Longtime UF holding Dominion Resources (NYSE: D) has sold its exploration and production assets, paid down debt and invested in energy infrastructure projects--all with an eye on boosting dividends at a double-digit rate. Read More

Windstream Corp (NYSE: WIN) is one of the highest-yielding, most stable rural telecoms out there. Management continues to add cash-generating assets that will support a healthy dividend for years to come. Read More

Closed-end bond funds don’t pay you for the risk you’re taking. It’s not hard to find higher-yielding--and safer--common stocks if you're willing to look. New, cheap debt capital will help utilities grow dividends over the long run. Read More

Year in and year out, this industry has continued to evolve on its own terms. The range of services and products has expanded exponentially, and costs and rates have continued to drop. Best of all, the advances are far from done. Read More

The refinancing boom is an extreme positive for stocks, particularly dividend-paying stocks. And with investors focused on the possibility of a stock market correction, it’s a major positive that’s by no means reflected in today’s share prices. That’s very bullish for the rest of 2010 and beyond, even if the S&P 500 has another relapse. Read More

Everyone wants to buy into a big yield. The trouble is most people aren’t willing to put in the time to tell the good from the bad and ugly. As a result, they’re either overly skeptical--thereby missing out on what would otherwise be an ideal investment--or gullible, in which case they’re liable to make even worse moves. Read More

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? Read More

Our biggest risk remains the threat of worsening regulation, particularly in the states. Strong balance sheets, low payout ratios and low investor expectations do provide a great deal of protection. Read More

America has more than 100 electric and natural gas companies, two dozen major communications providers and roughly a dozen large, investor-owned water utilities. That adds up to colossal opportunities for consolidation in coming years. Read More

As we go to press we’re still waiting on several Portfolio picks to release numbers. But the underlying business of every favorite to report thus far is in great condition. All are first-rate holdings Read More