Gain detailed insights into the trading activity of Congress members for AES on our government trades page. Stay updated on how elected officials are investing in AES.

AES - Government Trades

AES is a global power company that operates in 15 countries. Its generation portfolio as of year-end 2023 totals over 35 gigawatts, including renewable energy (53%), gas (27%), coal (18%), and oil (2%). AES has majority ownership and operates six electric utilities distributing power to more than 2.5 million customers.

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Jim Cramer talks AES, NextEra Energy and Vertiv on CNBC&#39;s &#34;Mad Money Lightning Round.&#34; As for Hertz, he&#39;s &#34;very concerned.&#34;

Jim Cramer Says AES Is &#39;Very Inexpensive&#39;, Recommends Buying This Industrial Stock

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AEP Stock Rides on Investments Despite High Interest Rates

Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc. (NYSE: PEG) or PSEG&#39;s focus on renewable generation expansion is likely to bolster its footprint in the clean energy market.

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The AES Corporation (NYSE: AES) is a global energy company. Its strategic investments to expand its clean energy generation capacity and construction of new generation, transmission and distribution projects are likely to boost its performance.

Here&#39;s Why You Should Add AES to Your Portfolio Right Now

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After a rocky start to the month that led to a global market rout, two major inflation data seemed to have steadied the ship as the broader equity markets inched closer to all-time highs reached in mid-July. While the producer price index (a measure of wholesale prices) was up 0.1% last month, the consumer price index (a broad-based measure of prices for goods and services) increased 0.2%.

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The broader U.S. equity markets witnessed a modest uptrend over the past few trading days, buoyed by optimism related to rate cuts driven by easing inflationary pressures and solid economic metrics that portrayed the resilience of the economy. In addition, a relatively healthy earnings performance from hitherto reported companies ignited hopes of a possible rate cut as early as September.

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The AES Corporation&#39;s AES Hawaii launched the Kuihelani Solar-plus-Storage facility, generating 60MW of renewable energy and reducing Maui&#39;s reliance on fossil fuels. 

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The AES Corp

AES Corp 6.875% Corp Unit 02/15/2024

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High-rolling investors have positioned themselves bearish on AES (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AES#NYSE">AES</a>), and it's important for retail traders to take note. 
\This activity came to our attention today through Benzinga's tracking of publicly available options data. The identities of these investors are uncertain, but such a significant move in AES often signals that someone has privileged information.
Today, Benzinga's options scanner spotted 20 options trades for AES. This is not a typical pattern.
The sentiment among these major traders is split, with 5% bullish and 90% bearish. Among all the options we identified, there was one put, amounting to $40,918, and 19 calls, totaling $636,651.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $18.0 to $19.0 for AES over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Analyzing Volume &amp; Open Interest</h3>
Assessing the volume and open interest is a strategic step in options trading. These metrics shed light on the liquidity and investor interest in AES's options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to AES's substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $18.0 to $19.0 over the preceding 30 days.
<h3>AES Call and Put Volume: 30-Day Overview</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1726174149_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>AES</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$1.0</td>
<td>$0.95</td>
<td>$0.95</td>
<td>$19.00</td>
<td>$57.9K</td>
<td>2.2K</td>
<td>2.1K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AES</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$1.7</td>
<td>$1.4</td>
<td>$1.45</td>
<td>$18.00</td>
<td>$40.9K</td>
<td>473</td>
<td>282</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AES</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$1.0</td>
<td>$0.95</td>
<td>$0.95</td>
<td>$19.00</td>
<td>$40.1K</td>
<td>2.2K</td>
<td>14.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AES</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$1.0</td>
<td>$0.95</td>
<td>$0.95</td>
<td>$19.00</td>
<td>$38.9K</td>
<td>2.2K</td>
<td>14.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AES</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$1.0</td>
<td>$0.95</td>
<td>$0.95</td>
<td>$19.00</td>
<td>$38.3K</td>
<td>2.2K</td>
<td>14.5K</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About AES</h3>
AES is a global power company that operates in 15 countries. Its generation portfolio as of year-end 2023 totals over 35 gigawatts, including renewable energy (53%), gas (27%), coal (18%), and oil (2%). AES has majority ownership and operates six electric utilities distributing power to more than 2.5 million customers.
Following our analysis of the options activities associated with AES, we pivot to a closer look at the company's own performance.
<h3>Current Position of AES</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a volume of 9,217,278, the price of AES is up 1.46% at $18.12. </li>
<li>RSI indicators hint that the underlying stock may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Next earnings are expected to be released in 49 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What The Experts Say On AES</h3>
Over the past month, 1 industry analysts have shared their insights on this stock, proposing an average target price of $20.0.
<ul>
<li>An analyst from Jefferies downgraded its action to Buy with a price target of $20. </li>
</ul>
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for AES, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Options

A Closer Look at AES's Options Market Dynamics

WIIM

AES shares are trading higher after Jefferies initiated coverage on the stock with a Buy rating and announced a price target of $20.

Jefferies analyst Julien Dumoulin-Smith initiates coverage on AES (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AES#NYSE">AES</a>) with a Buy rating and announces Price Target of $20.

Price Target

Initiation

Jefferies Initiates Coverage On AES with Buy Rating, Announces Price Target of $20

