Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL.MX)

Utilities: Where AI fits into the future of this sector play

The utilities sector (XLU) has remained nearly flat year-to-date when compared to the massive gains seen in other sectors in 2024, such as technology. Citi Equity Analyst Ryan Levine believes that the utilities sector's poor performance has gone on for too long, pointing to AI as "the real emerging story" that will "create a demand growth for the industry at large." "There's two groups of companies — companies on the regulated utility side and then on the unregulated side," Levine explains to Yahoo Finance. "On the regulated side, companies as you articulate in terms of close proximity to the data center buildout. So we identify Georgia as a state that's very attractive and are recommending Southern Company (SO) on that theme." For more expert insight and the latest market action, click here to watch this full episode of Morning Brief. Editor's note: This article was written by Luke Carberry Mogan.