Roger S. Conrad

A few bad apples don’t spoil the bunch. Some midstream names will find themselves under pressure from declining oil output in the US onshore market, as the effects of energy producers’ reduced drilling activity start to manifest themselves. But indiscriminate selling creates opportunities for discriminating buyers.

Energy Transfer Equity LP finally prevailed in its pursuit of Williams Companies. Here's our take.

A strategic shift at one of our Aggressive Income Portfolio holdings means that we're also changing direction.

Investor sentiment toward yieldcos has soured considerably since midyear. Here's why.

From June 2004 to June 2006, the US Federal Reserve raised the benchmark interest rate by 425 basis points to 5.25 percent. Over this period, the Dow Jones Utilities Average generated a total return of more than 61 percent. Utility stocks stumbled a bit in the early part of 2004, when speculation swirled that the Fed would raise interest rates. But once the central bank made its move, these stocks recovered swiftly. Bottom Line: During the Fed’s most recent tightening cycle, the Dow Jones Utilities Average posted its second-best two-year return since World War II. Market history is one reason we’re not concerned that rising interest rates will sap our favorite dividend-paying utilities. And the prospect of elevated volatility in the near term creates opportunities, enabling us to add high-quality names to our model Portfolios at favorable entry points. Meanwhile, a combination of attractive valuations, low costs of capital and the never-ending quest for scale has fueled a wave of utility mergers and generated windfall profits for lucky shareholders. This month’s feature article highlights three strategies for investors to profit from the upsurge in mergers and acquisitions in the utility and telecom sectors.  

There are two ways to escape the Endangered Dividends List: posting improved operating results that eliminate the threat to the payout or cutting these disbursements to shareholders completely.

This regional telecom appears to have turned the corner, and its preferred shares trade with plenty of liquidity and sport a double-digit yield.

Shares of best-in-class utilities rarely sell for bargain prices, which is why we've taken advantage of recent weakness to snap up this stock for our Conservative Income Portfolio.

We highlight three strategies to profit from the recent resurgence in merger and acquisition activity in the utility and telecom sectors.

Only time will tell whether recent volatility in US equities will develop into a full-on bear market. In the interim, here’s a plan that will keep you invested and generate a steady stream of dividends. We’ll also highlight strategies to avoid the destructive behaviors that seem rational during selloffs great and small.