Now more than ever, it’s a stock picker’s market for utilities and essential services.
Last month, the Dow Jones Utility Average basically ran in place. But top-performer AES Corp (NYSE: AES) returned 10 percent, while the biggest loser Public Service Enterprise Group (NYSE: PEG) shed 5 percent.
The difference maker was investor expectations. AES beat a relatively low bar with third quarter earnings and updated guidance. Public Service failed a somewhat higher one, despite another solid performance at its core New Jersey utility.
AES is also a leading global adopter of renewable energy technology, including battery storage. And its 90 percent two-year total return—70 points better than the DJUA—was in large part simply closing the gap with sector leaders like NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE).
Next Issue : Jan. 8, 2020View Past Issues 
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Utility Roundup
Kinder Delivers in Q3, Other Midstream May Not
What we learn from sector-wide trends is not just key to investing in Kinder Morgan Inc (NYSE: KMI), but to the entire North American energy midstream sector.
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Utility Roundup
Hunting the Hunter: Following Elliott’s Lead
How many companies can one private capital firm successfully take on all at once? Paul Singer’s Elliott Management seems determined to find out.
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News and Analysis
Keeping Global with an American Accent
The strong US dollar, worries about slowing global growth and disruption from uncertain politics and trade policy: That trio of entrenched trends continues to fuel investor appetites to “buy American,” dividend-paying stocks of US-based companies that generate all or mostly all of their sales within our borders.
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News and Analysis
Political Turmoil Creates Profit Opportunities
Despite good news, several essential services companies have seen a 10% drop so far in 2019. The reason: politics. Our view for some of them is investors are over-estimating risks and underpricing their strengths.
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News and Analysis
Wrapping Up Portfolio Earnings: What to Do Now
A baker’s dozen Portfolio companies hadn’t reported second quarter earnings when the August CUI issue went to post. In this special report, I wrap up their highlights, outlooks and what to do now.
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Income Insights
There’s Still Time to Buy Telecom’s Big Three
The key takeaway from third-quarter results: The Big Three of US communications are still building wealth and selling cheaply.
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Income Insights
NextEra Rolls On, But at a High Price
Is NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE) really worth 27.3 times its next 12 months’ expected earnings? Enough investors seem to think so as shares hit a new all-time this week near $240.
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Income Insights
AES Dives Into Vietnam Energy, Here’s What’s Next
Vietnamese demand offers a massive opportunity for North American natural gas producers, power generators and LNG transportation and infrastructure.
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Income Insights
What PG&E is Worth
The biggest regulated utility bankruptcy in history has entered a new phase, as California's PG&E Corp (NYSE: PCG) now has a deadline to meet in order to participate in the state's wildfire "insurance" plan.
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Income Insights
Deconstructing AT&T
Can the sum of the parts actually be greater than the whole? Shareholders of AT&T Inc (NYSE: T) will get a chance to find out, now that activist investor Paul Singer’s Elliott Management has taken a $3.2 billion stake in the communications giant.
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MODEL PORTFOLIOS & RATINGS
Aggressive Income Portfolio
Roger's favorite utilities for investors seeking superior price appreciation by taking calculated risks.
Conservative Income Portfolio
Harness the tried and true wealth-building power of rising dividends.
Top 10 DRIPs
Nothing compounds wealth like reinvesting a rising stream of dividends.
Endangered Dividends List
Warning: Falling Dividends.
Utility Report Card
Roger's current take and vital statistics on more than 200 essential-services stocks.
Conrad's Utility Investor
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