These four utilities still top bonds

Article Excerpt

Although it looks like interest rates will start moving up again in 2022, we continue to prefer high-quality utility stocks over holding bonds. The four utility stocks below are top alternatives to bonds given their long track records of increasing their dividends even as rising interest rates hurt the value of bonds. We also expect their upcoming projects to spur their stock prices. FORTIS INC. $58 is your #1 Income Buy for 2021. The company (Toronto symbol FTS; Conservative & Income Portfolios, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 471.2 million; Market cap: $27.3 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 3.0; Dividend yield 3.5%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.fortisinc.com) is the main supplier of electrical power in Newfoundland and PEI. It also owns electrical utilities across Canada, the U.S. and the Caribbean. In addition, the company distributes natural gas in British Columbia, Arizona and New York State. Fortis has raised its dividend annually for the past 47 years. That includes a 5.8% increase with December 2020 quarterly payment. Investors…