In first half 2020, COVID-19 fallout triggered the sharpest global economic and stock market plunge on record. Now relaxing of pandemic control measures has raised hopes for an equally dramatic recovery the rest of the year.
China was first hit by the virus and first to take control of its spread. And while certainly not back at 100 percent, its economic rebound is picking up speed.
That’s not only good news for Aggressive Holdings China Mobile (HK: 941, NYSE: CHL) and CLP Holdings (HK: 2, OTC: CLPHY). It also bodes well for durability of green shoots we’re seeing in America, including signs of steadying power demand reported by Utility Report Card electric utilities.
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News and Analysis
Evergy Inc: The Latest Phase of Utility M&A
It’s been a little more than 141 years since Thomas Edison threw the first switch on his famous light bulb. What at one time were literally thousands of electric operating companies have merged into just a few dozen of consequence. And not one deal failed to create a financially stronger utility, a record no other industry can match.
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News and Analysis
Southern Company’s Secret Weapon
In March 2008, Southern Company (NYSE: SO) became the eighth US electric company within a year to announce construction of new nuclear reactors. A dozen years later, Southern’s pair of 1.1 gigawatt capacity reactors at the Vogtle site in Georgia are the only AP1000s under construction in America.
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News and Analysis
Three Chinese Stocks Still Worth Your While
It’s no surprise that both the US and China’s political rhetoric is ratcheting up as the US approaches November elections. COVID-19 recriminations are just the latest catalyst for worsening what were already tense relations. Nonetheless, I’m staying with three Chinese essential service stocks.
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News and Analysis
Kinder’s Dividend Decision Is Prudence, Not Weakness
In 2017, financially recovering Kinder Morgan Inc (NYSE: KMI) promised investors three dividend increases. This week, for the third increase it offered up a 5 percent lift for 2020, just 20 percent of what was promised. Under normal conditions, I’d view a shortfall like this as a potential warning of underlying business weakness. In Kinder's case, here's why it's not.
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News and Analysis
Q1 Earnings: Here’s What’s Important
With the virus still spreading and shutdowns continuing, forecasting COVID-19’s eventual damage to human health and the global economy is still a matter of conjecture, making it difficult for management teams to set guidance for the rest of 2020.
However, Q1 numbers and guidance, to be released over the next several weeks, will be absolutely critical to making good decisions, particularly where dividend safety is concerned.
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Income Insights
T-Mobile US: The Sprint Merger So Far
After a robust decade and a half following 1996 deregulation, large US telecom M&A had virtually evaporated. The exception: T-Mobile US’ (NSDQ: TMUS) merger with Sprint, which closed April 1, 2020.
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Income Insights
How to and How Not to Play an American Real Estate Recovery
From shuttered stores and offices to surging unpaid rents, US landlords have suffered a body blow this year. And there’s more turbulence ahead, from short-term cash shortfalls to big changes in tenant preferences. But American property is hardly down for the count.
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Income Insights
Dominion Wins a Battle, But Pipeline Wars Continue
On a 7-2 vote, SCOTUS overturned the lower court ruling that had rejected U.S. Forest Service authority to allow the ACP to cross the Appalachian Trail. Their decision affirms that jurisdiction. Completing the 600-mile project to link natural gas from Appalachia to demand in the Carolinas and Virginia, however, is not a done deal.
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Income Insights
Frontier Communications: Chapter 11 is No Protection
Communications sector leaders are playing a long game just now, sacrificing revenue gains from surging communications traffic, while absorbing the costs of building leading positions for critical applications to serve the exploding digital economy.
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Income Insights
Total SA: Affirming the Super Major Business Model
Total SA's (Paris: FP, NYSE: TOT) first-quarter results are a warning to those who would bet against the future of super majors. The environment is changing, but the business model is alive and well.
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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