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Hawaiian Electric (HE)
NYSE:HE

Hawaiian Electric (HE) AI Stock Analysis

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HE

Hawaiian Electric

(NYSE:HE)

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Neutral 51 (OpenAI - 5.2)
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Neutral 51 (OpenAI - 5.2)
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Neutral 51 (OpenAI - 5.2)
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Neutral 51 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:51Neutral
Price Target:
$15.00
▲(3.38% Upside)
Action:ReiteratedDate:03/17/26
The score is held down primarily by weak financial performance quality (earnings volatility and balance-sheet strain despite improving cash flow). Technicals are neutral-to-soft near term, while valuation is reasonable. Earnings-call factors provide some support due to profitability and legal progress, but financing and execution risks remain meaningful.
Positive Factors
Return to Profitability
A material GAAP turnaround to profitability improves persistent cash generation credibility and reduces one-off earnings volatility risk. Sustained positive net income supports regulatory credibility, access to capital and potential restoration of retained earnings, strengthening fundamentals over months.
Strong liquidity and capital-market access
Substantial utility cash plus committed credit lines, recent debt issuance and ATM capacity materially increase near-to-medium term funding flexibility. This liquidity cushion and market access support large CapEx and settlement timing risk, lowering immediate refinancing pressure for several quarters.
Progress on wildfire safety & regulatory pathways
Regulatory approvals and active rulemaking create structural pathways to cap liability and enable a wildfire fund and securitization. Those mechanisms can reduce future cash volatility, enable lower-cost financing for resilience CapEx and improve long-term cost recovery visibility.
Negative Factors
Elevated multi-year capital expenditures
A sustained high CapEx profile requires repeated external financing and execution scale-up, pressuring cash flow and placing reliance on rate recovery. If low-cost securitization or favorable regulatory outcomes are delayed, funding needs could strain liquidity and raise customer affordability concerns.
Balance-sheet strain and elevated leverage
Marked leverage deterioration reduces financial flexibility and increases interest burden, constraining the company's ability to absorb shocks or opportunistically fund projects. Even with 2025 improvement, legacy 2024 weakness leaves the balance sheet more vulnerable to funding volatility.
Dependence on external financing for settlements
Relying on market financing and convertibles for large settlement payments exposes the company to market windows, potential dilution, and higher funding costs. Limited holding-company cash reduces flexibility, making execution contingent on capital markets and increasing financing and timing risk.

Hawaiian Electric (HE) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Hawaiian Electric Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionHawaiian Electric Industries, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the electric utility, banking, and renewable/sustainable infrastructure investment businesses in the state of Hawaii. It operates in three segments: Electric Utility, Bank, and Other. The Electric Utility segment engages in the production, purchase, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity in the islands of Oahu, Hawaii, Maui, Lanai, and Molokai. Its renewable energy sources and potential sources include wind, solar, photovoltaic, geothermal, wave, hydroelectric, municipal waste, and other biofuels. This segment serves suburban communities, resorts, the United States armed forces installations, and agricultural operations. The Bank segment operates a community bank that offers banking and other financial services to consumers and businesses, including savings and checking accounts; and loans comprising residential and commercial real estate, residential mortgage, construction and development, multifamily residential and commercial real estate, consumer, and commercial loans. This segment operates 42 branches, including 29 branches in Oahu, 6 branches in Maui, 4 branches in Hawaii, 2 branches in Kauai, and 1 branch in Molokai. The Other segment invests in non-regulated renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure in the State of Hawaii. Hawaiian Electric Industries Inc. was incorporated in 1891 and is headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii.
How the Company Makes MoneyHawaiian Electric makes most of its money through its regulated electric utility operations. The utility earns revenue by selling electricity to residential, commercial, and industrial customers in its service territories, with rates and allowed returns generally set through regulation by the Hawaii Public Utilities Commission. Customer bills are typically composed of (1) base rates designed to recover utility operating costs, depreciation, taxes, and an allowed return on invested capital (rate base), and (2) pass-through components that recover fuel and purchased power costs, meaning fuel price and power procurement costs are largely flowed through to customers subject to regulatory mechanisms. In addition to energy sales, Hawaiian Electric generates revenue from delivering electricity over its transmission and distribution network (grid services embedded in regulated rates) and from infrastructure investments (e.g., grid upgrades, resilience and safety-related spending, interconnection capacity, and technology systems) that can expand rate base over time when approved for cost recovery. The company also purchases energy from independent power producers and other suppliers under power purchase arrangements and recovers those costs through regulated charges; while these purchases are expenses rather than profit centers, utility earnings can be influenced by how efficiently operations are managed relative to authorized cost recovery and by regulatory outcomes. Material factors affecting earnings include regulatory rate decisions, capital spending approvals and timing, fuel and purchased power adjustment mechanisms, customer demand trends, renewable integration requirements, and wildfire-related costs and liabilities where applicable; if specific partnership details are required beyond general use of independent power producers and contracted resources, null.