On CNBC's &#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mad-money-lightning-round">Mad Money Lightning Round</a>,&#8221; Jim Cramer said recommended buying Vertiv Holdings Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VRT#NYSE">VRT</a>), saying it has &#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/07/39938457/vertivs-focus-on-ai-drives-q2-revenue-and-profit-growth-guidance-boost-more">come down enough.&#8221;</a>
On July 24, Vertiv said second-quarter net sales rose 13% Y/Y to $1.953 billion, beating the consensus of $1.939 billion. Organic orders (excluding foreign exchange) rose 57% Y/Y in the quarter. The book-to-bill ratio stood at 1.4x in the quarter.
AES (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AES#NYSE">AES</a>) is &#8220;good,&#8221; Cramer said. &#8220;It's very inexpensive, let's go for it.&#8221;
On Aug. 1, AES reported mixed financial results for the second quarter. AES reported quarterly earnings of 38 cents per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of 37 cents per share. The company reported quarterly sales of $2.94 billion which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $3.19 billion.
When asked about NextEra Energy (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NEE#NYSE">NEE</a>), &#8220;I don't get this. I've got to find out what's the truth, and then we'll come back with a more considerate opinion.&#8221;
On Sept. 3, Wells Fargo analyst Neil Kalton maintained NextEra Energy with an Overweight and raised the price target from $95 to $102.
&#8220;That stock really does have me very concerned,&#8221; Cramer said when asked about Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HTZ#NASDAQ">HTZ</a>).
On Aug. 1, Hertz reported second-quarter revenue of $2.4 billion, missing the consensus estimate of $2.46 billion, according to estimates from Benzinga Pro. The company reported an adjusted earnings loss of $1.44 per share, missing analyst estimates for a loss of 90 cents per share.
Price Action:
<ul>
<li>AES shares gained 0.1% to settle at $16.20 on Monday.</li>
<li>NextEra Energy shares rose 1.5% to close at $81.19 during Monday's session.</li>
<li>Vertiv shares gained 3.8% to close at $74.48 during Monday's session.</li>
<li>Hertz gained 4.1% to settle at $2.82 during the session.</li>
</ul>
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40773243/top-2-health-care-stocks-that-may-collapse-this-quarter">Top 2 Health Care Stocks That May Collapse This Quarter</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

Jim Cramer Says AES Is 'Very Inexpensive', Recommends Buying This Industrial Stock

AES's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AES#NYSE">AES</a>) short percent of float has risen 20.31% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 18.24 million shares sold short, which is 3.91% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.29 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>AES Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1725048012_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for AES has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing AES's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, AES's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 1.35%, which means the company has more short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Short Sellers

Short Ideas

(AES) - Analyzing AES's Short Interest

American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/aep#NASDAQ">AEP</a>) is deploying systematic investments in infrastructural upgrades to enhance the reliability of its operations and serve its utility customers efficiently. The company is also making consistent investments to boost its renewable generation portfolio.
However, this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company faces risks like rising interest rates and an unfavorable financial position, which act as a headwind.
<h2>AEP&#39;s Tailwinds</h2>
American Electric has a capital investment plan of $43 billion for the 2024-2028 period in its core regulated operations, contracted renewables and wires. This should boost AEP&#39;s customer reliability. The company expects this systematic investment to support it in achieving long-term earnings growth of 6-7%.
Moreover, American Electric intends to invest roughly $27.3 billion in its transmission and distribution operations between 2024 and 2028 to build a more efficient grid and provide consumers with customized energy solutions.
In the clean energy space, as of June 30, 2024, AEP has regulatory nods from several state regulatory commissions to purchase 2,811 megawatts of owned renewable generation facilities for a total estimated cost of $6.6 billion. It plans to invest $9.4 billion in controlled renewable expansion between 2024 and 2028. This should further boost its renewable generation portfolio in the years to come.
<h2>Headwinds Faced by AEP</h2>
Since utility firms like American Electric Power finance their operations through both short and long-term borrowings, the increased interest rate environment in the United States remains a headwind for AEP in the form of higher interest expenses. In the second quarter of 2024, the company&#39;s interest expenditure increased by 1.2% year over year. If American Electric continues to face such escalating interest costs, it might adversely affect its financial situation in the near future.
As of June 30, 2024, American Electric had $40 billion in long-term debt, while its cash equivalents totaled $0.47 billion. As of the same date, its current debt was $3.75 billion. As both AEP&#39;s current and long-term debt levels remained far greater than its cash reserve, the company seems to have a weak position with respect to its solvency.
<h2>AEP Stock Price Movement</h2>
In the past three months, shares of AEP have risen 11.8% compared with the industry&#39;s growth of 3.6%.
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/dc/75929.jpg?v=1237332659" />
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
<h2>Stocks to Consider</h2>
Some better-ranked stocks from the same industry are DTE Energy Company (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/dte#NYSE">DTE</a>), The AES Corporation (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/aes#NYSE">AES</a>) and NiSource Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ni#NYSE">NI</a>), each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present.
DTE Energy&#39;s long-term (three to five years) earnings growth rate is 8.1%. The company delivered an average earnings surprise of 0.77% in the last four quarters.
AES delivered an average earnings surprise of 19.18% in the last four quarters. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AES&#39; 2024 sales suggests an improvement of 3.6% from the prior-year reported figure.
NiSource&#39;s long-term earnings growth rate is 6%. The company delivered an average earnings surprise of 20.64% in the last four quarters.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2328992/aep-stock-rides-on-investments-despite-high-interest-rates?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|zer_report_update-2328992">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Public Service Enterprise Group, Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/peg#NYSE">PEG</a>) or PSEG&#39;s focus on renewable generation expansion is likely to bolster its footprint in the clean energy market. To enhance customer reliability, the company makes consistent investments in its infrastructure, strengthening its transmission and distribution system&#39;s resilience.
However, this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company faces risks like an unfavorable financial position and expenditure to remediate every manufactured gas plant (MGP) site, which acts as a headwind.
<h2>PEG&#39;s Tailwinds</h2>
PSEG has a capital investment plan of $18-$21 billion for 2024-2028 to constantly upgrade its infrastructure and expand its renewable generation portfolio. Its solid capital investment plan is estimated to bring in compounded annual rate base growth of 6-7.5% between 2024 and 2028.
In the clean energy space, the company is investing significantly in solar initiatives in utility-owned solar photovoltaic (PV) grid-connected systems. As of Dec. 31, 2023, the PSE&amp;G segment owned 158 MW DC of installed PV solar capacity throughout New Jersey.
PSEG is also expanding its footprint in the wind energy market. It is essential to note that the company has been granted various onshore transmission contracts by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to link customers with the offshore wind farms that are currently under development.
<h2>Headwinds Faced by PSEG</h2>
PSEG&#39;s segment, PSE&amp;G, has been collaborating with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to assess and remediate environmental conditions at its former MGP sites. As of June 30, 2024, 38 sites require remedial action, and PSE&amp;G estimates costs of $196-$215 million to complete all sites. Such an expenditure might hurt PSEG&#39;s operating results.
As of June 30, 2024, the company owed $18.42 billion in long-term debt. Its cash balance of $0.11 billion at the end of the second quarter fell short of its long-term debt levels and the current debt value of $2.98 billion. This shows that PSEG has a weak solvency position.
<h2>PEG Stock Price Movement</h2>
In the past six months, shares of PEG have risen 28.7% compared with the industry&#39;s growth of 20.8%.
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/fa/75670.jpg?v=354682259" />
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
<h2>Stocks to Consider</h2>
Some better-ranked stocks from the same industry are DTE Energy Company (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/dte#NYSE">DTE</a>), The AES Corporation (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/aes#NYSE">AES</a>) and NiSource Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ni#NYSE">NI</a>), each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) at present.
DTE Energy&#39;s long-term (three to five years) earnings growth rate is 8.1%. The company delivered an average earnings surprise of 0.77% in the last four quarters.
AES delivered an average earnings surprise of 19.18% in the last four quarters. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AES&#39; 2024 sales suggests an improvement of 3.6% from the prior-year reported figure.
NiSource&#39;s long-term earnings growth rate is 6%. The company delivered an average earnings surprise of 20.64% in the last four quarters.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2328140/pseg-stock-rides-on-investments-despite-weak-financial-position?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|zer_report_update-2328140">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

