Roger S. Conrad

Since the beginning of May, 80 percent of the companies in our model Portfolios have hit 52-week highs. And the rest are a good day’s trading from this achievement. Our Aggressive Income Portfolio has delivered an average return of 27.5 percent since its inception, roughly doubling the 13.7 percent gain posted by the Dow Jones Utilities Average over equivalent holding periods. Meanwhile, the picks in our Conservative Income Portfolio have generated an average return of 13.4 percent, slightly lagging the benchmark index’s 14 percent gain.

But new risks have emerged that bear monitoring. A growing focus on allowance for funds used during construction (AFDUC) has identified some utilities that may be at risk of potential write-downs. Meanwhile, others find themselves in the crosshairs of the Obama administration’s aggressive environmental policies.

The greatest danger to most of the 207 stocks in my Utility Report Card comes when investors’ expectations rise along with prices. That’s why it’s critical to stick with my buy targets, which are based on long-run value—not near-term momentum.

Be patient when a stock you want to buy moves above my buy target. I will raise those targets when potential returns rise and risks diminish. Until then, focus your firepower on the stocks highlighted in this issue.

The outlook is much brighter for this utility's foray into solar, and for one of our closed-end funds. Unfortunately, other companies still face serious challenges.

At last count, more than half our Portfolio holdings traded above my buy targets. These are all great companies that will continue to build wealth for investors, but now is the time for discipline.

Rarely will you find a sector’s top-quality stocks on sale more than five years into a bull market. But that’s the case with this new Conservative Income Portfolio holding. Record demand has enabled this utility to grow its first-quarter earnings by 19.7 percent year over year.

Thanks to the rapid development of renewable energy and the support of state regulators, this utility has moved to break its addiction to imported oil, setting the stage for higher profits over the long term and lower bills for consumers.

With valuations elevated in the utility sector, investors should pay close attention to the risks and opportunities created by four key themes.

The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposed rules on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions create dange and opportunities for investors in utility stocks.

Five more Conrad’s Utility Investor portfolio stocks have hit new 52-week highs since the last Utility Roundup and 17 of the 30 companies in my Aggressive Income and Conservative Income Portfolios have hit 52-week highs this month.

Wisconsin Energy's $8.93 billion acquisition of Itegrys Energy marks the latest mega-deal in the energy patch. We scrutinize the merger and explain why this won't be the last big transaction in the utility sector. 

It’s hard to believe that the conventional wisdom at the start of the year was that utilities were in a death spiral—and that rising interest rates and lost sales to solar would ensure they were among 2014’s worst performers. But a dozen Conrad’s Utility Investor Portfolio stocks have hit new 52-week highs this month. And most of the other holdings are no more than a couple of good trading days from following suit.