Southern Company

• Avoiding A Sweeney Todd Haircut Part Three

  By Reuben Brewer - May 17, 2013 | Tickers: T, FII, SO, VZ

  While the old market saying is sell in May and go away, Bill Gross of PIMCO suggests that investors “gradually reduce risk positions in 2013.” In his typically fun-loving manner, the Bond King compared the risk of investing today to a Sweeney Todd haircut, which makes going away sound better than Gross' advice. However, you can't collect dividends if you aren't invested. AT&T (NYSE: T), Verizon (NYSE: VZmore »)

• This Sector Looks Fully Valued

  By Robert Ciura - May 13, 2013 | Tickers: ED, DUK, SO

  Utilities are the classic “widow-and-orphan” stocks—meaning they are slow and steady providers of dependable income. Lately, these stocks have been anything but slow and steady. Many stocks in the sector have enjoyed huge run-ups in price over the last few years and are now sitting near multi-year highs.

  Not to rain on the parade, but it’s worth noting that there is a price to be paid for such more »

• Duke Energy and Random-Chance Utility Investing

  By Nate Wooley - May 13, 2013 | Tickers: AEP, D, DUK, SO

  Investing in utilities can be a very good move … if the right sort of luck is with you.

  A recent story about Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) indicates just how much of a factor random chance can play in investing. Sure, that's true for all investing, but for utilities investing it's more obvious than in other sectors. In its recent earnings call, Duke said that its first quarter profit more »

• This Electric Utility Stock Is a Buy

  By Shas Dey - May 10, 2013 | Tickers: CNP, NEE, SO

  Southern Company (NYSE: SO) operates in the United States with a power generating capacity of nearly 46,000 megawatts to 4.4 million customers. The company, with its subsidiaries, operates hydroelectric, natural gas, coal, and nuclear generation sources to generate electricity.

  The company recently announced an increase in its annual dividend by $0.07 to $2.03 per share. This is the seventh consecutive year that Southern Company has raised more »

• Should You Buy Exelon?

  By Ishtiaq Ahmed - May 8, 2013 | Tickers: DUK, EXC, SO

  Utility companies are known for providing stable dividends, and are some of the best dividend payers in the market. Some of these companies have been paying regular dividends for decades. Exelon (NYSE: EXC) was one such company; however, recently the company had to cut its dividend due to some unfavorable factors. Despite the dividend cut, the company is yielding above 3.5% and remains an attractive investment for income investors more »

• One Method to Get Paid on the Daily Cost of Living

  By Jeff Stouffer - May 5, 2013 | Tickers: D, DUK, IDU, NEE, SO

  I recall the days when I was a rookie at Merrill Lynch. In the 1990s one of the oldest pitches a broker can make is selling shares in the local power company. Comments such as “how would you like to get a dividend on your monthly electric bill?” would be taught as a way to open an account. The problem with that was the confinement to the local market. The more »

• Founded in 1945, Still Prospering in 2013

  By Ryan Guenette - May 3, 2013 | Tickers: AEP, DUK, EXC, NEE, SO

  One of the largest producers of electricity in the US, Southern Company (NYSE: SO), announced on April 15 that for the 12th straight year it will be raising its dividend payout. The dividend is being lifted 3.6% to $2.03 per share on an annual basis, displaying the incredible financial strength and sustainability of the company’s business.

  On April 24, the company reported first-quarter net income of $81 more »

• Safe Dividend Paying Utility Stocks Part 2

  By Reuben Brewer - April 22, 2013 | Tickers: DUK, SO, XEL

  Each month Citi creates a list of safe dividend paying companies. Barron's recently published the list. It included a number of utilities that income investors would do well to consider, including Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), Southern Company (NYSE: SO), and Xcel Energy (NYSE: XEL).

  The Citi list

  Each month, Citi publishes a list of “safe” dividend companies. The most recent incarnation contains six electric utilities. While its hardly surprising more »

• A Good Investment in the Utility Sector

  By Shas Dey - April 22, 2013 | Tickers: CNP, DUK, SO

  Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) is an energy company owning nuclear, natural gas, coal-fired and hydroelectric generation. Headquartered in Charlotte, Duke operates in the United States providing nearly 20000 megawatts of owned electric capacity to over 2 million customers. It is a Fortune 250 company having a diverse fuel mix. Although utility companies are unlikely to experience substantial capital appreciation, this one is a worthwhile investment.

  Electric utilities industry

  The main more »

• A good investment in the utility sector

  By Shas Dey - April 17, 2013 | Tickers: CNP, DUK, SO

  Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) is an energy company owning nuclear, natural gas, coal-fired and hydroelectric generation. Headquartered in Charlotte, Duke operates in the United States providing nearly 20000 megawatts of owned electric capacity to over 2 million customers. It is a Fortune 250 company having a diverse fuel mix. Though utility stocks are unlikely to double in value in the next few months, this one is a worthwhile investment.

