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TXNMTXNM Energy, Inc.Buy Wait5.3·$58.74
TXNM · Why this verdict

Why TXNM Energy (TXNM) is rated BUY WAIT

Updated

Model-generated analysis — not investment advice. Not a registered investment advisor. Past performance does not guarantee future results. How we score · Editorial policy

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Methodology · Editorial policy & full disclaimer

VerdictBUY WAIT
Overall score5.3/10
ConfidenceMEDIUM
MacroRISK_OFF
TrendMatrix Research · core thesis

Engine thesis — one sentence

TXNM Energy is a regulated electric utility that has missed earnings in all four of the last four quarters with an average negative surprise of 27%, has estimates trending down 34% over 30 days, and is in an RSI-14 capitulation-risk downtrend, while its free cash flow is negative 434% of net income.

Falsifiable statement — pillar-level invalidators below. Engine-derived; not personalized advice.

Thesis pillars

Free cash flow is negative 434% of net income, meaning for every dollar of earnings reported, the company is actually consuming more than four dollars in cash, reflecting extremely heavy capital investment in regulated electric infrastructure that far exceeds current earnings capacity.

→Stable
Quality breakdown
Expectation
The ratio of free cash flow to net income improves to less than negative 200% within the next 2 annual periods as capital expenditures moderate.

CounterRegulated utilities are obligated to invest in infrastructure to meet service territory requirements and earn approved rate of return on those investments; high capex relative to earnings is structurally expected and does not signal financial distress.

TXNM has missed analyst earnings estimates in every single quarter of the last four, with an average negative surprise of 27.1% and the worst miss at negative 39.2%, while 30-day forward estimates have been cut by 34.4%, indicating a systematic overestimation of the company's ability to translate revenue into earnings.

↑Improving
Catalyst breakdown
Expectation
The company delivers at least 1 positive earnings surprise in the next 4 quarters, reversing the 4-for-4 miss streak.

CounterRegulated utility earnings depend heavily on rate case approvals; if a favorable rate decision is granted, earnings could jump substantially above depressed estimates in a single quarter.

RSI has fallen to 14 with the stock below its 200-day moving average and falling on-balance volume, representing the deepest oversold condition in the assigned batch and signaling either a capitulation bottom or the continuation of a serious fundamental deterioration.

↑Improving
Momentum breakdown
Expectation
RSI recovers above 30 within the next 45 days without the stock breaching the stop-loss level at $56.07, indicating a stabilization of the selling pressure.

CounterRSI of 14 in a utility stock that has missed 4 of 4 quarters with estimates still declining is not a contrarian opportunity but rather a reflection of justified fundamental concern.

The analyst consensus price target at the stop-loss zone already implies negative upside of 6.7% from the current price, and the dividend payout is flagged as potentially unsustainable, creating a dual income and capital risk for investors holding the position.

↑Improving
Warnings
Expectation
Analyst price targets are revised upward to at least $62, representing more than 8% upside from the current $57.05, on a positive rate case outcome.

CounterUtility stocks trading at deep discounts to near-term analyst targets sometimes reflect temporary rate case timing concerns that resolve when regulatory decisions are issued.

Per-dimension breakdown

Value

5.0/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
P/E3.8
P/S8.4
EV/EBITDA4.2
Fwd P/E7.0
PEG4.0
Analyst target3.0
  • ▸Forward P/E: 18.1x
  • ▸PEG: 2.55

Quality

4.5/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
ROE2.1
ROA1.5
Gross margin7.9
Op margin9.0
Net margin4.4
Current ratio2.2
FCF quality0.0
Moat5.8
Piotroski F7.8
  • ▸Earnings quality RED FLAG: -270% FCF/NI
  • ▸Strong Piotroski F-Score: 7/9

Growth

7.4/10data confidence 67%
ComponentSub-score
Rev growth4.8
EPS growth10.0

Momentum

5.3/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
RSI4.4
MACD7.3
OBV5.6
MA position9.0
Volume0.0
  • ▸Overbought (RSI 72)
  • ▸Above 200-day MA

Sentiment

5.2/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
LLM sentiment5.0
Analyst rating5.0
Price target5.5

Insider

7.3/10data confidence 75%
ComponentSub-score
materiality5.0
holder change10.0
notable moves7.0
  • ▸No net insider activity — $0 (0.000% of mkt cap)
  • ▸Institutions accumulating

Peer rank

3.4/10data confidence 80%
ComponentSub-score
value rank1.9
quality rank1.1
growth rank7.5

Technical

3.6/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
bollinger0.0
support resistance0.7
52w position10.0

Risk (lower is worse)

6.4/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
short interest6.9
days to cover7.2
volatility10.0
put call0.0
implied vol7.0
beta10.0
debt equity3.7
  • ▸Elevated put/call: 10.67
  • ▸Concentration risks: 4 MED (10-K Item 1A)

Catalyst

3.1/10data confidence 100%
ComponentSub-score
erm6.5
earnings history0.0
earnings timing5.0
surprise avg0.0
dividend safety2.0
news activity5.0
  • ▸Earnings concerns: 1B/3M
  • ▸Earnings today
  • ▸Yield trap warning: high yield but unsafe

How the verdict was assembled

Engine trigger

Earnings today. Wait until post-earnings.

Engine technical detail
verdict_path: L3:NEWS_BLOCK|ENTRY_STICKY:WITHIN_BAND
Passed (5)
  • MOMENTUM:5.3>=4.5
  • INSIDER:OK
  • 8K:CLEAN
  • SEMI_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
  • MATERIALS_CYCLE_PEAK:CLEAR
Failed (2)
  • ASYMMETRY:-0.7=NEGATIVE
  • EARNINGS_PROXIMITY:0d<=7d
Warning (1)
  • MOMENTUM:5.3<5.5 (soft — BUY_NOW allowed but watch)
Reward-to-Risk
-0.67
Upside
-10.1%
Downside
15.0%
Sizing output
STARTER

Setup— — No clear chart pattern; technical signals are mixed

EdgeNo clear edge — No clear edge identified

SuitabilityModerate — Balanced profile

Investment implication

A recent news event triggered an L3 news-block on the verdict path. Trigger: Earnings today. Wait until post-earnings. The 10-dimension scores remain Growth at 7.4 (strongest), but ASYMMETRY:-0.7=NEGATIVE also fails — the news block is the proximate trigger, not the sole driver.

The strongest dimensions are Growth at 7.4, Insider at 7.3, and Risk (lower is worse) at 6.4; the weakest are Catalyst at 3.1, Peer rank at 3.4, and Technical at 3.6. The V9 engine flagged 2 failed gates with 1 warning, producing an asymmetric reward-to-risk of -0.67 and an engine sizing output of STARTER.

What would invalidate the thesis

Falsifying conditions — when triggered, the corresponding pillar's thesis is invalidated.

  • P1Persistent Earnings Miss Estimate Cuts

    Trip ifEPS surprise falls below 0% in at least 3 of the next 4 quarters, extending the miss streak beyond 7 consecutive quarters.

  • P2Catastrophic Fcf Quality

    Trip ifFree cash flow remains below negative 300% of net income for more than 2 consecutive annual periods.

  • P3Capitulation Risk Extreme Momentum

    Trip ifStock price drops below $54, more than 5% below the current $57.05, confirming the capitulation is accelerating rather than bottoming.

  • P4Target Already Exceeded Negative Upside

    Trip ifAnalyst price targets fall below $52, more than 8% below the current price, indicating the consensus has given up on near-term recovery.

Engine reasoning is mechanically derived from pipeline gate outputs. See decision view.

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