Roger S. Conrad

Economic turmoil, political disruption, tough competition, an historic pandemic still wreaking havoc in its core Latin American markets and an environment where investors are largely shunning emerging market risk: Despite all that, America Movil reports a 1.2 percent increase in Q1 revenue, 5.2 percent higher EBITDA and positive stock returns since the beginning of tumultuous 2020.

I first became acquainted with Algonquin Power & Utilities (NYSE: AQN) back in the early ‘00s. Then it was a small power plant developer growing rapidly by taking advantage of the Canadian income trust investment boom.

Sometimes the investing strategy that makes the most sense is just to sit with what you have. That’s pretty much where I see things now with calendar Q1 results all-in for CUI portfolio recommendations. Last issue, I highlighted three encouraging big picture takeaways from the numbers and guidance updates so far. They were the fact that almost all coverage universe companies met or beat previous management guidance, key utility growth themes continue to gain strength and conservative is still cool when shaping sector operating and financial strategies. Those three trends were equally strong in the results from companies reporting the past few weeks. Of the portfolio recommendations, Conservative Holding Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) increased Q1 earnings by 10.5 percent, affirmed its guidance mid-point of $5.15 per share for 2021 and repeated its target 5 to 7 percent annual growth rate.

The combination of heavy debt and pressured revenue drove dividends cuts at 25 of the essential services companies in our Utility Report Card coverage universe last year. It triggered 16 in 2019 and five more so far this year, last month AT&T Inc (NYSE: T) and Singapore Telecom (Singapore: ST, OTC: SGAPY).

Tapping into outsized profits by betting wisely on unstoppable, long-term trends: That’s now as important for the value proposition of utilities and essential service stocks as generous yields. Pointing out the best-positioned companies when they trade at attractive prices is always my top priority. And what we’ve seen in Q1 earnings and guidance updates the past several weeks has made me more positive on the underlying business health of our recommended Portfolio stocks than I’ve been in some time.

In the May 18 Alert “Hold AT&T for Now,” I advised “sticking with our shares until the immediate market reaction shakes out.” That remains my advice for four reasons.

What a difference a few months makes in a momentum driven stock market! Earlier this year, it was our renewable energy stocks benefitting from frenzied buying of anything investors deemed to be “green,” with prices reaching generous profit-taking levels.

Now it’s our oil and gas pipeline stocks that investors can’t get enough of. And in contrast, Conservative Focus stock Brookfield Renewable Partners (NYSE: BEP) and Aggressive Focus stock Atlantica Yield (NSDQ: AY) are trading at positively attractive valuations. Even best in class wind and solar company NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE) is in buying territory.

Last week, Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure (NSDQ: AY) raised its quarterly dividend to 43 cents per share. That’s 4.9 percent higher than the year ago payment. It’s also what the company paid in December 2015, just prior to the bankruptcy of then parent Abengoa SA, making it a capstone for a remarkable metamorphosis.

For nearly eight years as a Conservative Holding, Brookfield Renewable Partners (TSX: BEP-U, NYSE: BEP) has reliably built cash flow from a growing global portfolio of contracted hydro, wind and solar assets. Dividends have increased nearly 60 percent since my initial recommendation and face few hurdles to 5 to 8 percent annual growth.