The AES Corporation (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/aes#NYSE">AES</a>) is a global energy company. Its strategic investments to expand its clean energy generation capacity and construction of new generation, transmission and distribution projects are likely to boost its performance. Given its growth opportunities, AES makes for a solid investment option in the Utility sector.
The company currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Let&#39;s look at the factors that are driving the stock.
<h2>Growth Projections &amp; Surprise History of AES</h2>
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2024 and 2025 earnings per share is pegged at $1.91 and $2.08, respectively, which indicates year-over-year growth of 8.5% and 8.8%.
The consensus estimate for 2024 and 2025 sales is pegged at $13.32 billion and $13.77 billion, respectively, which indicates year-over-year growth of 5.1% and 3.4%.
AES delivered an average earnings surprise of 19.18% in the past four quarters.
<h2>AES Stock&#39;s Dividend Yield</h2>
AES distributes dividends to shareholders on a regular basis. Its current dividend yield is 3.82%, which is better than the industry&#39;s average of 3.44%.
<h2>AES&#39; Return on Equity</h2>
AES&#39; current return on equity (ROE) is pinned at 32.74%, which is more than the industry average of 10.34%. ROE, a profitable measure, reflects how effectively a company is utilizing its shareholders&#39; funds in its operations to generate income.
<h2>AES&#39; Investments</h2>
AES is one of the forerunners in the utility industry&#39;s transition to clean energy by investing in sustainable growth and innovative solutions. Notably, the company completed the construction and the acquisition of 976 megawatts of wind, solar and energy storage, during the second quarter of 2024. It signed long-term contracts for 1 gigawatt (GW) of new renewables.
AES signed agreements to support 1.2 GW of new data center load at U.S utilities. It also signed 15-year power purchase agreements for 727 MW of wind and solar energy to serve data center growth in Texas and a 310 MW retail supply agreement to support data centers throughout Ohio.
This should help the company to duly add 3.6 GW of new renewable projects to its portfolio in 2024 and 14-17 GW of renewable energy capacity to its project portfolio during the 2023-2025 time period.
<h2>AES Stock Performance</h2>
Shares of AES have gained 22% in the past six months compared with the sector&#39;s 18.3% growth.
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/a5/75393.jpg?v=956434569" />
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
<h2>Other Stocks to Consider</h2>
Some other top-ranked stocks in the industry are American Electric Power Company, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/aep#NASDAQ">AEP</a>), PPL Corporation (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ppl#NYSE">PPL</a>) and NiSource Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ni#NYSE">NI</a>). Each of these stocks currently carries a Zacks Rank of 2.
American Electric Power&#39;s long-term (three to five years) earnings growth rate is 6.20%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2024 sales indicates year-over-year growth of 5.7%.
PPL Corporation&#39;s long-term earnings growth rate is 6.80%. The consensus estimate for 2024 earnings indicates year-over-year growth of 7.5%.
NiSource delivered an average earnings surprise of 20.64% in the last four quarters. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2024 earnings indicates year-over-year growth of 7.5%.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2327144/here-s-why-you-should-add-aes-to-your-portfolio-right-now?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|rank_focused-2327144">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Here's Why You Should Add AES to Your Portfolio Right Now

