Topic: How To Invest

Hi, Pat. Could you let me know what you think of PG&E Corp.? Thanks for your valued advice.

Article Excerpt

PG&E Corp., $58.16, symbol PCG on New York (Shares outstanding: 475.1 million; Market cap: $27.6 billion; www.pgecorp.com), is a holding company for Pacific Gas and Electric, which supplies power and natural gas, mainly in northern and central California. The company serves 5.3 million power customers (80% of revenue) and 4.4 million gas users (20%). PG&E’s electricity revenue breaks down as follows: 41% residential, 39% commercial, 11% industrial, 8% agricultural and 1% from other customers. Natural gas distribution revenue is 60% residential and 40% commercial. The company buys 57% of its power from other producers. It also generates electricity from its own plants: nuclear (24%), hydroelectric (11%) and gas (8%). In the three months ended September 30, 2014, PG&E’s revenue rose 18.3%, to $4.9 billion from $4.2 billion a year earlier, mainly due to higher rates. Electricity volumes rose 1.8%, but gas volumes fell 5.5%. Earnings jumped 107.6%, to $811 million from $395 million. Per-share earnings gained 96.6%, to $1.73 from $0.88, on more shares…