Natural Gas Supplies Up, Natural Gas Prices Up, Gas Stocks with High Yields

According to the the U.S. Energy Information Administration, natural gas supplies increased by 49 billion cubic feet for the week ended April 18. In addition, natural gas prices increased by 1.5 cents to $4.745 per million BTUs.

So what's going on with natural gas utilities? Atmos Energy Corp (ATO), which distributes natural gas to Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Colorado, Kansas, and Kentucky, is one on the stocks on the WallStreetNewsNetwork.com list of natural gas stocks. The stock trades at 18 times trailing earnings, and 16.5 times forward earnings. The stock pays a decent yield of 3.1%. Dividends have increased every year for at least the last ten years. Earnings increased 8.1% for the latest quarter on a 21.4% revenue increase. The company reports earnings on May 7.

Northwest Natural Gas (NWN) pays a generous yield of 4.2%. The company serves over 680,000 customers in Washington and Oregon. Current P/E is 20, with a forward P/E of 18.  For the latest reported quarter, earnings were up 3.1%, with revenues rising 13.6%. The company's next earnings announcement is May 2.

For a free list of natural gas stocks, almost all of which have yields in excess of 2%, go to WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.

Disclosure: Author didn't own any of the above at the time the article was written.

By Stockerblog.com

4 Top Yielding Gas Utility Stocks

Income investors looking for income may have a portfolio that is filled with electric utility stocks, since that is the first type of stock that most investors think of when they hear "high income stock." However, investors may want to consider the natural gas utilities for additional diversification.

According to the free list of gas utility stocks at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com, there are two dozen natural gas utilities, with over ten having yields of 4% or more.

As an example, WGL Holdings (WGL) pays investors a yield of 4%. Dividends, which are paid quarterly, were increased by 5% earlier this year. The company distributes natural gas to customers in Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia. The stock trades at 15.6 times trailing earnings and 15.9 times forward earnings. 

Atmos Energy Corp (ATO) is a Dallas, Texas based company that has a trailing price to earnings ratio of 15.8 and a forward P/E ratio of 15.5. It pays a decent yield of 3.4%.

N J Resources (NJR) is a Wall, New Jersey based distributor of natural gas. The P/E is 14.4 and the forward P/E is 15.4. The stock has a yield of 3.9%.

Amerigas Partners (APU) isn't actually a natural gas distributor, it's a distributor of propane gas, and propane accessories. The company is structured as a limited partnership, so caution is in order if you are considering putting this in a retirement plan. The current P/E is 23.1, with a forward P/E of 15.6. It pays a very generous yield of 7.8%.

If you are looking for additional income diversification, you may want to check out the gas utility stocks list at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com. The list includes the PE, the forward PE, the PEG ratio, and the yield.

Disclosure: Author didn't own any of the above at the time the article was written.

By Stockerblog.com

Dividend Raisers

With the way the market has been acting you would think that companies in general are doing terrible. Yet look at all the recent dividend increases. The following stocks have boosted their dividends in the last couple weeks.

Associated Banc-Corp (ASBC)

Xerox (XRX)

Teck Resources Limited (TCK)

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (TMO)

Aaron’s (AAN)

Atmos Energy (ATO)

Leggett & Platt (LEG)

Kimco Realty (KIM)

Boston Properties (BXP)

Cogent Communications (CCOI)

DeVry (DV)

Emerson Electric (EMR)

DeVry (DV)

If you like stock lists like this, check out the free lists of various industries of stocks, including chocolate stocks, coffee stocks, beer stocks, ex-dividend stocks, and many more, go to WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.

Disclosure: Author didn't own any of the above at the time the article was written.

By Stockerblog.com

Natural Gas Fueling Stations Popping Up Around the Country: Check Out Gas Stocks

It had to happen sooner or later. Natural gas is considered a much cleaner fuel than petroleum. Now a company called NCI is building natural gas fueling stations in Lee County, Florida for the general public and businesses. The fist will be a service station near Southwest Florida International Airport. Earlier this year, the city of North Little Rock built its first condensed natural gas fueling station, which is open to the public. Consumers, businesses, and governments are gradually making the shift, which should increase demand for natural gas.

