Election-year regulatory uncertainty adds an unwelcome element when it comes to valuing utilities. Read More

Bondholders, yes. Investors who own dividend-paying stocks, not so much. Read More

Of one thing we can be as certain as certain can be these days: The Exelon Corp-Constellation Energy Group merger won't be undone. And a low bar of expectations should be easy for the new Exelon to surmount. Read More

Rural communications companies pay big dividends now because of hefty free cash flow. Growing revenue, however, is essential to sustaining these payouts over the long haul. The chief headwind is the long-term decline in traditional phone service sales, accelerated by the phase out of federal subsidies.  Consolidated Communications (NSDQ: CNSL),… Read More

What’s ailing communications stocks? For one thing, there’s erratic regulation. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has abandoned LightSquared, a company it basically created by favoring it in the 2010 spectrum auction. The decision to bail, however, was due to intense to pressure from other government agencies that charged the… Read More

After a great week of conversation with UF readers aboard the ms Westerdam it's time to share some of what's on investors minds as the first quarter of 2012 winds down. Read More

Rural telecom Consolidated Communications (NSDQ: CNSL) has found a sweet spot where network investment, comfortable dividend coverage and debt reduction are all possible. Read More

Whether its cross-border pipeline gets built or not TransCanada Corp (TSX: TRP, NYSE: TRP) is poised to build wealth for investors with fee-generating assets for years to come. Read More

Seasonal weakness hasn’t hit the UF Portfolio. Recent history suggests, however, opportunities to establish positions in high-quality but also currently high-priced stocks will arise. Read More