After a rocky start to the month that led to a global market rout, two major inflation data seemed to have steadied the ship as the broader equity markets inched closer to all-time highs reached in mid-July. While the producer price index (a measure of wholesale prices) was up 0.1% last month, the consumer price index (a broad-based measure of prices for goods and services) increased 0.2%. This put the 12-month inflation rate at 2.9% &mdash; the lowest since March 2021.
While the data gave an uncertain market some direction after the erratic movement last week, it also portrayed the resilience of the economy. This, in turn, led to optimism about a possible rate cut by the Federal Reserve next month, triggering an uptrend for the stocks. With a better-than-expected 2.8% annualized GDP growth in the second quarter and solid labor market conditions, it appeared that the economy was back on the growth track, cooling recessionary fears.
As investors employ a wait-and-see approach in a classic example of &quot;backing and filling&quot; in the market, they can benefit from &quot;cash cow&quot; stocks that garner higher returns. However, identifying cash-rich stocks alone does not make for a solid investment proposition unless it is backed by attractive efficiency ratios like return on equity (ROE). A high ROE ensures that the company is reinvesting cash at a high rate of return. Upbound Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/upbd#NASDAQ">UPBD</a>), The AES Corporation (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/aes#NYSE">AES</a>), Arch Capital Group Ltd. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/acgl#NASDAQ">ACGL</a>), PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/phm#NYSE">PHM</a>) and Banco de Chile (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/bch#NYSE">BCH</a>) are some of the stocks with high ROE to profit from.
<h3>ROE: A Key Metric</h3>
ROE = Net Income/Shareholders&#39; Equity
ROE helps investors distinguish profit-generating companies from profit burners and is useful in determining the financial health of a company. In other words, this financial metric enables investors to identify companies that diligently deploy cash for higher returns.
Moreover, ROE is often used to compare the profitability of a company with other firms in the industry &mdash; the higher, the better. It measures how well a company is multiplying its profits without investing new equity capital and portrays management&#39;s efficiency in rewarding shareholders with attractive risk-adjusted returns.
<h3>Screening Parameters</h3>
In order to shortlist stocks that are cash-rich with high ROE, we have added Cash Flow greater than $1 billion and ROE greater than X-Industry as our primary screening parameters. In addition, we have taken a few other criteria into consideration to arrive at a winning strategy.
Price/Cash Flow lesser than X-Industry: This metric measures how much investors pay for $1 of free cash flow. A lower ratio indicates that investors need to pay less for a better cash flow-generating stock.
Return on Assets (ROA) greater than X-Industry: This metric determines how much profit a company earns for every dollar of asset, which includes cash, accounts receivable, property, equipment, inventory and furniture. The higher the ROA, the better it is for the company.
5-Year EPS Historical Growth greater than X-Industry: This criterion indicates that continued earnings momentum has translated into solid cash strength.
Zacks Rank less than or equal to 2: Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) stocks are known to outperform irrespective of the market environment.
Here are five of the 11 stocks that qualified the screening:
Upbound Group: Headquartered in Plano, TX, Upbound Group (formerly Rent-A-Center, Inc.) is a leading lease-to-own provider with operations in the United States, Puerto Rico and Mexico. The company provides services to a large portion of consumers by providing them access and the opportunity to obtain ownership of high-quality, durable products under a flexible lease purchase agreement with no long-term debt obligation.
The company delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 3.8%, on average. It has a VGM Score of B. Upbound Group carries a Zacks Rank #2.
AES: Arlington, VA-based AES is a global power company. Its businesses are spread across four continents in 14 countries. The company has four Strategic Business Units located in the United States and other regions across the globe. AES remains one of the forerunners in the utility industry&#39;s transition to clean energy by investing in sustainable growth and innovative solutions while delivering superior results.
It delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 19.2%, on average. AES carries a Zacks Rank #2.
Arch Capital: Headquartered in Pembroke, Bermuda, Arch Capital offers insurance, reinsurance and mortgage insurance across the world. It provides a wide range of products and services, which include primary and excess casualty coverages, professional indemnity, workers&#39; compensation and umbrella liability and employers&#39; liability insurance coverages. The company offers a full range of property, casualty and mortgage insurance and reinsurance lines while maintaining a focus on writing specialty lines of insurance and reinsurance.
It has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 6.1%. It delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 28.9%, on average. It has a VGM Score of B. Arch Capital carries a Zacks Rank #2.
PulteGroup: Based in Atlanta, GA, PulteGroup engages in homebuilding and financial services businesses, primarily in the United States. The company conducts operations through two primary business segments &ndash; Homebuilding and Financial Services. The company engages in maintaining a 50/50 balance between build-to-order and spec sales, enabling it to meet immediate demand with spec homes while also accommodating buyers who prefer to customize their homes with build-to-order options.
The company has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 19% and delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 10%, on average. It has a VGM Score of B. PulteGroup carries a Zacks Rank #2.&nbsp;
Banco de Chile: Headquartered in Santiago, Chile, Banco de Chile provides various banking services to customers in the Latin American country. These include deposit accounts, loans, payment-related cards and insurance solutions. The company also offers services such as cash management, treasury, financial advisory, trade finance, leasing, factoring, payment, payroll, collection, mutual fund management, securities brokerage, currency trading, investment management, collection, securitization and capital markets services.
It delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 6.1%, on average. Banco de Chile carries a Zacks Rank #2.
Disclosure: Officers, directors and/or employees of Zacks Investment Research may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. An affiliated investment advisory firm may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2322873/buy-5-high-roe-stocks-as-low-inflation-data-steadies-market?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|rw-2322873">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

AES's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AES#NYSE">AES</a>) short percent of float has fallen 17.51% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 15.18 million shares sold short, which is 3.25% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 1.79 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>AES Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1723640411_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for AES has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing AES's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, AES's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 1.66%, which means the company has more short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Peering Into AES's Recent Short Interest

The AES shares are trading lower after the company reported mixed Q2 financial results.

Financial Position and Outlook
<ul>
<li>Now expects to achieve upper half of 2024 Adjusted EPS1 guidance range of $1.87 to $1.97
<ul>
<li>Reaffirming annualized Adjusted EPS1 growth target of 7% to 9% through 2025, off a base of 2020</li>
<li>Reaffirming annualized Adjusted EPS1 growth target of 7% to 9% through 2027, off a base of 2023 guidance</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Reaffirming 2024 guidance for Adjusted EBITDA2 of $2,600 to $2,900 million
<ul>
<li>Reaffirming annualized growth target2 of 5% to 7% through 2027, off a base of 2023 guidance</li>
<li>Now expects 2024 Adjusted EBITDA with Tax Attributes2,3 to be in the upper half of the range of $3,550 to $3,950 million</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

Guidance

The AES Corp Sees Upper Half Of 2024 EPS $1.87-$1.97; Reaffirming EPS Growth Rate Target Of 7%-9% Through 2025, Off A Base Of 2020; Reaffirming EPS Growth Rate Target Of 7%-9%, Off A Base Of 2023 Guidance

AES (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AES#NYSE">AES</a>) reported quarterly earnings of $0.38 per share which beat the analyst consensus estimate of $0.37 by 2.7 percent. This is a 80.95 percent increase over earnings of $0.21 per share from the same period last year. The company reported quarterly sales of $2.94 billion which missed the analyst consensus estimate of $3.19 billion by 7.66 percent. This is a 2.81 percent decrease over sales of $3.03 billion the same period last year.

