Feature Article

Europe’s unfolding energy crisis, rising interest rates and a heavy debt load: That accounts for elevated investor skepticism this year that Italy-based Enel SpA (Italy: ENEL, OTC: ENLAY) can hold to guidance of 10 to 13 percent earnings growth or even its generous dividend.

Being the first mover in a new technology means taking risks later adopters don’t. And Conservative Holding Southern Company (NYSE: SO) felt the pain of a $6 billion write off when its once-promising clean coal project in Mississippi failed in the previous decade.

Even if the stock and bond markets manage a year-end rally of historic proportions, 2022 will go down as one of the more challenging for investors in memory. But with basically three weeks left in the year, the Dow Jones Utility Average is still very much in the black.

The Endangered Dividends List has two new members this month: Algonquin Power & Utilities (TSX: AQN, NYSE: AQN) and Vodafone Group (London: VOD, NYSE: VOD).

For most of the past two decades, it’s been a sellers’ market for bonds and fixed income. Large institutions like pension funds have had literally no choice but to fill the bond portion of portfolios with whatever was for sale. And even when there’s been upward pressure on rates, financially strong companies have been able to wait for what’s been an inevitable return to better conditions—and the chance to issue new bonds at lower coupon rates.

Utilities’ investment plans require regulatory consistency to be successful. And for Conservative Holding WEC Energy Group (NYSE: WEC), November election results were pretty close to optimal for its $20.1 billion, 5-year CAPEX plan, increased this month from $17.7 billion.

When the October issue of CUI posted, the Dow Jones Utility Average was underwater nearly -10 percent for the year. Now it’s close to even including dividends. That strong recovery also shows up in a brief scan of stock prices in this month’s Conservative Holdings, Aggressive Holdings and Top 10 DRIP tables. But it wasn’t exactly a buy everything moment either.

Wireline communications company Lumen Technologies (NYSE: LUMN) eliminated its quarterly cash dividend this month. That brings total year-to-date cuts in the Utility Report Card coverage universe to nine.

Political parties are usually well down the list of reasons for bull and bear markets. But elections do have consequences, particularly in heavily regulated industries like utilities and energy.

The 2022 bear market for stocks and bonds entered a new, more destructive phase last month, following the Federal Reserve’s 75 basis point increase in the Fed Funds rate. And there’s every indication things will get worse before they improve.