Hawaiian Electric Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Feb 27, 2026
(Q4-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:May 08, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call highlighted meaningful progress: a material GAAP turnaround to profitability, improved consolidated core results, significant legal victories advancing the Maui wildfire settlement, robust liquidity actions, and continued progress on wildfire mitigation and clean energy goals. Counterbalancing these positives are execution and timing risks related to final settlement approvals, an elevated multi-year CapEx profile that requires substantial external financing, modest utility core income decline driven by higher O&M/interest/depreciation, and dependence on capital markets for funding. On balance, the favorable legal rulings, return to profitability, improved consolidated core income, and strengthened liquidity position outweigh the outstanding financing and execution risks, but successful execution of financing and regulatory actions will be important for sustaining momentum.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Return to Profitability
GAAP net income of $123.1M for FY2025 (EPS $0.71) compared to a net loss of approximately $1.4B in FY2024 — a material turnaround driven by settlement progress and insurance recoveries.
Improved Consolidated Core Results
Consolidated core net income of $149.3M ($0.86/share) in 2025 versus $124.3M ($0.98/share) in 2024 — consolidated core income increased by ~20.1% year-over-year, though core EPS declined ~12.2%.
Utility Core Performance Stable
Utility core net income of $177.5M in 2025 vs $180.7M in 2024 — a modest decrease of ~1.8%, reflecting largely steady operational performance despite elevated investments.
Significant Legal and Settlement Progress
Multiple favorable court rulings advancing the Maui wildfire class settlement: Circuit Court summary judgment, final approval of class settlement, and Hawaii Supreme Court affirmation denying insurers' intervention — these rulings materially reduce the risk of insurer derailment and move the company toward triggering settlement payments (first payment of $479M expected in H2 2026 once appeals are resolved).
Strong Liquidity and Capital Market Activity
Utility and holding company liquidity: $486M unrestricted cash at the utility and $16M at holding company, plus ~ $530M combined holding company capacity (ATM + credit) and ~ $540M utility liquidity (A/R facility + credit). Completed a $500M utility debt issuance and upsized revolver to $600M to support an elevated capital cycle.
Progress on Wildfire Risk Reduction and Regulatory Pathways
PUC approved the company's 3-year wildfire safety strategy; many operational objectives achieved ahead of schedule. PUC wildfire fund study completed and rulemaking to establish liability cap underway (18–24 months). Company plans to pursue securitization to finance wildfire safety and resilience CapEx (lowest-cost capital option).
Renewable Energy and Affordability Progress
Utility reached 37% Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) in 2025 and remains on track for the 40% by 2030 statutory goal. Customer bills remained stable in 2025; continued customer assistance provided (~$1M in payment assistance).
Corporate Actions and Governance
Board approved $10M quarterly dividend to HEI for Q4 2025. Binding settlements finalized resolving shareholder class and derivative suits with obligations funded by insurance. Planned divestiture of remaining ~9.9% stake in American Savings Bank targeted for 2026.
Negative Updates
Ongoing Settlement Timing Risk and Appeal Uncertainty
Final settlement payments remain contingent on resolution of outstanding appeals; the first $479M payment is expected only after appeals are resolved, currently targeted for H2 2026 — timing and final approval risk remains a near-term uncertainty.
Elevated Capital Expenditure Outlook
Projected elevated CapEx: 2026 $550M–$700M, 2027 $600M–$800M, 2028 $600M–$850M — implies a sustained high investment cycle that will require significant financing and could pressure rates/affordability without low-cost financing solutions.
Increased Operating and Financing Costs
Utility core net income decline driven by higher O&M (including deferred consulting/legal fees recognized), higher interest expense and higher depreciation. Holding company previously benefited from tax credit recognition in 2024, a comparator headwind in 2025.
Reliance on External Financing for Settlement Payments
Company expects to fund future settlement payments primarily with debt or convertible debt (leaning toward convertible debt) and a likely mix of debt/equity thereafter — this implies releveraging at HEI and exposure to market conditions; holding company cash is low ($16M) while utility cash is concentrated ($486M).
Core EPS Compression
Consolidated core EPS declined from $0.98 in 2024 to $0.86 in 2025, a decrease of ~12.2%, reflecting share-count and other factors that compressed per-share results despite higher consolidated core net income.
Regulatory and Process Execution Risk
Planned non-traditional PBR rebasing process (joint proposal due March 6) could be denied, which would force a pivot back to a traditional 2027 test-year rate case — such an outcome would increase timing/cost uncertainty for rate relief and recovery mechanisms.
Near-Term Funding and Market Dependence
Management signaled opportunistic use of ATM program and divestiture of bank stake depending on market conditions; settlement financing and use of convertible debt are subject to market timing and appetite, introducing execution risk.
Company Guidance
Management guided that outstanding appeals must be resolved before making the first $479 million settlement payment, which is now expected in H2 2026, and said settlement financings will be via debt and/or convertible debt (leaning toward convertible) with later payments funded by a mix of debt and equity; they will submit a joint PBR rebasing proposal with UluPono by March 6, 2026 and expect the PUC’s Phase 6 schedule thereafter, while the PUC rule‑making to establish a liability cap is expected to take roughly 18–24 months with a wildfire fund to follow. They forecast 2026 CapEx of $550–700 million, rising to $600–800 million in 2027 and $600–850 million in 2028, plan to seek securitization for wildfire safety and resilience CapEx, and highlighted liquidity and balance‑sheet metrics: unrestricted cash of ~$16 million at the holding company and ~$486 million at the utility, ~ $530 million combined holding‑co ATM/credit capacity, ~ $540 million utility AR/credit capacity, a $500 million utility debt issuance last year and a $600 million revolver upsize; additional datapoints noted were a $10 million quarterly dividend to HEI for Q4 2025, 2025 RPS of 37% (on track to 40% by 2030), 2025 GAAP net income of $123.1 million ($0.71/share) and consolidated core net income of $149.3 million ($0.86/share), plus $16.5 million pretax Maui wildfire‑related expenses (≈$12.6 million at the utility) and $12.4 million of Pacific Current strategic‑review losses.

