These green-energy stocks have high yields

Article Excerpt

BROOKFIELD RENEWABLE PARTNERS L.P. $44 (Toronto symbol BEP.UN; High-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Utilities sector; Units outstanding: 296.7 million; Market cap: $13.1 billion; Dividend yield: 5.3%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.brookfieldrenewable. com) has interests in 218 hydroelectric generating stations, 36 wind farms, five natural gas-fired power plants and four biomass facilities. In all, it has over 10,636 megawatts of generating capacity. Currently, 88% of Brookfield’s power generation comes from hydro, 11% from wind, and the remaining 1% is biomass and natural gas. Roughly 65% of the power generation occurs in North America, with another 15% in Brazil, 15% in Columbia and 5% in Europe. The company last raised its quarterly distribution by 5.1%, with the March 2017 payment. The new annual rate of $1.87 a unit yields a high 5.3% (all amounts except unit price and market cap in U.S. dollars). Brookfield aims to increase the rate by between 5% and 9% each year. In March 2017, the company agreed to acquire 51%…