  Electric more »

• A Sustainable High Yielding Electric Utility for Keeps

  By Piyush Arora - April 16, 2013 | Tickers: DUK, NEE, SO

  With the looming European sovereign debt crisis and lower than estimated job creation, finding growth picks has become difficult. To hedge the risks of macroeconomic uncertainty, owning income growth stocks has always been advisable. But, investors should analyze the sustainability of payouts before making investments. The company in focus is Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), and here are a couple of reasons why it would make a good income growth play more »

• Are Renewables Killing Utilities?

  By Dana Blankenhorn - April 14, 2013 | Tickers: PCG, SO

  A few months ago, a Macquarie financial analyst named Peter Kind issued a report for the Edison Electric Institute predicting dire consequences if renewable energy succeeds in gaining a toehold in the market.

  David Roberts of The Grist gave coverage to the report, concluding that the fears are overblown.

  Since California is the first major state to be achieving grid parity, the point at which solar energy becomes price competitive more »

• 3 Reasons I Own This Stock

  By Chad Henage - April 10, 2013 | Tickers: DUK, EXC, TEG, SO

  I'm a firm believer that every investor should be able to explain in a few sentences why they own a stock. With each company I buy, I try to find multiple reasons that it's better than its competition. There are many people investing in utility stocks for their yield. If you ask me if I think there is a bubble in the utility sector I would say there more »

• Valuation Is King, Earnings Are Queen

  By Justin Carley - April 8, 2013 | Tickers: CSCO, PHM, SO

  With the S&P 500 reaching new highs, one would expect a lot more enthusiasm; but then again, the index is not too much higher than it was 13 years ago. Dividends have helped produce an annual return just north of 2%, but it is no surprise to hear the stories of investors forever shunning stocks. One could easily assume that earnings have been stuck in the mud and have more »

• 3 Reasons I Own This Stock

  By Chad Henage - April 8, 2013 | Tickers: DUK, EXC, TEG, SO

  I'm a firm believer that every investor should be able to explain in a few sentences why they own a stock. With each company I buy, I try to find multiple reasons that it's better than its competition. There are many people investing in utility stocks for their yield. If you ask me if I think there is a bubble in the utility sector I would say there more »

• Valuation is King, Earnings are Queen

  By Justin Carley - April 3, 2013 | Tickers: CSCO, PHM, SO

  The Golden Rule

  With the S&P 500 reaching new highs one would expect a lot more enthusiasm; but then again, the Index is just barely higher than it was 13 years ago. Dividends have helped produce an annual return just north of 2%, but it is no surprise to hear the stories of investors forever shunning stocks. One could easily assume that earnings have been stuck in the mud more »

• Billionaire Stanley Druckenmiller’s Dividend Picks

  By Meena Krishnamsetty - March 27, 2013 | Tickers: DUK, LLY, MRK, PCG, SO

  We track 13F filings from hedge funds and other notable investors for a variety of purposes. First, we have found that the most popular small cap stocks among hedge funds earn an average excess return of 18 percentage points per year, and we are looking for other potential strategies. Second, we like to review top picks from investment managers and treat them as a source of free recommendations for further more »

• Replace the 4% Retirement Rule With Dividend Stocks

  By Robert Ciura - March 26, 2013 | Tickers: MO, COP, SO, VZ

  A fact that gets a lot of attention from the media is that America is aging. Baby Boomers are nearing retirement age in huge numbers. According to the Department of Health and Human Service’s Administration of Aging (AoA), the older population--persons 65 years or older--numbered 39.6 million in 2009 (the latest year for which data is available). Those individuals in, or nearing, retirement have an important task ahead more »

• 3 Compelling Reasons to Pounce on This Electric Utility

  By Piyush Arora - March 26, 2013 | Tickers: D, NEE, SO

  When the markets are choppy, investing in income growth stocks proves to be a great strategy. Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is one such income growth stock, which has been delivering steady returns in the form of stock appreciation and dividend pay-outs. But due to recent developments, its growth prospects have expanded and the company seems well-positioned to rally.

  Southern Company is one of the largest electric utilities in the U more »

• How to Navigate the Upcoming Market Correction

  By Justin Carley - March 21, 2013 | Tickers: MO, BAC, SO

  With April on the horizon, investors might want to be prepared for some spring storms. The last three years have seen equity markets peak in April before undertaking double-digit corrections. Will this year be any different? Not likely with complacency high via the extremely low VIX readings, currently at less than 13, and Europe starting to show some cracks with the crazy notion to punish depositors in Cyprus. I remain more »

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