CMS Energy Corporation CMS is set to report second-quarter 2021 results on Jul 29, before market open. In the last reported quarter, the company delivered an earnings surprise of 3.42%.In the trailing four quarters, CMS Energy came up with an earnings surprise of 6.84%, on average.Factors to ConsiderDuring most part of the second quarter of 2021, the company’s service territories experienced warmer-than-normal temperature, accompanied by strong drought conditions. This must have pushed up electricity usage of the company’s customers for cooling purpose, which is expected to have boosted its quarterly top-line performance.CMS Energy Corporation Price and EPS Surprise CMS Energy Corporation price-eps-surprise | CMS Energy Corporation QuoteNotably, amid the pandemic, the company’s residential sales are expected to have remained elevated in the second quarter as most people have been working from home. As economic activities in the state of Michigan have been gradually recovering, we expect commercial and industrial segments’ sales to have improved, even if slightly, in the second quarter. So, overall, we remain optimistic about the company’s top-line growth in the soon-to-be-reported quarter. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for second-quarter revenues is pegged at $1.51 billion, indicating 4.6% improvement from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure.During the second quarter, storms including a few tornadoes affected parts of Michigan, which must have pushed up CMS Energy’s quarterly expenses, thereby hurting its bottom-line performance.For the second quarter, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at $1.18, which indicates a 2% decline from the figure reported in the year-ago quarter.Earnings WhispersOur proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for CMS Energy this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the chances of an earnings beat. This is not the case here:Earnings ESP: CMS Energy has an Earnings ESP of +4.17%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.Zacks Rank: The company carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).Stocks to ConsiderHere are a few players from the Utilities sector that have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this season.CenterPoint Energy CNP has an Earnings ESP of +0.68% and holds a Zacks Rank #3. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.Duke Energy DUK has an Earnings ESP of +0.15% and carries a Zacks Rank #2.Consolidated Edison ED has an Earnings ESP of +1.60% and carries a Zacks Rank #3. Time to Invest in Legal Marijuana If you’re looking for big gains, there couldn’t be a better time to get in on a young industry primed to skyrocket from $17.7 billion back in 2019 to an expected $73.6 billion by 2027. After a clean sweep of 6 election referendums in 5 states, pot is now legal in 36 states plus D.C. Federal legalization is expected soon and that could be a still greater bonanza for investors. Even before the latest wave of legalization, Zacks Investment Research has recommended pot stocks that have shot up as high as +285.9%. You’re invited to check out Zacks’ Marijuana Moneymakers: An Investor’s Guide. It features a timely Watch List of pot stocks and ETFs with exceptional growth potential.Today, Download Marijuana Moneymakers FREE >>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 Duke Energy Corporation (DUK): Free Stock Analysis Report Consolidated Edison Inc (ED): Free Stock Analysis Report CMS Energy Corporation (CMS): Free Stock Analysis Report CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (CNP): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here.