Earnings Beats

Earnings Misses

AES Q2 Adj $0.38 Beats $0.37 Estimate, Sales $2.94B Miss $3.19B Estimate

The broader U.S. equity markets witnessed a modest uptrend over the past few trading days, buoyed by optimism related to rate cuts driven by easing inflationary pressures and solid economic metrics that portrayed the resilience of the economy. In addition, a relatively healthy earnings performance from hitherto reported companies ignited hopes of a possible rate cut as early as September.
The markets now await the Federal Reserve&#39;s update on the monetary policy as it wraps up its policy meeting later today. Although the Fed is widely expected to keep the benchmark funds rate steady in the 5.25% to 5.5% range, investors are seeking cues for probable cuts in the near future. With a better-than-expected 2.8% annualized GDP growth in the second quarter and a robust labor market scenario, the conditions appear primed to heed the broader sentiments.
As investors employ a wait-and-see approach in a classic example of &quot;backing and filling&quot; in the market, they can benefit from &quot;cash cow&quot; stocks that garner higher returns. However, identifying cash-rich stocks alone does not make for a solid investment proposition unless it is backed by attractive efficiency ratios like return on equity (ROE). A high ROE ensures that the company is reinvesting cash at a high rate of return. Best Buy Co., Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/bby#NYSE">BBY</a>), The AES Corporation (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/aes#NYSE">AES</a>), Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/lmt#NYSE">LMT</a>), PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/phm#NYSE">PHM</a>) and Banco de Chile (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/bch#NYSE">BCH</a>) are some of the stocks with high ROE to profit from.
<h3>Why ROE?</h3>
ROE = Net Income/Shareholders&#39; Equity
ROE helps investors distinguish profit-generating companies from profit burners and is useful in determining the financial health of a company. In other words, this financial metric enables investors to identify companies that diligently deploy cash for higher returns.
Moreover, ROE is often used to compare the profitability of a company with other firms in the industry &mdash; the higher, the better. It measures how well a company is multiplying its profits without investing new equity capital and portrays management&#39;s efficiency in rewarding shareholders with attractive risk-adjusted returns.
<h3>Parameters Used for Screening</h3>
In order to shortlist stocks that are cash-rich with high ROE, we have added Cash Flow greater than $1 billion and ROE greater than X-Industry as our primary screening parameters. In addition, we have taken a few other criteria into consideration to arrive at a winning strategy.
Price/Cash Flow lesser than X-Industry: This metric measures how much investors pay for $1 of free cash flow. A lower ratio indicates that investors need to pay less for a better cash flow-generating stock.
Return on Assets (ROA) greater than X-Industry: This metric determines how much profit a company earns for every dollar of asset, which includes cash, accounts receivable, property, equipment, inventory and furniture. The higher the ROA, the better it is for the company.
5-Year EPS Historical Growth greater than X-Industry: This criterion indicates that continued earnings momentum has translated into solid cash strength.
Zacks Rank less than or equal to 2: Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) stocks are known to outperform irrespective of the market environment.
Here are five of the 14 stocks that qualified the screening:
Best Buy: Headquartered in Richfield, MN, Best Buy is a multinational specialty retailer of consumer electronics, home office products, entertainment software, communication, food preparation, wellness, health, security, appliances and related services. The company retails technology products in the United States and Canada.
It has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 5.1% and delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 11%, on average. It has a VGM Score of B. Best Buy carries a Zacks Rank #2.
AES: Arlington, VA-based AES is a global power company. Its businesses are spread across four continents in 14 countries. The company has four Strategic Business Units located in the United States and other regions across the globe. AES remains one of the forerunners in the utility industry&#39;s transition to clean energy by investing in sustainable growth and innovative solutions while delivering superior results.
It delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 13.8%, on average. AES carries a Zacks Rank #2. It has a VGM Score of A.
Lockheed Martin: Based in Bethesda, MD, Lockheed Martin is the largest defense contractor in the world. Its main areas of focus are defense, space, intelligence, homeland security and information technology, including cyber security. Lockheed Martin currently operates through four businesses &mdash; Aeronautics, Missiles and Fire Control, Rotary and Missions Systems and Space Systems.
The company has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 4.2% and delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 7.5%, on average. Lockheed Martin carries a Zacks Rank #2.
PulteGroup: Based in Atlanta, GA, PulteGroup engages in homebuilding and financial services businesses, primarily in the United States. The company conducts operations through two primary business segments &ndash; Homebuilding and Financial Services. The company engages in maintaining a 50/50 balance between build-to-order and spec sales, enabling it to meet immediate demand with spec homes while also accommodating buyers who prefer to customize their homes with build-to-order options.
The company has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 19% and delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 10%, on average. It has a VGM Score of B. PulteGroup carries a Zacks Rank #2.
Banco de Chile: Headquartered in Santiago, Chile, Banco de Chile provides various banking services to customers in the Latin American country. These include deposit accounts, loans, payment-related cards and insurance solutions. The company also offers services such as cash management, treasury, financial advisory, trade finance, leasing, factoring, payment, payroll, collection, mutual fund management, securities brokerage, currency trading, investment management, collection, securitization and capital markets services.
It delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 7.1%, on average. Banco de Chile carries a Zacks Rank #2. 
Disclosure: Officers, directors and/or employees of Zacks Investment Research may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. An affiliated investment advisory firm may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2312735/5-high-roe-stocks-to-bet-on-as-markets-seek-rate-cut-clarity?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|rw-2312735">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

AES Corporation Introduces Maximo, AI-Powered Robot To Enhance Solar Installation Speed, Efficiency, And Safety; Revolutionary Robotic Solution Aids Construction Teams In Meeting Renewable Energy Demand

AES's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AES#NYSE">AES</a>) short percent of float has fallen 15.63% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 18.37 million shares sold short, which is 3.94% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 2.81 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>AES Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1722278715_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for AES has declined since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to rise in the near-term but traders should be aware that less shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing AES's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, AES's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 1.46%, which means the company has more short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

