Feature Article

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.

Last month, I highlighted two ways to bet on the rising tide of utility mergers and acquisitions. The most potentially lucrative are the 8 companies likely to fetch a high premium takeover offer in the next 12 to 18 months.

Heavy debt and revenue under pressure: Those are always the two biggest risks to dividends. And when combined, a cut is usually on the way. Both are common maladies for the four remaining companies on my Endangered Dividends List.

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

From range limits to battery costs, electric vehicles have a long way to go before they rule America’s roads. And even the leading name in EV manufacturing Tesla Inc (NSDQ: TSLA) still relies on tax credits and outside capital to fund operations.

Perceived value always sets the price for stocks. And anyone who’s invested a while knows that can shift on a dime, as leaders and laggards trade places. Quality doesn’t change so quickly. That’s the health and growth of companies’ underlying businesses.

So far, 2021 is shaping up favorably for dividends in our Utility Report Card coverage universe. That’s thanks to last year’s aggressive measures to shore up balance sheets as well as the firming global economy.

Electricity, heating, water and communications have been essential services for well over a century. And over that time, not one of the literally thousands of mergers between operators has failed to produce a stronger and more resilient company.

No other industry can boast such a track record. And it’s the clearest possible endorsement of the advantages of utility scale. These sectors must be able to raise and effectively deploy massive amounts of capital to assuring universally reliable, affordable and environmentally sustainable service.

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.