FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE:FE) Signals Near-Term Pressure Despite Under-Valued WMDST Valuation

FirstEnergy shows a split picture: WMDST marks the stock under-valued, while operating and cash-flow dynamics point to near-term pressure on performance. Upcoming regulatory and earnings developments create clear catalysts that should resolve the short-term direction.

Recent News

On February 17, 2026, FirstEnergy published full-year 2025 results and affirmed 2026 guidance while outlining a longer-term financial outlook; the release highlighted litigation and regulatory risks. On February 13, 2026, refunds tied to the HB6 matter began appearing on customer bills in the company’s Ohio service area. In early March 2026 FirstEnergy petitioned state regulators for additional time to meet certain outage restoration benchmarks, prompting objections from some municipalities. The company’s Q1 2026 results remained scheduled for release on April 28, 2026.

Technical Analysis

ADX at 19.9 indicates no established trend; lack of trend reduces conviction around any immediate directional breakout and amplifies sensitivity to upcoming news-driven moves.

DI+ stands at 19.17 and trends downward while DI– reads 22.86 and trends upward; that DI+/DI– pattern signals increasing downside pressure on price momentum and aligns with short-term bearish directional bias.

MACD sits at –0.17 and is decreasing, below its signal line at 0.07; negative, falling MACD denotes bearish momentum and argues the short-term trend favors lower prices until momentum stabilizes or MACD crosses back above its signal line.

MRO equals 7.38 and shows a peak-and-reversal; the positive but low MRO implies price currently sits modestly above target and carries a limited downside bias consistent with a corrective move rather than a deep re-pricing.

RSI at 53.29 and falling places momentum near neutral but tilting lower; RSI decline supports the view of short-term selling pressure rather than oversold strength.

Price trades at $49.41, below short-term averages (20-day ~ $50.32, 12-day EMA ~ $49.83) but above the 200-day average of $46.01; this mix indicates short-term weakness layered onto a structurally higher longer-term base, so short-term moves will likely respond to near-term catalysts.

Bands and cloud: price sits just above the 1x Bollinger lower band (~$49.10) and below Ichimoku Tenkan/Kijun (~$50.29/$50.27), reinforcing short-horizon downside vulnerability while preserving a wider range for mean reversion toward the 200-day average if selling extends.

 


Fundamental Analysis

Revenue totaled $3.797B with year-over-year revenue change of –42.94% and QoQ revenue change of –137.24%; the deep YoY and QoQ declines substantially reduce operating leverage and explain pressure on margins and profitability.

Operating income stood at $603.0M and operating margin equals 15.88%, down 20.64 percentage points QoQ and down 18.38 percentage points YoY; EBIT equals $267.0M with an EBIT margin of 7.03%, which sits well below the industry peer mean of 22.23% and the industry peer median of 22.44%, indicating materially weaker operating profitability versus peers.

Net income registered a loss of $49.0M while operating cash flow reached $1.136B and free cash flow equaled –$30.0M; the combination of positive operating cash flow and slightly negative free cash flow points to ongoing capital spending needs (capital expenditures $1.166B) that compress free cash generation in the near term.

Leverage remains elevated: total debt about $26.556B, debt-to-equity 2.12x, and debt-to-EBITDA roughly 38.6x; interest coverage near 1.01x signals limited flexibility for additional near-term interest cost absorption and increases sensitivity to cash-flow swings and refinancing conditions.

EPS actual came in at $0.53 versus an estimate of $0.53 (EPS surprise ≈ –0.91%), while reported PE stands at 87.13 and price-to-book near 2.13x; WMDST’s current valuation assessment places the stock under-valued, a conclusion that reflects the interplay of depressed operating margins, solid operating cash flow, and elevated leverage rather than a simple multiple comparison.

