Entergy Corporation (ETR)

[Timothy Smith]

Entergy (ETR +0.1%) is upgraded to Overweight from from Equal Weight with a $71 price target, down from $73, at Barclays in response to the company's shift in strategic focus to the regulated business, improved regulatory constructs and a potential near-term dividend hike.

The firm says management is de-emphasizing the ongoing contribution of EWC and working toward presenting a clean and improving utility growth story to investors; although ETR has been internally moving in this direction for a while, the firm is increasingly more comfortable the message will begin resonating with the investment community.