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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

11/21/16: Another Stealth Distribution Cut

By Roger S. Conrad on Nov. 21, 2016
This morning, Sunoco Logistics Partners LP announced the all-stock acquisition of Energy Transfer Partners LP--a transaction that dramatically changes the acquirer's profile and results in a 27 percent distribution cut for the target's unitholders. Here's our take.

The Correction Continues, But Don’t Blame the Election

By Roger S. Conrad on Nov. 16, 2016
The S&P 500 Utilities Index has tumbled in the wake of the 2016 election, as the conventional wisdom holds that the results were bad for utility stocks. Rising interest rates and the prospect of improved economic growth if the Trump administration delivers on its promised fiscal stimulus have given portfolio managers an excuse to rotate out of utility stocks and into cyclical fare. Unsustainably high valuations made this decision all the easier. Conrad’s Utility Investor subscribers who followed our lead over the summer and took partial profits on their big winners and added exposure to ProShares UltraShort Utilities (NYSE: SDP) should be doing reasonably well, all things considered. This exchange-traded fund, which delivers two times the Dow Jones US Utilities Index’s inverse daily performance, has rallied by about 25 percent—and we see the potential for more upside. However, the most important point to take away from this issue of Conrad’s Utility Investor is that the underlying business conditions for our favorite utilities haven’t changed. The sector remains in excellent financial shape and has its best growth prospects in decades. Unfortunately, valuations remain frothy. Election 2016 has created far more opportunity than risks for best-in-class utilities. But potential regulatory tailwinds are only one of the many factors that will drive returns going forward.  

Riding the Trump Trade

By Roger S. Conrad on Nov. 16, 2016
Our bet against utility stocks has continued to pay off, while the selloff in the sector has pulled prices closer to our value-based buy targets. Stay disciplined.

Dividend Safety: Interest Rates Matter

By Roger S. Conrad on Nov. 16, 2016
Thanks to 15 years of cutting operating risk and debt, not even a much higher spike in borrowing costs would threaten dividends of best-in-class utilities. With ample cash flow and minimum near-term borrowing needs, they can hold off until pension funds and other institutional buyers must return to the table. Unfortunately for the weaker credits covered in our Utility Report Card, rising interest rates could ratchet up the pressure on their balance sheets and force them to redeploy cash that they currently pay out as dividends.  

 Volatile Stock, Steady Business

By Roger S. Conrad on Nov. 16, 2016
Despite recent volatility, this master limited partnership's underlying operations have delivered stable results since oil prices started to tumble in summer 2014. The addition of a new growth platform sets the stage for more upside.

Election 2016: Plenty of Good News for Utilities

By Roger S. Conrad on Nov. 15, 2016
While the market sorts out the implications of the 2016 federal election, the recent selloff in utility stocks and results at the state level create opportunities for savvy investors.

11/15/16: Show Me the Money

By Roger S. Conrad on Nov. 15, 2016
The latest addition to the Aggressive Income Portfolio stands to benefit from a transformative transaction and an improving regulatory environment.

Hello, Missouri!

By Roger S. Conrad on Nov. 15, 2016
A transformative acquisition and improving regulatory environment should make our latest addition to the Aggressive Income Portfolio a winner.

International Festival

By Roger S. Conrad on Nov. 8, 2016
International equities have fared far better this year than in 2014 and 2015, with the seven in our model Portfolios delivering an average total return of 17.2 percent in US dollar terms.

11/07/16: Stay Focused

By Roger S. Conrad on Nov. 7, 2016
Investors feeling anxious on the eve of the election should remain focused on profitable opportunities, not politics.

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