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.
Earlier this month, a prominent Wall Street firm noted retail investors aren’t buying stock market dips, for the first time in quite a while. That’s absolutely understandable with the S&P 500 underwater nearly -20 percent so far in 2022, and many of last year’s high-tech favorites much deeper in the red. Utilities and essential services stocks too have had their share of ups and downs. But despite a great deal of uncharacteristic volatility, the Dow Jones Utility Average is still slightly in the green year-to-date, including a basically flat performance since the June issue of CUI posted.
It’s hard to believe that 20 years ago CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS) was a pariah in its home state of Michigan. The long-time CEO had exited in disgrace, after spectacularly failing to convert the electric and gas utility into a mini-Enron. And the company was floundering in debt and bad will from regulators and customers.
Last month, Aggressive Holding AES Corp (NYSE: AES) bought a 183-megawatt capacity wind power facility in Mississippi from Vestas Wind Systems (Denmark: VWS, OTC: VWSYF). It started up 96 MW of solar/storage projects in Massachusetts and New York. And it forged a consortium with Clearway Energy (NYSE: CWEN) to buy 7 gigawatts of solar panels annually from US manufacturers starting in 2024.
First, let’s look at the record. For the first six months of 2022, the Conservative Holdings returned an average of 4.3 percent. The Aggressive Holdings were up 0.44 percent. And the Top 10 DRIPs—which feature a fair amount of overlap with the Conservative Holdings—were ahead by 5.31 percent.
Recession may not be inevitable for the US economy this year. But with the US Federal Reserve doing its best Paul Volcker impression, it’s well past time for investors to prepare against the worst.
The highest inflation rate in 40 years plus, the worst bond market meltdown in decades, increasingly unpredictable and sometimes aggressive US regulation, war in Europe, the highest oil and gas prices since 2008 and now rising recession risk, as the US Federal Reserve jacks up interest rates to slow inflation.
After trading at extreme and unsustainably high prices for months and months, many best-in-class REITs are once again trading at good entry points for investors. But wise selection of individual REITs is more critical than ever.
Jagged daily volatility has become the rule for stocks this spring, including dividend payers backed by the steadiest of businesses. That’s historically been a classic sign the market has entered a bearish phase.
But if you have the courage, energy and wisdom to pick your own stocks, it’s hardly a sign to head for the hills. In fact, opportunities abound for both buying low and selling high.
Last month’s Labor Party’s victory in parliamentary elections is a sea change for Australian energy policy. And long-suffering shareholders of AGL Energy (ASX: AGL, OTC: AGLXY) are now uniquely positioned to benefit.
Roger's favorite utilities for investors seeking superior price appreciation by taking calculated risks.
Harness the tried and true wealth-building power of rising dividends.
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Warning: Falling Dividends.
Roger's current take and vital statistics on more than 200 essential-services stocks.