Utility Stocks

Nuclear Winter

What if a third of the power supply for an entire US state were suddenly shut off? Would its residents find themselves in the dark, as they do routinely in developing nations?

Earnings Season

Blame it on Sarbanes-Oxley and subsequent populist-inspired attempts by Washington to protect investors from Wall Street fraud: Year-end filing has become so regulation-driven that fourth-quarter earnings reporting season lasts literally the entire first quarter.

Major Merger

FirstEnergy Corp (NYSE: FE) and Allegheny Energy (NYSE: AYE) have announced the power industry’s biggest merger in years. The immediate winners of the $8.5 billion deal are shareholders of Allegheny, who received a premium of 32 percent to the company’s pre-announcement share price.

The Budget

The Obama budget would not only extend preferential tax rates for dividends and capital gains. It would basically make them permanent, firmly establishing the principle that savings and investment be rewarded, not just for buying and selling stocks, but for holding on and collection income.

The Selloff

The economy is still crawling back from the near-meltdown of late 2008. But there’s a long way to go, and there are plenty of challenges ahead that may prolong a full recovery.

The Brown Effect

The election of Republican Scott Brown to the US Senate has reshuffled America’s political deck. And there are profound implications for income investors.

Sunny State No More

Florida regulators to Florida utilities: Say good-bye to reliable returns that ensure a low cost of capital. Florida utilities to Florida regulators: Fine, but don’t expect any new investment.

Utility Stocks: Still Tops for Safety

Utilities sailed through the recession in part because they provide essential services, demand for which is rarely affected much by recessions. Equally important, however, is the massive reduction of debt and operating risk since the fall of Enron in 2001 nearly brought the entire industry to its knees.

Lost in the Clean-Tech Shuffle

Although innumerable stories emerge each day about solar, wind, fuel cells, nanotechnology and other bleeding-edge technologies, the engine behind the industrial revolution and the father of clean-tech largely goes unnoticed--hydropower.

Coping with Copenhagen

Recent polls provide more evidence that combating global warming isn't as high a priority for Americans in a recession as it would be following an economic recovery. No matter what happens in its final hours, the Copenhagen conference’s achievements will be limited by this reality.

Big Deal

There’s nothing like a blockbuster merger between household names to raise the blood pressure of every so-called defender of the public interest. And that’s definitely the case with the proposed union of Comcast Corp (NSDQ: CMCSA) with NBC Universal, currently owned by General Electric (NYSE: GE).

Recapitalizing America

Strong corporations across the board are borrowing at the lowest rates in half a century. In fact, they’re recapitalizing their balance sheets in a way that will leave them stronger and better positioned for growth than ever.

Eastern Alliance

When it comes to energy, it’s hard to find two countries whose interests are more conjoined than the US and China.

Beyond GDP

Friday’s sharp reversal of Thursday’s gain is a pretty stark reminder of how little (if any) conviction investors have about things getting better, and how willing they are to sell at any provocation. That kind of sentiment is usually a bullish sign for stocks in the longer term.

The Wall of Worry

A catalyst may emerge to take down stocks. But with companies borrowing at such low rates, it’s not going to be the credit markets that do the damage. And, amazingly, few of today’s cautious investors are aware of this reality.

Takeover Talk

Takeover talk is often more fun than the deals themselves. That’s because the speculation is so pregnant with promise and everyone, from investors to business partners, is a potential winner.

Joining Forces

The correct role of the regulator has always been a matter of debate for the state and federal officials who oversee industries from electricity and communications to banking.

The New Grid Is Getting Smaller

But building a national Smart Grid is a very daunting task, but regional coalitions comprising industry, government and consumers are banding together to push for smaller, local Smart Grids.

Genachowski's Gambit

There’s no better discounting mechanism than the stock market, which for communications is already pricing in the bad news and none of the good. That’s a formula for investor profits and a reason to buy, not head for the hills.

[video] Roger Conrad - Utility Forecaster - Utilities Effected By legislation

Two major pieces of legislation making their way through congress and their impact on our utilities.

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