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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

The Fed Pivots: Stay Patient For Utility Profits

By Roger S. Conrad on Oct. 3, 2024

On September 18, the Federal Reserve cut the benchmark Fed Funds rate by 50 basis points, to a range of 4.75 to 5 percent. The long awaited pivot from “higher for longer” interest rates ignited an investment media frenzy. But since then, the Dow Jones Utility Average is up less than 1.5 percent, barely matching the S&P 500.

That’s hardly surprising. From mid-April when rate cut talk started heating up until the Fed finally acted, the DJUA soared nearly 30 percent. So utility stocks were already pricing in the initial shift.

TC Energy: A Profitable Split

By Roger S. Conrad on Oct. 3, 2024
This week, TC Energy (TSX: TRP, NYSE: TRP) closed the spin off of its liquids pipelines business as South Bow (TSX: SOBO, NYSE: SOBO). TC shareholders receive 0.2 shares of SOBO for every TRP currently held. And the new company will begin trading NYSE “on or about” October 8, with an initial dividend to be declared November 7. Profitable spinoffs unlock value because the new company is more valuable on its own. That should be the case here.

America Movil: Forget Politics, This Telecom is Growing Fast

By Roger S. Conrad on Oct. 3, 2024

In a year of foolish politics-based investing decisions, giving up on Mexico ranks highly. Since mid-April, the Peso has lost more than -15 percent of its US dollar value. And that’s pushed America Movil (Mexico: AMXB, NYSE: AMX) ADRs down -10.8 percent year to date, despite consistent strong operating results. The politics case for selling Mexico partly stems from the overwhelming victory of the Morena party in the country’s recent elections, resulting in a controversial justice system overhaul. The other half is fear of potential dislocations from a prospective Trump presidency.

Ride the Laggards and Lay off the Leaders

By Roger S. Conrad on Oct. 3, 2024

There’s less than three months to go in 2024. And utilities and essential services stocks are already set for their most profitable year this decade. In fact, just a normal seasonally strong Q4 performance would produce the Dow Jones Utility Average’s biggest gains since 2000. The DJUA’s 23.9 percent year-to-date gain puts it ahead of the S&P 500’s 20.8 percent, as well as the Nasdaq 100’s 18.4 percent. And utilities have so far outpaced rivals in the equity income universe as well, with the S&P REIT Index ahead just 12.9 percent and the Dow Jones Select Dividend Index (DVY) up 17.3 percent.

Telecom Dividends in Danger

By Roger S. Conrad on Oct. 3, 2024

During the first nine months of 2024, 116 essential services companies tracked in the Utility Report Card raised dividends at least once. Eight reduced or eliminated their payouts, disproportionately from the telecom sector. Telephone and Data Systems (NYSE: TDS) cut its payout -79 percent. That reflects the proposed sale of wireless operations of its US Cellular Corp (NYSE: USM) affiliate to T-Mobile US (NSDQ: TMUS) for $4.4 billion.

Telecom: Staying on the Right Side of the Great Consolidation

By Roger S. Conrad on Oct. 3, 2024

In August 2023, I highlighted the communications sector in a feature piece titled “Telecom Has a Future, But Not Every Company Does.” My premise was communications is more essential than ever to a functioning world. And as more industries adopt artificial intelligence, it will only become more vital, even as total global penetration of smart phones tops 100 percent later this decade.

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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