Each week,&nbsp;Benzinga's Stock Whisper Index&nbsp;uses a combination of proprietary data and pattern recognition to showcase five stocks that are just under the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/stock-whisper-index" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">surface and deserve attention</a>.
Investors are constantly on the hunt for undervalued, under-followed and emerging stocks. With countless methods available to retail traders, the challenge often lies in sifting through the abundance of information to uncover new opportunities and understand why certain stocks should be of interest.
Here&#8217;s a look at the Benzinga Stock Whisper Index for the week of July&nbsp;26:
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/exclusives/24/07/39603613/exclusive-top-10-most-searched-tickers-on-benzinga-pro-in-first-half-2024-where-do-nvidia-tesla-pala" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">EXCLUSIVE &#8211; Top 10 Most Searched Tickers On Benzinga Pro In First Half 2024 – Where Do Nvidia, Tesla, Palantir, GameStop Rank?</a>
The AES Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AES#NYSE">AES</a>): The global power company saw strong interest from readers during the week. The interest comes ahead of second-quarter financial results set for Aug. 1. Analysts <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/pro/register/?utm_source=BZprocontent072624&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">expect the company</a> to report earnings per share of 37 cents and revenue of $3.19 billion, compared to 21 cents and $3.03 billion respectively in last year's second quarter. The company has beaten analysts' earnings per share estimates in three straight quarters and missed analysts' revenue estimates in three straight quarters.
AES <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/06/39276863/aes-kuihelani-facility-biggest-solar-plant-in-hawaii-flips-the-switch-on-clean-energy">recently launched the</a> Kuihelani Solar-plus-Storage facility in Hawaii, which will reduce Maui's reliance on oil. The company has secured a 25-year purchase agreement with Hawaiian Electric for generated power from the facility.
The stock has also seen strong interest from hedge funds <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/05/39010704/hedge-funds-tweak-portfolios-in-q1-marvell-td-synnex-aes-get-more-love-as-focus-shifts-to-ai">in recent quarters</a>, which comes as the company has exposure to clean energy and artificial intelligence. In June, the company announced a strategic <a href="https://aescorporation2023cr.q4web.com/press-releases/news-details/2024/AES-Partners-with-AI-Fund-to-Accelerate-AI-Driven-Energy-Solutions/default.aspx">partnership </a>with AI Fund, which is working to increase artificial intelligence being used to accelerate the energy transition.
"By combining our expertise of the power sector with AI Fund's expertise in artificial intelligence, we are uniquely positioned to lead the energy transition with AI-powered innovations that will benefit not only our portfolio but the entire industry," AES CEO Andres Gluski said.
The <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/pro/register/?utm_source=BZprocontent072624&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro chart</a> below shows AES stock down 1.6% over the last five days.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="http://www.benzinga.com/pro/register/?utm_source=BZprocontent072624&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="996" height="499" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/26102306/Screenshot-87.png" alt="" class="wp-image-459634" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/26102306/Screenshot-87.png 996w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/26102306/Screenshot-87-300x150.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/26102306/Screenshot-87-768x385.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 996px) 100vw, 996px" /></a></figure>
The Kraft Heinz Company (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KHC#NASDAQ">KHC</a>): The food and beverage company saw strong interest from readers during the week, which comes ahead of second-quarter financial results. The company will report Q2 results on July 31. Analysts expect the company to report earnings per share of 74 cents and revenue of $6.55 billion, compared to 79 cents and $6.72 billion reported in last year's second quarter. The company missed earnings per share estimates from analyst in the last quarter, which came after a streak of more than 10 straight quarters of beating analysts' estimates. The company has missed revenue estimates in three of the last five quarters.
Analysts <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/KHC/analyst-ratings">have been lowering </a>their Kraft Heinz Company stock price targets ahead of the quarterly results.
<ul>
<li>Barclays maintained an Equal-Weight rating and lowered the price target from $36 to $34</li>
<li>Citigroup maintained a Buy rating and lowered the price target from $42 to $38</li>
<li>Bank of America maintained a Buy rating and lowered the price target from $42 to $38</li>
</ul>
Kraft Heinz shares were up 1% in the last five days as viewed on the <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/pro/register/?utm_source=BZprocontent072624&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro chart </a>below, but remain down 10% year-to-date.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="http://www.benzinga.com/pro/register/?utm_source=BZprocontent072624&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="997" height="505" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/26102334/Screenshot-88.png" alt="" class="wp-image-459635" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/26102334/Screenshot-88.png 997w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/26102334/Screenshot-88-300x152.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/26102334/Screenshot-88-768x389.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 997px) 100vw, 997px" /></a></figure>
Illumina Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ILMN#NASDAQ">ILMN</a>): The genetics company saw strong interest from investors, which comes ahead of quarterly earnings and a company update that could put shares in the spotlight in the month of August.
Illumina will report second-quarter results on August 6. The company is also scheduled to hold a "Strategy Update" company event on Aug. 13 with members of the executive team presenting and a question-and-answer segment to follow.
In July, Illumina announced the acquisition of Fluent Biosciences. The acquisition could be a key topic during the August event.
Illumina shares were nearly flat over the last five days as seen in the<a href="http://www.benzinga.com/pro/register/?utm_source=BZprocontent072624&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"> Benzinga Pro chart</a> below. Shares are down over 15% year-to-date in 2024.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="http://www.benzinga.com/pro/register/?utm_source=BZprocontent072624&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="997" height="501" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/26102354/Screenshot-89.png" alt="" class="wp-image-459637" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/26102354/Screenshot-89.png 997w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/26102354/Screenshot-89-300x151.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/26102354/Screenshot-89-768x386.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 997px) 100vw, 997px" /></a></figure>
Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCHW#NYSE">SCHW</a>): The financial company saw strong interest from investors, which comes shortly after second-quarter financial results were reported. Charles Schwab reported second-quarter revenue and earnings per share that came in ahead of analysts' estimates.
In<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/07/39793390/schwabs-asset-management-fees-soar-but-interest-income-decline-weighs-on-q2-details"> the quarter</a>, the company saw brokerage accounts up 4% year-over-year to a total of 35.6 million. Year-to-date enrollments for all wealth solutions are up around 30% according to CEO Walt Bettinger.
Analysts <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/07/39819032/charles-schwab-analysts-see-choppy-path-for-bank-after-q2-earnings-we-are-not-yet-s">were mixed on</a> the Charles Schwab quarterly results.
"While the headline results were largely in line, underlying trends across net new asset growth, interest earning assets, the lack of short-term funding paydown, and lingering (but improving) cash sorting were disappointing," JPMorgan analyst Kenneth Worthington.
Worthington said he is "not yet seeing the light at the endo of the tunnel" for Charles Schwab when it comes to debt paydown and net new asset growth re-acceleration for a "return to normalization."
Charles Schwab shares were up 3.4% over the last five days, as seen on the <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/pro/register/?utm_source=BZprocontent072624&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1">Benzinga Pro chart </a>below.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="http://www.benzinga.com/pro/register/?utm_source=BZprocontent072624&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1003" height="503" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/26102415/Screenshot-90.png" alt="" class="wp-image-459638" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/26102415/Screenshot-90.png 1003w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/26102415/Screenshot-90-300x150.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/26102415/Screenshot-90-768x385.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1003px) 100vw, 1003px" /></a></figure>
Schlumberger (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLB#NYSE">SLB</a>): Interest was high for the week in Schlumberger, which is the largest oilfield service firm. The company recently <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/07/39859998/schlumberger-outshines-expectations-solid-international-growth-fuels-q2-success">reported second-quarter results</a>, which included revenue of $9.14 billion up 13% year-over-year and ahead of Street consensus estimates of $9.08 billion.
Schlumberger reported revenue up double-digits across three of its four reporting segments in the second quarter. Strength in the Middle East &amp; Asia regions helped offset weakness in the North American market for the quarter.
"Looking ahead to the second half of the year, we expect ongoing momentum in the international markets, strong digital sales, and our cost efficiency programs will enable us to expand margins and deliver our ambition to grow full-year adjusted EBITDA in the mid-teens," Schlumberger CEO Olivier Le Peuch said.
Peuch added that the company has a "long tailwind of growth opportunities."
Schlumberger also recently <a href="https://www.slb.com/news-and-insights/newsroom/press-release/2024/slb-to-accelerate-co-development-of-ai-driven-digital-platform-for-aker-bp">announced </a>the co-development of an AI-driven digital platform for Aker BP. The project will increase production and lower costs for Aker BP and could lead to more interest in Schlumberger's AI-driven products.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="http://www.benzinga.com/pro/register/?utm_source=BZprocontent072624&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1001" height="505" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/26102432/Screenshot-91.png" alt="" class="wp-image-459639" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/26102432/Screenshot-91.png 1001w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/26102432/Screenshot-91-300x151.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/26102432/Screenshot-91-768x387.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1001px) 100vw, 1001px" /></a></figure>
Stay tuned for next week's report, and follow Benzinga Pro for all the latest headlines and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.benzinga.com/pro/register/?utm_source=BZprocontent072624&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">top market-moving stories here.</a>
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/07/39752236/benzingas-stock-whisper-index-5-stocks-investors-secretly-monitor-but-dont-talk-about-yet" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">July 12</a></li>
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Barclays analyst Stephen Byrd maintains AES (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AES#NYSE">AES</a>) with a Overweight and lowers the price target from $23 to $22.

