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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

05/17/18 Conrad’s Utility Investor — Online Chat

By Roger S. Conrad on May. 9, 2018
Roger Conrad will host an online chat for Conrad's Utility Investor subscribers on May 17, 2018 at 2 PM EDT.

Big Deals – Will They Close?

By Roger S. Conrad on May. 9, 2018
Now that T-Mobile USA (NSDQ: TMUS) has thrown a lifeline to floundering Sprint Corp (NYSE: S), 11 companies in our Conrad’s Utility Investor coverage universe have a takeover offer on table.

05/07/18: Taking Action

By Roger S. Conrad on May. 7, 2018
First-quarter earnings season is in full swing. Recently reported results have prompted us to change our ratings for two master limited partnerships.

A Rare 9 Percent Yield With Safety Credentials

By Roger S. Conrad on May. 6, 2018
For the first year since 2005, propane distributor Amerigas Partners (NYSE: APU) didn’t raise its quarterly distribution. Rather than a sign of weakness, however, management’s decision secures the already generous 9 percent plus yield and may have set the stage for shares to break out of an 8-years plus trading range.

Canada’s Communications Champion Going Cheap

By Roger S. Conrad on May. 6, 2018
BCE Inc (TSX: BCE, NYSE: BCE) shares have touched a new 52-week low this month. Fortunately, the weakness is due to interest rate worries and a slide in the Canadian dollar as the core business remains strong. And the result is a buying opportunity for this Conservative Holding.

Compelling Opportunities For Dangerous Times

By Roger S. Conrad on May. 6, 2018

Depending on what you own, this might not feel like much of a rally. But the Dow Jones Utility Average closed this week up nearly 10 percent from its early February lows. And while the Average is still nearly -10 percent below the all-time high reached in mid-November, at three months and counting the uptrend is getting investors’ attention.

Telecom Values and Value Traps

By Roger S. Conrad on May. 6, 2018

Strong business fundamentals, low measures of standard valuation and a generally weak technical picture: Those are the basic traits of a “value” stock, known in some circles as a contrarian bet.

Earnings Go Green, Valuations Yellow

By Roger S. Conrad on May. 6, 2018

Bullish: That’s the key takeaway from first quarter results of the roughly 50 percent of Utility Report Card companies reporting to date.

Focus stocks BCE Inc (TSX: BCE, NYSE: BCE) and Amerigas Partners (NYSE: APU) had especially good news. So did the energy utilities highlighted in Portfolio Update and the best in class telecoms of the sector-intensive Feature article.

As Endangered Dividends reveals, not every company had a strong report. That includes Aggressive Holding Buckeye Partners (NYSE: BPL), and we’re taking action. The greater risk to portfolios now, however, is from a growing number of stocks’ extreme valuations.

The return to very high prices wouldn’t have been possible without the three-months-old uptrend in utility stock averages. As has been the case the last few cycles, growth has enabled the sector to shrug off worries about rising interest rates. Since early February, the Dow Jones Utility Average has returned 10 percent, versus less than 4 percent for the S&P 500.

A more important reason for caution, however, is newly resurgent utility takeover fever. Market reaction has been lukewarm to the biggest deal so far this year, the proposed union of wireless giants Sprint (NYSE: S) and T-Mobile USA (NSDQ: TMUS).

Moving Closer to the Edge

By Roger S. Conrad on May. 6, 2018

SCANA Corp (NYSE: SCG) won’t declare its June dividend until “closer to record date”. That’s the closest Conrad’s Utility Investor coverage universe companies have come to a payout cut this earnings season. But several are definitely on the edge.

Pre-Issue Earnings Edition

By Roger S. Conrad on May. 1, 2018
Nearly four-dozen companies in our coverage universe have reported their calendar first quarter earnings since our last Utility Roundup. See the Utility Report Card for updated comments, payout ratios, Quality Grades, trading advice and other information.

MODEL PORTFOLIOS & RATINGS

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