Just Energy Launches Brand In Ireland, Expands Globally

Just Energy Group, Inc. (TO:JE) further expanded operation globally through the launch of Just Energy brand in Ireland.

Just Energy is an electricity and natural gas commodities, energy efficiency solutions, and renewable energy options provider with over 1.5 million customers across North America, U.K. and Germany. The company began expansion in U.K. under the Hudson Energy brand in 2012, followed by the launch of Green Star Energy in 2013 which markets electricity and natural gas to U.K. consumers. It further expanded presence by venturing into Germany during 2016.

With the company’s initiative to expand in Ireland, management believes that it is well-positioned to offer comfortable, convenient and flexible product options to customers. Additionally, the company specializes in offering an unlimited tariff plan that allows them to pay one flat amount every month, regardless of electricity and natural gas usage.

Our View

Just Energy has made significant investments during the first quarter of fiscal 2018 to support its strategy of setting the stage for prolonged profitable growth on a global scale. The company’s attrition rate improved to 14% during the same quarter. Consumer net additions of 13,000 retail channel expansions(RCEs) improved as compared with 7,000 net additions in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017. This can be attributable to the largest sales quarter primarily in U.K. business.

The company’s recent step toward expansion in Ireland clearly indicates its mission and strategy of delivering quality services to new customers, thereby ensuring profitability.

With steady focus on retaining existing customers and winning new customers in the long run, the company is poised to benefit from expanding operations in new markets. This in turn will lead to sustained growth, and result in significantly higher margin numbers going forward.

Company’s Future Plans

Just Energy has further plans of entering the Japanese market in fiscal 2018 for which it is actively pursuing business development steps. This clearly demonstrates that the company is focused on delivering services to more customers and is likely to achieve growth targets going forward.

Price Movement

Just Energy has outperformed the industry in the last one year. The company’s shares gained 22.4% compared with the industry’s advance of 19.5%.

Such outperformance can be attributed to the company’s international geographic expansion strategy and strong results from its U.K. business.

Zacks Rank & Other Key Picks

Just Energy currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Investors can consider other top-ranked stocks from the same space such as NewJersey Resources Corporation (NYSE:NJR) and Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (NASDAQ:CLNE) which carry the same rank as Just Energy.

A better ranked stock from the broader sector is that of Telefonica SA (NYSE:TEF) that sports a Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

NewJersey Resources delivered an average surprise of 632.7% in the trailing four quarters. Its 2017 estimates have risen by a cent to $1.74 per share in the last 90 days.

Clean Energy delivered an average surprise of 131.8% in the trailing four quarters. Its 2017 estimates have risen by two cents to 5 cents per share in the last 90 days.

Telefonica delivered an average surprise of 75% in the trailing four quarters. Its 2017 estimates have risen by 4 cents to 86 cents per share in the last 90 days.

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