Barclays Maintains Overweight on AES, Lowers Price Target to $22

Shares of SolarEdge Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SEDG#NASDAQ">SEDG</a>) fell sharply during Monday's session after the company announced a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/07/39774515/solaredge-cuts-400-more-jobs-in-2024-navigating-market-woes-and-inventory-challenges">workforce reduction</a>.
SolarEdge disclosed a decision to lay off 400 employees. The company stated that 200 of these job cuts are in Israel. The action involves reducing headcount and discretionary spending across all departments.
SolarEdge Technologies shares dipped 12.2% to $27.77 on Monday.
Here are some other stocks moving in today&#8217;s mid-day session.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Gainers</h3>
<ul>
<li>Autonomix Medical, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMIX#NASDAQ">AMIX</a>) shares climbed 148% to $1.4850 after the company entered into an agreement with RF Innovations to license intellectual property for its Apex 6 Radiofrequency Generator.</li>
<li>AEON Biopharma, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AEON#NASDAQ">AEON</a>) gained 72% to $2.41.</li>
<li>Cyngn Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CYN#NASDAQ">CYN</a>) gained 65% to $9.90.</li>
<li>DatChat, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DATS#NASDAQ">DATS</a>) shares jumped 65% to $1.75.</li>
<li>Scinai Immunotherapeutics Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SCNI#NASDAQ">SCNI</a>) shares climbed 61% to $6.53 after the company announced in-vivo preclinical study results of NanoAb.</li>
<li>American Rebel Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AREB#NASDAQ">AREB</a>) gained 44.5% to $0.7514.</li>
<li>Trump Media &amp; Technology Group Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DJT#NASDAQ">DJT</a>) rose 32.8% to $41.03 following the attempted assassination of Donald Trump. The company's CEO Devin Nunes issued the following statement in response to the attempted assassination of President Donald J. Trump, &#8220;I offer my deepest sympathies to the family of the rally goer killed in Butler, Pennsylvania, and to those who were wounded. I thank God President Trump survived the assassination attempt and is now safe.&#8221;</li>
<li>MIRA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MIRA#NASDAQ">MIRA</a>) shares gained 28.3% to $0.7632 after the company said testing confirmed MIRA&#8217;s preliminary beliefs regarding potential treatment for neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders.</li>
<li>QXO, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QXO#NASDAQ">QXO</a>) gained 23.5% to $61.17.</li>
<li>Innodata Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INOD#NASDAQ">INOD</a>) shares climbed 22.1% to $20.66. Maxim Group analyst Allen Klee initiated coverage on Innodata with a Buy rating and announced a price target of $30.</li>
<li>BitFuFu Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FUFU#NASDAQ">FUFU</a>) rose 20.3% to $5.16 after Bitcoin rose above $62,000.</li>
<li>Humacyte, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HUMA#NASDAQ">HUMA</a>) climbed 19% to $8.32 after the Pluristyx announced a license agreement with the company.</li>
<li>AMMO, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/POWW#NASDAQ">POWW</a>) gained 17.5% to $1.95. Shares of prison and firearm stocks traded higher following the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, which has lifted stocks that could benefit from a Trump presidency on Monday.</li>
<li>Aurora Innovation, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AUR#NASDAQ">AUR</a>) climbed 15.6% to $4.28.</li>
<li>Algoma Steel Group Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ASTL#NASDAQ">ASTL</a>) gained 13.7% to $8.35.</li>
<li>Hut 8 Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HUT#NASDAQ">HUT</a>) gained 13% to $19.17 after Bitcoin rose above $62,000.</li>
<li>MicroStrategy Incorporated (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>) rose 11.5% to $1,556.89 amid a rise Bitcoin.</li>
<li>Coinbase Global, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/COIN#NASDAQ">COIN</a>) gained 11.2% to $242.51 after Bitcoin rose above $62,000.</li>
<li>Upstart Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UPST#NASDAQ">UPST</a>) climbed 10.3% to $29.91.</li>
<li>Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) gained 6% to $263.03 possibly after CEO Elon Musk endorsed former President Trump on X after the attempted assassination. In response to the attack, Trump-adjacent stocks are rising on Monday.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Losers</h3>
<ul>
<li>ASLAN Pharmaceuticals Limited (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ASLN#NASDAQ">ASLN</a>) shares fell 45.7% to $1.3687 after the company announced receipt of Nasdaq delisting determination.</li>
<li>Kazia Therapeutics Limited (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KZIA#NASDAQ">KZIA</a>) shares tumbled 28% to $0.6387.</li>
<li>Locafy Limited (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LCFY#NASDAQ">LCFY</a>) dipped 25.9% to $4.1401.</li>
<li>Lexeo Therapeutics, Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LXEO#NASDAQ">LXEO</a>) fell 25.1% to $13.18 after the company reported interim Phase 1/2 clinical data of LX2006 for the treatment of friedreich ataxia cardiomyopathy.</li>
<li>NaaS Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NAAS#NASDAQ">NAAS</a>) declined 25% to $3.1845.</li>
<li>Qualigen Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QLGN#NASDAQ">QLGN</a>) dipped 21% to $0.3436 after jumping 109% on Friday.</li>
<li>Catheter Precision, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VTAK#NYSE">VTAK</a>) fell 18.5% to $3.12. Catheter Precision announced effectiveness of 1-for-10 reverse stock split.</li>
