As artificial intelligence continues to revolutionize many sectors, its impact on the utilities market has become increasingly apparent. This technological surge has driven energy needs, creating a promising outlook for utilities, which are now outperforming the broader market. Utilities ETFs gained 3.52% this week, bringing their year-to-date performance to +22.02%. Additionally, in Europe, these funds have attracted almost $900 million in inflows since the start of the year.
AI's Role in Boosting Utility Demand
The relentless advancement of AI technologies has significantly increased energy consumption, especially electricity. This is creating a robust environment for utilities as they scramble to meet the growing demand. AI's energy appetite plays a pivotal role in the recent bullish trend in this sector.
For example, Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) Web Services (AWS) is committing over $500 million to nuclear energy, unveiling three projects spanning from Virginia to Washington state. As Amazon's cloud computing subsidiary, AWS has a growing need for clean energy to support its expanding generative AI services. This investment aligns with Amazon's broader goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions and coincides with a trend of leading American tech companies forming long-term partnerships in nuclear energy.
Amid rising energy demands, utilities have increasingly become the focal point for investors. The sector's growing prominence is directly tied to its strategic role in supporting AI infrastructure and ongoing innovation.
Valuation and Fundamental Strengths
Beyond AI's influence, the utilities sector benefits from attractive valuations, currently trading at a noticeable discount. This value proposition makes it appealing to investors seeking opportunities at reasonable prices. Additionally, the sector is supported by strengthening fundamentals, such as declining interest rates and easing inflation. These economic factors create a more favorable operating environment, enhancing utilities' potential for further growth. The steadily increasing demand for electricity also bolsters the sector's prospects as it navigates the evolving market landscape.
Utilities ETFs performance
The iShares S&P 500 Utilities Sector UCITS ETF (ETR:2B7A) and the Inveco Utilities S&P US Select Sector UCITS (LON:XLUS) increased by 4.08% and 3.86% respectively last week bringing their year-to-date performance to +34.02% and 33.70%, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 benchmark index (+22.95%) over the period, as well as the S&P utilities sector index (+29.27%).