Calpine Corp (CPN): Today's Featured Utilities Winner

Editor's Note: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model.

Calpine (CPN) pushed the Utilities sector higher today making it today's featured utilities winner. The sector as a whole closed the day down 0.9%. By the end of trading, Calpine rose 25 cents (1.4%) to $18.34 on average volume. Throughout the day, three million shares of Calpine exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of three million shares. The stock ranged in a price between $18-$18.45 after having opened the day at $18.01 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $18.09. Other companies within the Utilities sector that increased today were: Ocean Power Technologies (OPTT), up 6.2%, CorEnergy Infrastructure (CORR), up 4.3%, Atlas Energy (ATLS), up 2.6%, and Niska Gas Storage Partners (NKA), up 2.3%.

• EXCLUSIVE OFFER: Jim Cramer's Protégé, Dave Peltier, only buys Stocks Under $10 that he thinks could potentially double. See what he's trading today with a 14-day FREE pass.

Calpine Corporation, an independent wholesale power generation company, owns and operates natural gas-fired and geothermal power plants in North America. It operates natural gas-fired combustion turbines and renewable geothermal conventional steam turbines, as well as cogeneration power plants. Calpine has a market cap of $8.4 billion and is part of the utilities industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 100.3, above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are down 0.4% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday. Currently there are seven analysts that rate Calpine a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and three rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Calpine as a hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its compelling growth in net income, expanding profit margins and good cash flow from operations. However, as a counter to these strengths, we find that the company has favored debt over equity in the management of its balance sheet.

• You can view the full Calpine Ratings Report.

On the negative front, Delta Natural Gas Company (DGAS), down 7.3%, Pure Cycle Corporation (PCYO), down 4.5%, Energy Company of Parana (ELP), down 3.7%, and American DG Energy (ADGE), down 3.2%, were all laggards within the utilities sector with Exelon (EXC) being today's utilities sector laggard.

• Use our utilities section to find sector-relevant news.
• Or find some new ideas from our top rated stocks lists.

For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the utilities sector could consider Utilities Select Sector SPDR (XLU) while those bearish on the utilities sector could consider ProShares UltraShort Utilities (SDP).

• Find other investment ideas from our top rated ETFs lists.

HOLIDAY SPECIAL: Let Jim Cramer show you every trade he is making in his $2.5 Million portfolio. Join now for 14-days FREE. Sign up today to get e-mail alerts before every trade.

For more information on Calpine Corp click any of the following:

• Calpine Corp Stock Price

• Calpine Corp Analyst Ratings

• Calpine Corp Key Stats & Profile

• Calpine Corp Earnings

• Calpine Corp Ratio Comparison

• Calpine Corp Growth Rates

• Calpine Corp Balance Sheet

• Calpine Corp Cash Flow

• Calpine Corp Income Statement