
📋 Recent SEC Filings
❓ Frequently Asked Questions about FE
What is the AI rating for FE?
Firstenergy Corp. (FE) has a Combined AI Rating of HOLD from Claude (HOLD) and ChatGPT (HOLD) with 70% combined confidence, based on fundamental analysis of SEC EDGAR filings.
What are FE's key strengths?
Claude: Strong revenue growth of 12.0% YoY indicates robust demand and/or successful rate recovery. Solid operating margin of 14.6% and interest coverage ratio of 7.2x demonstrates operational efficiency and debt servicing capability. ChatGPT: Revenue growth is strong at 12.0% YoY, indicating healthy demand recovery or favorable rate/base dynamics. Operating margin of 14.6% and interest coverage of 7.2x suggest the core business remains financially productive and debt service is currently manageable.
What are the risks of investing in FE?
Claude: Negative free cash flow of -$1.0B indicates capital expenditures ($4.7B) exceed operating cash generation, creating funding dependency. High leverage with debt-to-equity ratio of 2.04x and long-term debt of $25.5B significantly constrains financial flexibility. ChatGPT: Net income declined 19.7% YoY, pointing to pressure below the operating line and weaker earnings quality. Leverage is elevated with debt/equity at 2.04x and long-term debt of $25.51B, limiting financial flexibility.
What is FE's revenue and growth?
Firstenergy Corp. reported revenue of $15.1B.
Does FE pay dividends?
Firstenergy Corp. pays dividends, with $1,016.0M distributed to shareholders in the trailing twelve months.
Where can I find FE SEC filings?
Official SEC filings for Firstenergy Corp. (CIK: 0001031296) including 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K reports are available on SEC EDGAR.
What is FE's EPS?
Firstenergy Corp. has a diluted EPS of $1.76.
How is the AI analysis conducted?
Two independent AI systems — Claude (Anthropic) and ChatGPT (OpenAI) — analyze SEC EDGAR filings including 10-K annual reports and 10-Q quarterly reports. Each AI evaluates financial health, profitability ratios, balance sheet strength, and growth metrics. The combined rating reflects both perspectives for balanced insights.
Is FE a good stock to buy right now?
Based on our AI fundamental analysis in April 2026, Firstenergy Corp. has a HOLD rating with 70% confidence. Review the strengths and risks sections above before making a decision. This is not investment advice.
Is FE stock overvalued or undervalued?
Valuation metrics for FE: ROE of 8.2% (sector avg: 10%), net margin of 6.8% (sector avg: 12%). Compare these metrics with sector averages to assess valuation.
Should I buy FE stock in 2026?
Our dual AI analysis gives Firstenergy Corp. a combined HOLD rating for 2026. Revenue is data pending, with profitability at or below sector average. Always conduct your own research.
What is FE's free cash flow?
Firstenergy Corp.'s operating cash flow is $3.7B, with capital expenditures of $4.7B. FCF margin is -6.7%.
How does FE compare to other Utilities stocks?
Vs Utilities sector averages: Net margin 6.8% (avg: 12%), ROE 8.2% (avg: 10%), current ratio 0.57 (avg: 0.8).
Is Firstenergy Corp. carrying too much debt?
FE has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.04x, which is above the Utilities sector average of 1.4x. Combined with a current ratio below 1, this warrants careful monitoring of the balance sheet.