CMS Energy Corporation CMS reported first-quarter 2021 earnings per share of $1.21 cents, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.17 by 3.4%. The reported figure also improved 42.4% on a year-over-year basis.The year-over-year uptick in the bottom line can be attributed to higher revenues as well as operating income generated in the first quarter of 2021.Operational PerformanceFor the quarter under review, CMS Energy’s operating revenues were $2,083 million, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2,088 million by 0.2%. The top line, however, improved 11.7% on a year-over-year basis.CMS Energy Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise CMS Energy Corporation price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | CMS Energy Corporation QuoteThe company’s operating expenses were up 6.8% year over year to $1,598 million for the quarter under review.Operating income for the first quarter was $485 million, up 31.8% from the year-ago figure.CMS Energy’s interest charges were $136 million, down 0.7% from the year-ago period.Financial ConditionCMS Energy had cash and cash equivalents of $496 million as of Mar 31, 2021, up from $168 million at the end of 2020.As of Mar 31, 2021, total debt, capital leases and financing obligations (excluding securitization debt) were $14,893 million, down from $14,971 million in the comparable period of 2020.During the first quarter of 2021, the company generated cash from operating activities worth $832 million compared with $201 million during first-quarter 2020.2021 GuidanceCMS Energy reaffirmed its 2021 adjusted earnings per share guidance in the band of $2.83-$2.87. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s 2021 earnings is currently pegged at $2.90, above the company’s guided range.Zacks RankCMS Energy currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.Recent Utility ReleasesDTE Energy Company DTE reported first-quarter 2021 operating earnings per share (EPS) of $2.44, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.16 by 13%.American Electric Power Co., Inc. AEP reported first-quarter 2021 adjusted earnings per share of $1.15, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.23 by 6.5%.NextEra Energy, Inc. NEE reported first-quarter 2021 adjusted earnings of 67 cents per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 60 cents by 11.7%.These Stocks Are Poised to Soar Past the PandemicThe COVID-19 outbreak has shifted consumer behavior dramatically, and a handful of high-tech companies have stepped up to keep America running. Right now, investors in these companies have a shot at serious profits. For example, Zoom jumped 108.5% in less than 4 months while most other stocks were sinking.Our research shows that 5 cutting-edge stocks could skyrocket from the exponential increase in demand for “stay at home” technologies. This could be one of the biggest buying opportunities of this decade, especially for those who get in early.See the 5 high-tech stocks now>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report American Electric Power Company, Inc. (AEP): Free Stock Analysis Report CMS Energy Corporation (CMS): Free Stock Analysis Report DTE Energy Company (DTE): Free Stock Analysis Report NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research