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Investing Topics: Utility Stocks

Trumponomics: Six Observations for Income investors

By Roger S. Conrad on Mar. 10, 2018
Whether you support or oppose President Trump’s economic policies, they’re undeniably bold. Already we’ve seen unprecedented fiscal stimulus for an economic expansion this long-lived, the rollback of years of business regulation and the biggest push for trade protections since Smoot-Hawley.

Business is Booming

By Roger S. Conrad on Mar. 5, 2018
Our favorite turnaround story in the utility sector posted a blow-out fourth quarter.

A Great Utility at a Great Price

By Roger S. Conrad on Mar. 5, 2018
The highest-yielding stock in the Dow Jones Utility Average looks like a good buy.

Opportunity Knocks

By Roger S. Conrad on Mar. 5, 2018
The Dow Jones Utility Average hasn’t revisited its Feb. 9 low thus far. But the index is still down almost 15 percent from the all-time high reached in mid-November. Weakness in income-oriented equity groups reflects the pullback in the overall market and fears of rising interest rates. However, at these levels, very few high-quality names in our Utility Report Card remain at unsustainably high valuations and only six of our Model Portfolio holdings trade above our value-based buy targets—a stark contract to only a few months ago. Fourth-quarter results and earnings guidance also underscore that tax reform will provide more of a longer-term tailwind for the utility sector than a near-term headwind. Developments on the regulatory front have also been positive, with Duke Energy Corp (NYSE: DUK) settling its rate amicably and the Texas Public Utility Commission finally approving Sempra Energy’s (NYSE: SRE) takeover of Oncor Electric Delivery. By and large, utilities and the other essential-service companies in our coverage universe reported solid earnings and issued encouraging guidance. Bottom Line: The stocks will only fall so far as weakness in the market and interest rate fears pull them. Although the recent pullback has weighed on our overall returns, investors who followed our lead and took partial profits over the summer should have plenty of dry powder at their disposal.

Time to Buy, Judiciously 

By Roger S. Conrad on Mar. 5, 2018
The pullback in utility stocks has weighed on our overall returns, but this retrenchment means that all but a small handful of our Portfolio holdings trade below our buy targets. Investors who followed our lead and took partial profits over the summer should have plenty of dry powder.

Almost a Wrap on Q4 Earnings Season

By Roger S. Conrad on Mar. 3, 2018
All but a small handful of the companies tracked in our Utility Report Card have announced fourth-quarter results.

Getting over the Hump: Another Batch of Earnings Updates

By Roger S. Conrad on Feb. 26, 2018
More than two-thirds of the companies tracked in our Utility Report Card have announced quarterly results and guidance. We update our ratings and comments on last week's reporters.

More Good News on the Earnings Front

By Roger S. Conrad on Feb. 19, 2018
Twenty-six companies covered in our Utility Report Card announced quarterly results this week, including two Portfolio Holdings.

Utilities as Growth Stocks?

By Roger S. Conrad on Feb. 18, 2018
Did electric utilities suddenly become growth stocks when the market wasn’t looking? Fourth-quarter results from the 200-plus companies we track in Conrad’s Utility Investor say that may be so, at least for some.

Highlights from Fourth-Quarter Earnings Season

By Roger S. Conrad on Feb. 9, 2018
Twenty-seven companies covered in our Utility Report Card have reported quarterly results since the February issue of Conrad's Utility Investor went out.

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