Investing Topics: Electric Utilities

Nothing destroys shareholder value like a dividend cut. Not only do you lose a portion of your monthly income, but a falling share price can also saddle you with significant capital losses. These are the dividend-paying stocks that are most dangerous to your wealth.

Stepped up targeting of dividend-paying stocks, runaway momentum widening the gap between loved and unloved stocks, and shifting odds of recovery in essential service company investment: These three trends have increasingly shaped returns since spring. And odds are good they’ll continue to the rest of the year.

Utilities and essential services stocks are known for their long-run stability—both all-weather business strength and low share price volatility. But even they pale before the unmatched reliability of utility bonds.

The recent pullback in shares of Southern Company (NYSE: SO) represents a buying opportunity.

I had a chance to sit down with Conrad’s Utility Investor Managing Editor Gregg Early and we had a wide-ranging conversation about some of the big issues in the essential services industry today as well some of the hot topics of the day.

The book is now almost closed on calendar first quarter 2013 earnings for my 45 Target List stocks. Utilities and other essential services stocks had a big run to start 2013. As a result, several target list companies have surged well beyond what I’d pay for them. Have a look at my current advice.