<li>Sequans Communications S.A. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SQNS#NYSE">SQNS</a>) dipped 17.3% to $0.4733.</li>
<li>Vicinity Motor Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VEV#NASDAQ">VEV</a>) shares fell 17.1% to $0.5912. Vicinity Motor shares surged around 111% on Friday after the company announced CARB certification for the VMC 1200 class 3 electric truck.</li>
<li>Logistic Properties of the Americas (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LPA#NYSE">LPA</a>) fell 17.1% to $15.26 after surging 88% on Friday.</li>
<li>Moolec Science SA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MLEC#NASDAQ">MLEC</a>) fell 16.6% to $0.86. Moolec signed an offtake agreement with a major global CPG company to hit the US market in 2025.</li>
<li>AgriFORCE Growing Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AGRI#NASDAQ">AGRI</a>) shares fell 14.5% to $0.0854 after rising around 22% on Friday.</li>
<li>Eastside Distilling, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/EAST#NASDAQ">EAST</a>) shares dipped 14.3% to $1.0199.</li>
<li>Macy&#8217;s, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/M#NYSE">M</a>) fell 13.3% to $16.55 after the company announced the termination of discussions with Arkhouse and Brigade.</li>
<li>TDH Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PETZ#NASDAQ">PETZ</a>) shares fell 12.7% to $1.45 after jumping 16% on Friday.</li>
<li>Sunrun Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RUN#NASDAQ">RUN</a>) shares declined 11.4% to $15.24 after gaining around 7% on Friday.</li>
<li>Lucid Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LCID#NASDAQ">LCID</a>) fell 10.5% to $3.8012. Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Andres Sheppard reiterated Lucid with an Underweight and maintained a $4 price target.</li>
<li>Sunnova Energy International Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NOVA#NYSE">NOVA</a>) fell 10% to $6.91 following the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, which has pressured stocks that could be impacted from a Trump presidency.</li>
<li>The AES Corporation (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AES#NYSE">AES</a>) fell 9.9% to $17.01. declared a quarterly common stock dividend of 17.25 cents per share.</li>
<li>Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ:  CSIQ) dipped 8.6% to $15.79.</li>
<li>Rackspace Technology, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RXT#NYSE">RXT</a>) fell 7.7% to $2.3150.</li>
<li>First Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FSLR#NASDAQ">FSLR</a>) fell 6.6% to $217.76. Shares of solar stocks traded lower following the attempted assassination of Donald Trump, which has pressured stocks that could be impacted from a Trump presidency on Monday.</li>
<li>NIO Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NIO#NYSE">NIO</a>) shares fell 5.8% to $4.5869. Shares of Chinese stocks traded lower after China reported softer-than-expected Q2 GDP growth.</li>
</ul>
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Why SolarEdge Shares Are Trading Lower By 12%? Here Are Other Stocks Moving In Monday's Mid-Day Session

AES's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AES#NYSE">AES</a>) short percent of float has risen 14.67% since its last report. The company recently reported that it has 20.07 million shares sold short, which is 4.3% of all regular shares that are available for trading. Based on its trading volume, it would take traders 3.31 days to cover their short positions on average.
<h3>Why Short Interest Matters</h3>
Short interest is the number of shares that have been sold short but have not yet been covered or closed out. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-short-a-stock/">Short selling</a> is when a trader sells shares of a company they do not own, with the hope that the price will fall. Traders make money from short selling if the price of the stock falls and they lose if it rises.
Short interest is important to track because it can act as an indicator of market sentiment towards a particular stock. An increase in short interest can signal that investors have become more bearish, while a decrease in short interest can signal they have become more bullish.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/short-interest">List of the most shorted stocks</a>
<h3>AES Short Interest Graph (3 Months)</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1719497716_0.png" alt="short_fig" />
As you can see from the chart above the percentage of shares that are sold short for AES has grown since its last report. This does not mean that the stock is going to fall in the near-term but traders should be aware that more shares are being shorted.
<h3>Comparing AES's Short Interest Against Its Peers</h3>
Peer comparison is a popular technique amongst analysts and investors for gauging how well a company is performing. A company's peer is another company that has similar characteristics to it, such as industry, size, age, and financial structure. You can find a company's peer group by reading its 10-K, proxy filing, or by doing your own similarity analysis.
According to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/">Benzinga Pro</a>, AES's peer group average for short interest as a percentage of float is 2.27%, which means the company has more short interest than most of its peers.
Did you know that increasing short interest can actually be bullish for a stock? <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-make-money-on-a-short-squeeze/">This post by Benzinga Money explains how you can profit from it.</a>
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and was reviewed by an editor.

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