MOST-RECENT QUARTERLY REPORT
REPORT PERIOD ENDING: 2025-12-31
REPORT DATE: 2026-02-17
NEXT REPORT DATE: 2026-05-19
CASH FLOW  Begin Period Cash Flow 1.4 B
 Operating Cash Flow 1.1 B
 Capital Expenditures -1.17 B
 Change In Working Capital 402.0 M
 Dividends Paid -257.00 M
 Cash Flow Delta -1.33 B
 End Period Cash Flow 99.0 M
 
INCOME STATEMENT REVENUE
 Total Revenue 3.8 B
 Forward Revenue -8.25 B
COSTS
 Cost Of Revenue 1.4 B
 Depreciation 337.0 M
 Depreciation and Amortization 337.0 M
 Research and Development
 Total Operating Expenses 3.2 B
PROFITABILITY
 Gross Profit 2.4 B
 EBITDA 688.0 M
 EBIT 267.0 M
 Operating Income 603.0 M
 Interest Income
 Interest Expense 264.0 M
 Net Interest Income -264.00 M
 Income Before Tax 3.0 M
 Tax Provision -4.00 M
 Tax Rate 21.0 %
 Net Income -49.00 M
 Net Income From Continuing Operations 7.0 M
EARNINGS
 EPS Estimate 0.53
 EPS Actual 0.53
 EPS Difference 0.00
 EPS Surprise -0.91 %
 Forward EPS 0.74
 
BALANCE SHEET ASSETS
 Total Assets 55.9 B
 Intangible Assets 5.6 B
 Net Tangible Assets 6.9 B
 Total Current Assets 3.0 B
 Cash and Short-Term Investments 57.0 M
 Cash 57.0 M
 Net Receivables 939.0 M
 Inventory 577.0 M
 Long-Term Investments 1.4 B
LIABILITIES
 Accounts Payable 2.0 B
 Short-Term Debt 1.0 B
 Total Current Liabilities 5.3 B
 Net Debt 26.5 B
 Total Debt 26.6 B
 Total Liabilities 42.0 B
EQUITY
 Total Equity 12.5 B
 Retained Earnings 35.0 M
VALUATION & PER-SHARE METRICS EQUITY & PER-SHARE METRICS
 Book Value Per-Share 21.65
 Shares Outstanding 577.851 M
 Revenue Per-Share 6.57
VALUATION
 Market Capitalization 26.7 B
 Enterprise Value 53.2 B
 Enterprise Multiple 77.303
Enterprise Multiple QoQ 107.123 %
Enterprise Multiple YoY 219.912 %
Enterprise Multiple IPRWA high: 80.229
FE: 77.303
median: 64.053
mean: 57.598
low: 1.664
 EV/R 14.007
CAPITAL STRUCTURE
 Asset To Equity 4.469
 Asset To Liability 1.332
 Debt To Capital 0.68
 Debt To Assets 0.475
Debt To Assets QoQ -3.361 %
Debt To Assets YoY 1519.052 %
Debt To Assets IPRWA high: 0.476
FE: 0.475
median: 0.433
mean: 0.346
low: 0.012
 Debt To Equity 2.123
Debt To Equity QoQ -1.102 %
Debt To Equity YoY 1631.468 %
Debt To Equity IPRWA high: 2.432
FE: 2.123
median: 1.487
mean: 1.266
low: 0.013
PRICE-BASED VALUATION
 Price To Book (P/B) 2.133
Price To Book QoQ 6.535 %
Price To Book YoY 14.245 %
Price To Book IPRWA high: 3.11
mean: 2.227
FE: 2.133
median: 2.045
low: 0.011
 Price To Earnings (P/E) 87.133
Price To Earnings QoQ 63.03 %
Price To Earnings YoY 44.75 %
Price To Earnings IPRWA high: 181.261
median: 133.353
mean: 119.4
FE: 87.133
low: -114.345
 PE/G Ratio -2.411
 Price To Sales (P/S) 7.028
Price To Sales QoQ 13.764 %
Price To Sales YoY -4.018 %
Price To Sales IPRWA high: 26.13
mean: 15.256
median: 14.36
FE: 7.028
low: 0.028
FORWARD MULTIPLES
Forward P/E 61.092
Forward PE/G -1.69
Forward P/S -3.234
EFFICIENCY OPERATIONAL
 Operating Leverage 8.195
ASSET & SALES
 Asset Turnover Ratio 0.068
Asset Turnover Ratio QoQ -9.835 %
Asset Turnover Ratio YoY 9.937 %
Asset Turnover Ratio IPRWA high: 0.166
FE: 0.068
mean: 0.063
median: 0.047
low: 0.031
 Receivables Turnover 4.02
Receivables Turnover Ratio QoQ -12.872 %
Receivables Turnover Ratio YoY 15.313 %
Receivables Turnover Ratio IPRWA high: 4.607
FE: 4.02
mean: 1.979
median: 1.801
low: 0.811
 Inventory Turnover 2.377
Inventory Turnover Ratio QoQ -7.287 %
Inventory Turnover Ratio YoY 28.337 %
Inventory Turnover Ratio IPRWA high: 5.265
median: 2.615
mean: 2.598
FE: 2.377
low: 0.857
 Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) 22.698
CASH CYCLE
 Cash Conversion Cycle Days (CCC) -52.747
Cash Conversion Cycle Days QoQ -28.284 %
Cash Conversion Cycle Days YoY 8.336 %
Cash Conversion Cycle Days IPRWA high: 81.214
mean: -13.306
median: -42.087
FE: -52.747
low: -68.344
CAPITAL DEPLOYMENT
 Cash Conversion Ratio -1.657
 CapEx To Revenue -0.307
 CapEx To Depreciation -3.46
 
