** Jefferies initiates coverage for U.S.-based utility Entergy ETR.N with "buy" rating

** Brokerage sets PT of $109, which represents a ~25% upside to the stock's last close

** Says ETR best positioned regulated utility with leading EPS growth fueled by strong data center execution

** Jefferies adds that ETR offers the highest EPS growth in the utilities sector with more than 10% growth expected between 2024 and 2028

** Brokerage says ETR's partnership with hyperscalers such as Meta META.O and Amazon AMZN.O will help double its rate base and accelerate its EPS

** 13 of 20 brokerages rate the stock "buy" or higher, 7 "hold"; their median PT is $94.25 - data compiled by LSEG

** Up to last close, ETR stock up 15% YTD

(Reporting by Pranav Mathur in Bengaluru)

((Pranav.Mathur@thomsonreuters.com;))