Dec 5 (Reuters) - U.S. utility WEC Energy ( WEC ) on

Thursday issued higher 2025 earnings estimates compared with

those for the ongoing year, while also increasing its dividend.

WEC said it expects its annual earnings to be in the range

of $5.17 to $5.27 per share next year, the midpoint of which

matches analysts' average estimate of $5.22, according to data

compiled by LSEG.

The utility had forecast full-year earnings of $4.80 to

$4.90 per share for 2024. Analysts had expected $4.86 per share,

which was a cent above the current midpoint.

The company provides electricity and gas to nearly 4.7

million customers in Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan and

Minnesota.

WEC Energy's ( WEC ) board of directors said it would raise the

quarterly dividend to 89.25 cents per share in the first quarter

of 2025, which is an increase of 5.75 cents per share, or 6.9%.

The Wisconsin-based utility had raised the quarterly

dividend by 5.5 cents per share, or 7%, in December 2023.