Topic: How To Invest

Pat: What do you think about Consolidated Edison?

Article Excerpt

Consolidated Edison, $54.23, symbol ED on New York (Shares outstanding: 292.9 million; Market cap: $15.9 billion; www.coned.com) is a holding company for Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. The firm sells electricity, gas and steam in most of New York City and Westchester County. It also owns Orange and Rockland Utilities, which operates in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Consolidated Edison has 3.6 million electric and 1.2 million gas customers. Consolidated Edison recently reached an agreement with regulators that will let it raise its rates so it can spend $649 million to make its system more storm-resistant. This became a concern after Hurricane Sandy caused extensive damage in the fall of 2012. The company raised its annual dividend rate by 2.4% in January 2014, to $2.52 a share from $2.46. The stock now yields 4.6%. It trades at 14.7 times this year’s forecast earnings of $3.70 a share. Consolidated Edison is okay to hold. hold. …