These utilities are better for you than bonds

Article Excerpt

Even as coronavirus fears prompt a shift to bonds, we continue to recommend these two utility stocks instead of those fixed-income government investments. While bonds now yield just 1.4%, the utility stocks below offer you much more appealing yields as well as strong growth prospects. There’s also the likelihood of rising distributions. ENBRIDGE INC. $52 is a buy. The stock (Toronto symbol ENB; Income-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 2.0 billion; Market cap: $104.0 billion; Dividend yield: 6.2%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Highest; www.enbridge.com) gives you exposure to pipelines pumping oil and natural gas from Western Canada to eastern Canada and the U.S. It also distributes gas to 3.7 million consumers in Ontario and Quebec. Starting March 2020, Enbridge increases its quarterly dividend 9.8%, to $0.81 a share from $0.738. The new annual rate of $3.24 yields 6.2%. The company has now raised its annual dividend rate each year for the past 25 years. Investors also continue to benefit as Enbridge simplifies its operations after its…