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  • Roger S. Conrad

Roger S. Conrad needs no introduction to individual and professional investors, many of whom have profited from his decades of experience uncovering the best dividend-paying stocks for accumulating sustainable wealth.

Roger built his reputation with Utility Forecaster, a publication he founded more than 20 years ago that The Hulbert Financial Digest routinely ranked as one of the best investment newsletters. He’s also a sought-after expert on master limited partnerships (MLP) and former Canadian royalty trusts.

In April 2013, Roger reunited with his long-time friend and colleague, Elliott Gue, becoming co-editor of Energy & Income Advisor, a semimonthly online newsletter that’s dedicated to uncovering the most profitable opportunities in the energy sector.

Although the masthead may have changed, readers can count on Roger to deliver the same high-quality analysis and rational assessment of the best dividend-paying utilities, MLPs and dividend-paying Canadian energy names.

Articles

Home for At-Risk Dividends

By Roger S. Conrad on Feb. 7, 2016
Our Endangered Dividends List has a new member, while one former resident returns to the general population after slashing its payout for a second time.

In the Land of Infrastructure, Capital is King

By Roger S. Conrad on Feb. 7, 2016
With the US and global economies softening and credit markets tightening, a company’s relative cost of capital can determine whether it’s a winner or a loser.

Telecom: The More Things Change, the More Things Stay the Same

By Roger S. Conrad on Feb. 5, 2016
In the fourth quarter, the telecom sector's big dogs continued to extend their lead over the also-rans.

What You Need to Know about Dominion Resources’ Acquisition of Questar Corp

By Roger S. Conrad on Feb. 1, 2016
Dominion Resources (NYSE: D) announced the utility sector’s first major takeover for this year, reaching an agreement to acquire Utah-based Questar Corp (NYSE: STR) for $25 per share, or about $4.4 billion.

A Lesson for MLP Investors from Past Selloffs

By Roger S. Conrad on Jan. 19, 2016
The utility sector's implosion in 2002 and 2003 has some important lessons for MLP investors.

New Year, Same Challenges

By Roger S. Conrad on Jan. 11, 2016
For the 39th time since 1969, the Dow Jones Utilities Average rallied in the fourth quarter. But this upside didn’t prevent the benchmark from finishing the year with a 3.1 percent loss, the index’s first negative return after a positive January since 1987. Fortunately, the primary catalyst for the loss—uncertainty about when the Federal Reserve would start raising interest rates—no longer exists. And just like the beginning of the 2004-06 tightening cycle, utility stocks have gained ground despite weakness in the broader market. But last year’s challenges remain in play for 2016. Energy prices have yet to find a bottom. Non-investment grade debt has become crushingly expensive to refinance, tightening capital markets for all but the strongest companies. Emerging markets continue to struggle. And any international currency not pegged to the US dollar find itself under pressure. The Quality Grades for the 214 essential-service companies tracked in our Utility Report Card provide insight into the spectrum of risk and help investors to avoid the riskiest names.

New Year, Time-Tested Strategy

By Roger S. Conrad on Jan. 11, 2016
By most measures, last year was a difficult time for income-seeking investors, as anticipation of the Federal Reserve’s first rate hike since 2006 weighed on sentiment toward dividend-paying stocks. Here’s our strategy for 2016.

Higher Standards

By Roger S. Conrad on Jan. 11, 2016
Our proprietary quality grades help investors to assess the spectrum of risk across the more than 200 essential-service companies covered in our Utility Report Card.

Misery Loves Company

By Roger S. Conrad on Jan. 11, 2016
Five new members joined the Endangered Dividends List this month.

Kind of a Big Deal

By Roger S. Conrad on Jan. 11, 2016
After closing a big deal, this Northeast utility has the financial wherewithal and opportunity set to drive annual dividend growth of 10 percent in coming years.

MODEL PORTFOLIOS & RATINGS

ABOUT ROGER CONRAD

Roger S. Conrad needs no introduction to individual and professional investors, many of whom have profited from his decades of experience uncovering the best dividend-paying stocks for accumulating sustainable wealth. Roger b