Aggressive Income Feature

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.

Since results of the November 2020 presidential election became clear, shares of Aggressive Holding Kinder Morgan Inc (NYSE: KMI) are up nearly 50 percent.

The natural gas price spikes during the great Texas freeze will force new scrutiny of supply chains from wellhead to burner tip. One energy company that won’t have to: Aggressive Holding National Fuel Gas (NYSE: NFG), which operates everything from regulated distribution utilities to oil and gas wells.

Falling deployment costs, favorable regulation and low cost capital are fueling an unprecedented boom in renewable energy adoption. A rare big winners still trading at a fair entry price: Enel SpA (Italy: ENEL, OTC: ENLAY).

Takeover activity was the bright spot in an otherwise gloomy year for communications, with two more deals closing in December. New Aggressive Holding Telephone & Data Systems (NYSE: TDS) is this year’s most eligible candidate for a high premium offer.

Regulation is the straw in my Quality Grade system that most often stirs the drink. And when the result is an increasingly volatile mixture, it’s usually best for investors to stand clear.

Back in January, I added unregulated electricity generator and retailer Vistra Energy (NYSE: VST) to the Aggressive Holdings for three reasons.

First, the company is a cash machine, consistently shaving costs from its business and debt from its balance sheet while gaining market share with acquisitions and “greening” its generation fleet. Second, its shares traded at a major valuation gap I thought would close as the US economy strengthened. And third, there was a growing possibility of a takeover, potentially by private capital.

PPL Corp’s (NYSE: PPL) potential sale of UK operations remains a threat to its dividend several weeks into the strategic review. Nonetheless, we’re adding the stock to the Aggressive Holdings now for three reasons.

Clearway Energy (NYSE: CWEN) rewarded our patience last month by restoring quarterly dividends to a rate of 31.25 cents per share. The move initially pushed the stock to a new high in the upper-20s. But it also apparently convinced some investors the big gains are done, a mistake the sellers will likely regret.

Utilities that diversify too far from regulated essential services usually wind up getting burned. But once in a while, a company with staying power is in the right place at the right time. That’s the case for MDU Resources.