This post is part of Japan: A Special Report for Investors.

"Japan continues to reel from the aftershock of the magnitude 8.9 earthquake and subsequent tsunamis; among the hardest hit is the nuclear industry, which supplies 30 percent of the country's electricity" notes utility sector expert Roger Conrad.

The editor of The Utility Forecaster explains, "There's still a lot we don't know about the crisis. We've seen a massive selloff of in all things nuclear.In my view, this drop will be reversed as the situation calms down.

Continue reading Japan: The Impact on U.S. Nuclear Utilities

Japan: The Impact on U.S. Nuclear Utilities originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Eighteen percent: That's the compound annual rate of return that Enterprise Products Partners (EPD) has showered on investors the past decade," says utility sector specialist Roger Conrad.

The editor of The Utility Forecaster explains, "And with a yield of nearly 6 percent--and a payout growing almost 6 percent yearly--the owner and operator of midstream energy assets is on track for much more.

"Last March, Enterprise Products' legendary founder Dan Duncan passed. The company he left, however, is still growing rapidly, most recently tapping into the boom in natural gas liquids (NGL).

Continue reading Enterprise Products (EPD): A Cash Generator

Enterprise Products (EPD): A Cash Generator originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is one in a series in which more than 60 newsletter advisors share their Top Stock Picks for 2011. This special report is courtesy of TheStockAdvisors.com.

"Even among great companies, one year's leader is often the next's laggard and vice versa; MDU Resources (MDU) is one under-performer that looks increasingly likely to get it's legs back in 2011," says utility stock specialist Roger Conrad.

The editor of The Utility Forecaster explains, "The company is best thought of as a financially conservative resource company, whose cash flows are anchored by solid regulated energy assets.

Continue reading Top Picks 2011: MDU Resources (MDU)

Top Picks 2011: MDU Resources (MDU) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 08 Jan 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"RioCan REIT (RIOCF), the owner of high-quality shopping malls across Canada that's used the last two years to dramatically boost its portfolio growth potential," says Canadian trust expert Roger Conrad.

The editor of Canadian Edge explains, "Its 6 percent yield has consistently grown since I first added it to the Portfolio as an original member back in July 2004. And growth is accelerating again as recent investments pay off.

"Even the most conservative investors will find much to like in RioCan's reliability, unrecognized growth potential and 6 percent yield.

Continue reading RioCan REIT: Shopping for Value in Canada's Malls

RioCan REIT: Shopping for Value in Canada's Malls originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 02 Dec 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Rising demand for electricity has been among the surest trends on which you could bet for the past 100 years;" says utility sector and income expert Roger Conrad.

The contributing editor to Personal Finance explains, "That's money in the bank for the companies that produce and distribute power, including these three Income Portfolio power plays: Dominion Resources (D), Southern Company (SO), and Xcel Energy (XEL).

"After a dip in 2008-09, Americans' power use is climbing again, as more and more electricity-using devices become essential to modern life.

Continue reading Utility Trio: Income Experts' Power Plays

Utility Trio: Income Experts' Power Plays originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 17 Nov 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Economic trends, political winds and investment fads come and go. But companies that grow cash-generating assets build wealth year in, year out," says utility sector specialist Roger Conrad.

The editor of Utility Forecaster adds, "One such stock is MDU Resources (MDU), which I have selected as my 'growth spotlight' stock.

"Including reinvested dividends, MDU Resources has multiplied investors' money 10-fold since my original recommendation in September 1990.

Continue reading MDU Resources (MDU): Building Wealth

MDU Resources (MDU): Building Wealth originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 28 Oct 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Last March, we featured some counterintuitive advice to buy REITs; that basket of stocks has since doubled in value," notes income specialist Roger Conrad.

The contributing editor to Personal Finance explains, "And while our favorite REITs may not be as cheap as they were 18 months ago, they do offer generous payouts that won't be affected if the Bush tax cuts sunset.

"Not only did our favorite REITs pass the toughest stress test in decades, but they also operate in attractive localities and are flush with cash thanks to recovering equity values and attractive borrowing rates.

Continue reading The Right REITs: A Conservative Trio

The Right REITs: A Conservative Trio originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 12 Oct 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"There's a lot more consolidation ahead for the utility sector. Indeed, deal-making is picking up again," says utility sector specialist Roger Conrad.

The editor of Utility Forecaster explains, "CH Energy Group (CHG), Consolidated Communications (CNSL) and MarkWest Energy Partners LP (MWE) are three stocks that each meet my prime directive for takeover plays: Never buy anything you wouldn't want to own if no deal occurs.

Continue reading Triple Play: Takeover Targets in Utilities?

Triple Play: Takeover Targets in Utilities? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 27 Sep 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Investing in Canadian Tar Sands

Investing in Canadian Tar Sands originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 16 Jul 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Utility Expert Calls on AT&T

Utility Expert Calls on AT&T originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 31 Mar 2010 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"It's time for income investors to come back to what's historically been a mainstay of diversified portfolios: big pharmaceutical companies. We're adding one of the sector's most durable members to the Income Portfolio, Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY)," says Roger Conrad.

In Personal Finance newsletter, he explains, "The stock has been a lackluster performer since the 1990s, when it was last a Portfolio recommendation. The company's underlying business, however, has become ever-more valuable.

Continue reading Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY): Time to Buy Pharma

Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY): Time to Buy Pharma originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 25 Feb 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of a special report, Top Picks for 2010, the 27th annual survey in which TheStockAdvisors.com asks the nation's leading advisors for their single favorite stock for the new year. See all 80 stocks listed here.

