When the stock market drops or gets choppy, there is a flight to conservative high income investments. Recently, I wrote an article about monthly dividend stocks, although many of them might be considered risky. Electric utilities, in spite of the fact that a few have run into rough patches, are considered by many investors to be safer than other stocks. Although consumers may cut back on buying new clothing or consumer products or go out to eat less during a recession, most people will continue to pay their electric utility bill.

Here are some of the highest-yielding electric utility stocks.

One of the highest-yielding utilities is Great Plains Energy (GXP), a Kansas City, Mo.-based utility that yields 6.5%. Their electrical generation comes from coal, nuclear, natural gas, oil and wind power. They serve western Missouri and eastern Kansas. The stock has a P/E of 14 and a PEG of 2.7.

Another high-yielding utility is Progress Energy (PGN), which yields slightly less than 6%. This Raleigh, N.C., utility serves North Carolina, South Carolina and parts of Florida. Abut 30% of their electrical generation comes from coal and 35% from oil. The stock has a P/E of 21 and a PEG of 2.28.

Pinnacle West Capital (PNW), the southwestern utility, has a yield of 5.9%. This Phoenix-based company generates its electricity from coal, natural gas, oil, nuclear and solar power. The stock has a P/E of 12 and a PEG of 3.75.

Empire District Electric (EDE) is based in Joplin, Mo., and yields 5.9%. They serve Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. About 43% of their electrical generation comes from coal and 26% from oil. The stock has a P/E of 20 and a PEG of 2.57.

Consolidated Edison (ED) yields 5.7% and serves parts of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The stock has a P/E of 12 and a PEG of 3.94.

You can download an Excel spreadsheet of all the electric utilities and their dividends, a file you can sort, edit and add to, at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.


By Stockerblog.com

Author does not own any of the above.