CAPITAL, LIQUIDITY & COVERAGE CAPITAL STRUCTURE
 Total Capital 38.0 B
 Net Invested Capital 39.1 B
 Invested Capital 39.1 B
 Net Tangible Assets 6.9 B
 Net Working Capital -2.29 B
LIQUIDITY
 Cash Ratio 0.011
 Current Ratio 0.565
Current Ratio QoQ -24.385 %
Current Ratio YoY 1.735 %
Current Ratio IPRWA high: 2.279
mean: 0.817
median: 0.73
FE: 0.565
low: 0.455
 Quick Ratio 0.456
Quick Ratio QoQ -29.33 %
Quick Ratio YoY 2.251 %
Quick Ratio IPRWA high: 1.827
mean: 0.694
median: 0.6
FE: 0.456
low: 0.267
COVERAGE & LEVERAGE
 Debt To EBITDA 38.599
 Cost Of Debt 0.772 %
 Interest Coverage Ratio 1.011
Interest Coverage Ratio QoQ -69.694 %
Interest Coverage Ratio YoY -60.887 %
Interest Coverage Ratio IPRWA high: 11.589
mean: 3.343
median: 2.436
FE: 1.011
low: -2.921
 Operating Cash Flow Ratio 0.126
TIMING / LIQUIDITY
 Days Payables Outstanding (DPO) 110.483
DIVIDENDS
 Dividend Coverage Ratio -0.191
 Dividend Payout Ratio -5.245
 Dividend Rate 0.44
 Dividend Yield 0.01
PERFORMANCE GROWTH
 Asset Growth Rate 0.036 %
 Revenue Growth -8.462 %
Revenue Growth QoQ -137.241 %
Revenue Growth YoY -42.94 %
Revenue Growth IPRWA high: 28.355 %
FE: -8.462 %
mean: -11.229 %
median: -11.565 %
low: -30.545 %
 Earnings Growth -36.145 %
Earnings Growth QoQ -160.631 %
Earnings Growth YoY 70.689 %
Earnings Growth IPRWA high: 26.316 %
median: -33.889 %
FE: -36.145 %
mean: -37.583 %
low: -79.31 %
MARGINS
 Gross Margin 63.84 %
Gross Margin QoQ 0.154 %
Gross Margin YoY -6.607 %
Gross Margin IPRWA high: 71.162 %
FE: 63.84 %
median: 57.4 %
mean: 51.778 %
low: 8.328 %
 EBIT Margin 7.032 %
EBIT Margin QoQ -66.511 %
EBIT Margin YoY -63.861 %
EBIT Margin IPRWA high: 29.277 %
median: 22.438 %
mean: 22.225 %
FE: 7.032 %
low: -6.942 %
 Return On Sales (ROS) 15.881 %
Return On Sales QoQ -20.635 %
Return On Sales YoY -18.383 %
Return On Sales IPRWA high: 26.505 %
median: 19.041 %
mean: 18.777 %
FE: 15.881 %
low: 5.256 %
CASH FLOW
 Free Cash Flow (FCF) -30.00 M
 Free Cash Flow Yield -0.112 %
Free Cash Flow Yield QoQ -93.906 %
Free Cash Flow Yield YoY -89.581 %
Free Cash Flow Yield IPRWA high: 0.916 %
FE: -0.112 %
median: -0.185 %
mean: -0.861 %
low: -9.091 %
 Free Cash Growth -93.631 %
Free Cash Growth QoQ -138.011 %
Free Cash Growth YoY -1121.058 %
Free Cash Growth IPRWA high: 150.31 %
median: -82.083 %
FE: -93.631 %
mean: -134.031 %
low: -401.968 %
 Free Cash To Net Income 0.612
 Cash Flow Margin 17.435 %
 Cash Flow To Earnings -13.51
VALUE & RETURNS
 Economic Value Added 0.02
 Return On Assets (ROA) -0.088 %
Return On Assets QoQ -110.986 %
Return On Assets YoY -117.323 %
Return On Assets IPRWA high: 2.845 %
mean: 0.901 %
median: 0.736 %
FE: -0.088 %
low: -0.509 %
 Return On Capital Employed (ROCE) 0.527 %
 Return On Equity (ROE) -0.004
Return On Equity QoQ -111.376 %
Return On Equity YoY -118.702 %
Return On Equity IPRWA high: 0.066
median: 0.028
mean: 0.027
low: 0.008
FE: -0.004
 DuPont ROE -0.387 %
 Return On Invested Capital (ROIC) 0.54 %
Return On Invested Capital QoQ -71.368 %
Return On Invested Capital YoY -98.416 %
Return On Invested Capital IPRWA high: 4.647 %
mean: 1.473 %
median: 1.104 %
low: 0.709 %
FE: 0.54 %