Hawaiian Electric Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Financial quality is mixed: earnings were highly volatile with a very large loss in 2024 followed by a return to profitability in 2025, while leverage and equity metrics deteriorated materially in 2024. Cash flow is the bright spot with consistently positive operating cash flow and positive free cash flow in 2025, but overall stability remains a concern.
Income Statement
42
Neutral
Results are highly volatile. After solid profitability in 2020–2023 (net margin generally ~6–9%), the company posted a very large loss in 2024 (net margin about -44%), before returning to profitability in 2025 (net margin ~4%) alongside ~11.5% revenue growth. The rebound is a clear positive, but the sharp swing from strong profits to a major loss and then partial recovery suggests elevated earnings risk and reduced margin stability.
Balance Sheet
35
Negative
Leverage and equity strength show meaningful strain. In 2024, debt was high relative to equity (debt-to-equity ~2.2x) and returns to shareholders were deeply negative due to the large loss (return on equity around -94%). While earlier years were more typical for a utility (debt-to-equity roughly ~1.1–1.5x and return on equity ~8–11%), the 2024 deterioration is significant and raises balance-sheet risk, even with profitability improving in 2025.
Cash Flow
58
Neutral
Cash generation is comparatively steadier than earnings. Operating cash flow remained positive each year, including 2024 despite the net loss, and 2025 showed solid operating cash flow with positive free cash flow. That said, free cash flow is uneven (notably near breakeven/negative in 2022) and recent free cash flow represents only a modest portion of net income (around ~22% in 2025), indicating that cash conversion and funding capacity can fluctuate.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue3.09B3.22B3.29B3.42B2.85B
Gross Profit235.32M-1.71B627.05M628.69M676.91M
EBITDA539.42M-1.39B561.31M553.65M670.62M
Net Income126.28M-1.42B199.24M241.14M246.17M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets8.92B8.93B17.24B16.65B16.07B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments980.75M1.24B259.12M206.10M326.76M
Total Debt2.96B3.33B3.24B3.43B2.60B
Total Liabilities7.32B7.42B14.86B14.42B13.64B
Stockholders Equity1.61B1.51B2.38B2.24B2.43B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow49.87M136.25M108.74M-1.53M61.15M
Operating Cash Flow391.07M465.73M551.47M327.93M375.67M
Investing Cash Flow-322.18M-317.63M-257.40M-324.08M-1.18B
Financing Cash Flow-331.00M-72.03M195.57M-19.86M756.40M

