NiSource Inc.
NIBusiness Overview
ticker: NI step: 01 generated: 2026-05-13 source: quick-research
NiSource Inc. (NI) — Business Overview
Business Description
NiSource is a regulated gas and electric utility serving approximately 3.8 million customers across six states (Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Ohio, and Pennsylvania) through two primary operating brands: Columbia Gas (natural gas distribution) and NIPSCO (Northern Indiana Public Service Company — electric and gas in Indiana). With ~$28B in planned capital investment from 2026–2030, NiSource is in active transformation, pivoting NIPSCO from coal generation toward renewables while capitalizing on a massive data center load opportunity anchored by Amazon (2,800 MW by 2032) and Alphabet.
Revenue Model
As a regulated utility, NiSource earns returns on capital through rates set by state public utility commissions in 6 states and FERC for transmission. The Gas Distribution Operations segment (~50% of operating earnings) earns stable returns on natural gas infrastructure across the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic. The Electric Operations segment (NIPSCO, ~50%) includes integrated generation, transmission, and distribution in Indiana. NiSource is transitioning out of coal generation and into contracted renewable power purchase agreements and new gas generation to serve surging data center demand.
Products & Services
- Natural gas distribution — local delivery of natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial customers via Columbia Gas brands in 5 states
- Electric generation, T&D — NIPSCO owns and operates electric generation (transitioning from coal to renewables) and the transmission/distribution network in northern Indiana
- Data center power supply — contracted capacity agreements with Amazon (2,800 MW by 2032) and Alphabet for dedicated power supply to hyperscale data centers in Indiana
- Renewable energy development — wind, solar, and battery storage under Indiana's Integrated Resource Plan
Customer Base & Go-to-Market
NiSource serves ~3.3 million natural gas customers and ~500,000 electric customers in captive regulated service territories. The transformational new customer class is hyperscale data centers: Amazon's expanded commitment to 2,800 MW by 2032 represents a step-change in NIPSCO's load profile. Indiana's relatively low electricity costs and land availability make it an attractive data center location.
Competitive Position
NiSource is a regulated monopoly in its service territories with no direct utility competition. It competes for capital allocation against other regulated utility peers. The Indiana data center franchise is a unique differentiator — few Midwest utilities have locked in anchor hyperscaler customers of Amazon/Alphabet's scale, providing unusual visibility into multi-decade load growth.
Key Facts
- Founded: 1912 (Northern Indiana Public Service Company predecessor)
- Headquarters: Merrillville, Indiana
- Employees: ~7,800
- Exchange: NYSE
- Sector / Industry: Utilities / Multi-Utilities
- Market Cap: ~$22B (at ~$47/share, ~475M shares)
Financial Snapshot
ticker: NI step: 04 generated: 2026-05-13 source: quick-research
NiSource Inc. (NI) — Financial Snapshot
Income Statement Summary
| Metric | FY2022 | FY2023 | FY2024 | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | ~$5.5B | ~$5.5B | $5.46B | -0.9% |
| Operating Margin | ~17% | ~17% | ~18% | +1pp |
| Net Income | $749M | $662M | $740M | +12% |
| EPS (adj. non-GAAP) | $1.47 | $1.60 | $1.75 | +9% |
FY2025: Revenue $6.642B (+21.8% — Amazon/data center agreements recognized); adj. EPS $1.90 (+9%)
Cash Flow & Balance Sheet (FY2024)
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Operating Cash Flow | ~$1.5B |
| Free Cash Flow | Negative (heavy capex cycle) |
| Capital Expenditures | ~$2.5B |
| Cash & Equivalents | ~$300M |
| Total Debt | ~$12B |
Note: Negative FCF is standard for utilities in high-growth capex cycles; dividend is funded from operating cash flow.
Key Ratios (approximate)
- P/E: ~25x (adj.) | EV/EBITDA: ~13x | Dividend Yield: ~2.5%
- Adj. EPS CAGR (2026–2033): 8–9% target | Rate Base CAGR: 9–11%
Growth Profile
NiSource has delivered consistent 8–10% adj. EPS growth driven by infrastructure investment and rate base expansion. FY2025's 21.8% revenue jump reflects the recognition of Amazon and Alphabet data center capacity agreements. The $28B capital plan for 2026–2030 is one of the largest in the company's history, supporting an 8–9% EPS CAGR through 2033. Q1 2026 EPS beat consensus on data center momentum.
Forward Estimates
- FY2026 adj. EPS: ~$2.06–2.12 (+8–9% target)
- Long-term EPS CAGR: 8–9% through 2033
- Rate base CAGR: 9–11% through 2033
- Amazon capacity commitment: 2,800 MW by 2032
- Additional upside capex: ~$2.2B identified
- Analyst avg. price target: ~$47.30 (essentially at current price)
Deeper Financial Analysis
The fundamental tier adds 9 additional research dimensions for $NI.