Six-Week Outlook

Near-term outlook favors downside-to-neutral price action driven by bearish momentum (falling MACD, DI+ down/DI– up) and declining short-term averages; technicals do not yet show a confirmed trend, so news flow will likely determine direction. Key catalysts over the next six weeks include the Q1 2026 report (April 28, 2026), regulatory rulings tied to reliability and refunds, and any updates on litigation or capital-markets activity. Monitor whether ADX climbs above 25 with DI+ stabilizing or MACD turns up through its signal line; such changes would increase the probability that price resumes a higher-range bias. Elevated leverage and compressed margins keep downside risk elevated, while WMDST’s under-valued designation suggests available fundamental support if catalysts resolve favorably.

About FirstEnergy Corp.

FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE:FE) delivers electricity to nearly 6 million customers across Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York. Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, the company manages its operations through two primary segments: Regulated Distribution and Regulated Transmission. FirstEnergy ensures the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity through a diverse energy portfolio that includes coal-fired, nuclear, hydroelectric, wind, and solar facilities. The company’s infrastructure features an extensive network of transmission and distribution systems, including 24,080 circuit miles of transmission lines and 274,518 miles of distribution lines. This network facilitates the efficient delivery of energy to residential and commercial customers. Since its incorporation in 1996, FirstEnergy has prioritized grid reliability and customer satisfaction. The company invests in modern technologies and sustainable practices to adapt to the evolving energy landscape. By integrating both sustainable and traditional energy sources, FirstEnergy aims to meet increasing energy demands while promoting environmental stewardship and economic growth in the regions it serves.



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