Hawaiian Electric Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Neutral
Last Price14.51
Price Trends
50DMA
15.31
Negative
100DMA
13.52
Positive
200DMA
12.36
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.25
Positive
RSI
38.70
Neutral
STOCH
23.24
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For HE, the sentiment is Neutral. The current price of 14.51 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 15.30, below the 50-day MA of 15.31, and above the 200-day MA of 12.36, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.25 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 38.70 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 23.24 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Neutral sentiment for HE.

Hawaiian Electric Risk Analysis

Hawaiian Electric disclosed 27 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Hawaiian Electric reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Hawaiian Electric Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (66)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
72
Outperform
$3.66B12.2616.10%2.54%-3.18%-8.62%
66
Neutral
$2.65B21.0810.59%2.36%8.26%12.47%
66
Neutral
$17.65B18.105.60%3.62%6.62%11.55%
64
Neutral
$4.14B22.164.09%4.90%-4.42%
62
Neutral
$932.65M16.988.83%3.73%1.03%-0.78%
54
Neutral
$3.26B16.177.25%5.10%2.14%-6.51%
51
Neutral
$2.50B16.818.00%-16.62%
* Utilities Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
HE
Hawaiian Electric
14.51
3.54
32.27%
AVA
Avista
39.68
2.00
5.32%
MGEE
MGE Energy
72.45
-18.04
-19.94%
NWE
Northwestern
67.39
13.42
24.86%
OTTR
Otter Tail
87.25
6.02
7.41%
UTL
Unitil
51.86
-2.78
-5.09%

Hawaiian Electric Corporate Events

Legal Proceedings
Hawaiian Electric Gains Preliminary Approval for Wildfire Settlements
Positive
Mar 16, 2026

On December 31, 2025, Hawaiian Electric Industries and Hawaiian Electric Company agreed to a $100 million derivative settlement funded entirely by insurers, resolving multiple stockholder derivative suits tied to alleged governance and wildfire risk oversight failures surrounding the August 2023 Maui fires. The settlement, which includes no admission of liability and provides full releases to defendants, remains subject to board approvals, final court approval and dismissal orders, and a May 28, 2026 fairness hearing, while $47.75 million of the proceeds has been earmarked to fund a related securities class action settlement that received preliminary approval on March 3, 2026.

On March 9, 2026, the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii granted preliminary approval of the derivative settlement and set deadlines for stockholder objections by May 7, 2026, with additional notice to be provided via publication and posting on the company’s investor relations website. The coordinated resolution helps cap Hawaiian Electric’s wildfire-related legal overhang, delineates insurance-funded cash flows for derivative and securities claims, and offers greater visibility to shareholders and creditors on the company’s evolving litigation exposure and governance risk profile.

The most recent analyst rating on (HE) stock is a Hold with a $14.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Hawaiian Electric stock, see the HE Stock Forecast page.

Private Placements and FinancingRegulatory Filings and Compliance
Hawaiian Electric Updates Tax Disclosure for Foreign Shareholders
Neutral
Mar 2, 2026

On September 19, 2024, Hawaiian Electric Industries entered into an at-the-market equity distribution agreement allowing it to sell up to $250 million of common stock from time to time under an existing automatic shelf registration. The company has now filed an update to its U.S. federal income tax disclosure for non-U.S. holders of this stock, replacing the prior description and detailing how potential dividends, returns of capital, and dispositions may be treated for tax purposes.

The revised tax discussion, filed as part of a current report, outlines key considerations for foreign investors, including withholding rates on dividends, treatment of gains, and the implications if the company is or becomes a U.S. real property holding corporation. While characterized as informational rather than tax advice, the update clarifies the federal tax framework for non-U.S. shareholders participating in the at-the-market offering and may influence how international investors assess the after-tax return profile of the company’s equity.

The most recent analyst rating on (HE) stock is a Hold with a $14.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Hawaiian Electric stock, see the HE Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Mar 17, 2026