Vita Nelson is well-known as a leading expert on dividend reinvestment plans. With the caveat that she always recommends portfolio diversification, the editor of The MoneyPaper looks to utility stock FPL (FPL) as a top selection for 2010.

Nelson explains, "We make a point of recommending that people don't pin their hopes on just one stock (which might underachieve in the short run).

Continue reading Top Picks for 2010: FPL Group (FPL)

Top Picks for 2010: FPL Group (FPL) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is part of a special report, Top Picks for 2010, the 27th annual survey in which TheStockAdvisors.com asks the nation's leading advisors for their single favorite stock for the new year. See all 80 stocks listed here.

Roger Conrad, editor of The Canadian Edge, is a leading specialist in the niche investment area of high-income Canada-based trusts; for his top pick for 2010, he turns to ChemTrade Logistics (CGIFF), which trades both on the Toronto exchange and in the U.S. over-the-counter market.

Conrad explains, "ChemTrade Logistics is a major producer of specialty chemicals, particularly sulphuric acid. It's also a Canadian income trust yielding over 12% with most of its operations overseas. That adds up to a unique triple play for investors in 2010.

Continue reading Top Picks for 2010: ChemTrade Logistics (CGIFF)

Top Picks for 2010: ChemTrade Logistics (CGIFF) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 01 Jan 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"By 2017, wireless service providers could generate more than $100 billion from services such as text messaging, GPS and movie, and music downloads " says Roger Conrad.

In Personal Finance, he adds, "Even this forecast could prove extremely conservative thanks to an explosion in sales of smartphones." How to play this trend? Here, he looks at Research in Motion (NASDAQ: RIMM).

"Smartphones account for only 11% of the world's mobile handsets; penetration remains under 20% in the U.S. This leaves plenty of room for further growth.

Continue reading Research in Motion (RIMM) still has room for growth

Research in Motion (RIMM) still has room for growth originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"No US utility owns more of them than Exelon Corp. (NYSE: EXC), with 17 reactors," explains Roger Conrad, who chose the stock as his latest "growth spotlight" in The Utility Forecaster.

"Carbon free and, above all, paid for, existing nuclear plants are among the most prized assets in the power business.

"Some 80% of company earnings come from its unregulated generation fleet, 90% of which is nuclear. And it's by far the best-positioned US utility to ramp up nuclear output.

Continue reading Excelon (EXC): Power play in nuclear

Excelon (EXC): Power play in nuclear originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Investors have given up on the water industry -- the sector has fallen 60% -- but the best firms have hardly missed a beat," says utility sector specialist Roger Conrad.

In Personal Finance, the advisor reviews the outlook for the sector and two of his favorite stocks -- American Water Works (NYSE: AWK) and Aqua America (NYSE: WTR).

"The EPA stimates the US will have to spend $335 billion over the next decade to keep the taps turned on, given aging infrastructure and supply degradation.

Continue reading Utility expert taps into water stocks

Utility expert taps into water stocks originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"The road back from near bankruptcy in 2002 for CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS) has been a rocky one," says Roger Conrad. Here's an update from his specialty service, The Utility Forecaster.

"From Three Mile Island to the Enron meltdown, utilities have always recovered from disaster by cutting debt and operating risk and repairing regulatory relations.

"Last fall, the shares of CMS Energy -- our latest featured growth stock -- plunged from high teens to single digits on recession worries in embattled Michigan. Ironically, however, CMS' underlying business is healthier than at any time since the late 1990s.

Continue reading CMS: Utility comes back from bankruptcy

CMS: Utility comes back from bankruptcy originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Zero greenhouse gas emissions, 90% average availability as a power source, minimal land requirements and competitive costs: those are just a few of the advantages of geothermal power," explains Roger Conrad.

In his leading-edge New World advisory, he looks at one favorite play on the sector: Ormat Technologies (NYSE: ORA), which operates a dozen geothermal plants worldwide.

"Geothermal's chief disadvantage is geographical limitations to large-scale applications. Geothermal plants are mainly economic in areas of subsurface or volcanic activity.

Continue reading Ormat (ORA): Investing in geothermal power

Ormat (ORA): Investing in geothermal power originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"For those in search of a pure play in the water infrastructure sector, my favorite bet is Insituform (NSDQ: INSU)," says Roger Conrad in his newly-launched advisory service, The New World.

Conrad explains, "Its most innovative product is its fast-growing 'trenchless' repair service to aging and cracked pipes." Here's his review.

"Rather than dig up and replace actual pipes, the process involves injecting a compound into the pipe itself which acts to seal any breaches. The result is a lower cost and far less intrusive repair.

"Insituform has languished in recent years, as overly aggressive expansion by prior management ran up against a brick wall of stagnant to falling system investment by municipalities.

Continue reading Insituform (INSU): Investing in sewer & pipe repair

Insituform (INSU): Investing in sewer & pipe repair originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 11 Feb 2009 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Well managed, dominant firms use downturns to become more powerful -- and that's definitely what Telefonica (NYSE: TEF) is up to," says Roger Conrad in The Utility Forecaster.

"Incorporated in 1924 as a unit of US-based ITT, the Spain-based company now serves 47 million customers in its home country, 150 million in 14 Latin American nations and 45 million elsewhere in Europe.

"Thus far in the recession, diversity and dominance of fast-growing markets has kept Telefonica growing. Overall global customer rolls increased by 15.2% through the third quarter 2008.

Continue reading Hola: Call on Telefonica (TEF)

Hola: Call on Telefonica (TEF) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 05 Feb 2009 13:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.