There are many publicly traded companies involved in the distribution of natural gas, to both homes and businesses, and over 15 over them have yields in excess of 3%. For example, Atmos Energy Corporation (ATO) is involved in the distribution, transmission, and storage of natural gas. This Dallas, Texas based company, which was founded in 1906, trades at 13 times forward earnings and pays out a very favorable yield of 4.2%. Dividends on an annual basis increased from 1.37 to 1.38 per share. Earnings for the latest quarter were up an incredible 27.6% on a 1.4% revenue increase.

Another high yielder is Spectra Energy (SE) transports and stores natural gas for customers in various regions of the northeastern and southeastern United States, plus the Maritime Provinces and the Western Provinces in Canada. The company, based in Houston, trades at 16 times forward earnings and boasts a yield of 3.8%. Latest quarterly earnings were up an amazing 28.9% on a 10.2% rise in sales.

Other natural gas companies worth taking a closer look at include Northwest Natural Gas (NWN) at a 3.8% yield, WGL Holdings Inc (WGL) paying 3.7%, and Sempra Energy (SRE) at 3.6%. You can access a free list of over 25 natural gas companies, along with their financial data, at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.

Disclosure: Author didn't own any of the above at the time the article was written.

By Stockerblog.com

10,000 Natural Gas Filling Stations in 5 Years: High Yield Gas Stocks

According to Aubrey McClendon, the CEO of Chesapeake Energy Corp., the United States could have tens of thousands of natural gas filling stations for cars and trucks within a few years. Many investors prefer natural gas over oil, as it is a greener fuel generating a lower carbon footprint. Plus, it also has a long history as a fuel.

The yields on natural gas stocks are fairly decent. Based on the recently updated list at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com, over 20 gas utilities have yields ranging from 2% to over 7%. One example is Energy Transfer Partners L.P. (ETP), which is a publicly traded limited partnership that processes, transports, and sells natural gas. The stock trades at 17.4 times forward earnings and pays a generous yield of 8.2%. The company has been paying quarterly since 1997.

Dallas Texas based Atmos Energy Corp. (ATO) trades at 13.7 times forward earnings and yields 4.1%. The company has been paying dividends since 1989.

Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (CPK) is a provider of natural gas distribution services in Delaware, Maryland, and Florida. The stock has a forward price to earnings ratio of 13.3 and pays a yield of 3.5%.

For a free list of high yield natural gas utility stocks, which can be downloaded, sorted, and added to, go to WallStreetNewsNetwork.com. The list has over twenty different stocks with yields above 2%.

Disclosure: Author did not own any of the above at the time the article was written.

By Stockerblog.com

Carl Icahn Pumps Gas

On Monday, it was announced that billionaire trader and investor Carl Icahn increased his stake in Chesapeake Energy (CHK) from from 16.6 million shares to 38.6 million shares, an increase of over 132%. This announcement set off a buying frenzy, causing the stock to jump almost 9% during the day. Of course, Chesapeake trades at 9.8 times forward earnings and is one of the natural gas utilities that pays a yield, giving its investors a payout of 1.3%.

According to WallStreetNewsNetwork.com, there are over 25 natural gas stock paying yields as high as 7%. For example, Atmos Energy Corporation (ATO) is a Dallas, Texas based distributor of natural gas that yields 4.3%. As a matter of fact, the company just increased its payout from $0.335 per quarter to $0.34, and has increased its dividend every year since 1989. The stock has a forward price to earnings ratio of 13 and recently reported a 20.9% increase in revenues.

TransCanada Corp. (TRP) is a Calgary, Alberta based natural gas distributor which has a dividend payout of 4.2%. It is also involved in electrical generation. The stock trades at 16 times forward earnings, with earnings rising for the latest quarter 13.3% on a 3.9% rise in revenues.

Northwest Natural Gas Company (NWN), which distributes gas in Washington, Oregon, and California, yields 3.7%. The stock has a forward PE of 16.7. However, revenues were down 18.6% for the latest quarter.

To see the entire list of natural gas stocks that pay dividends, which can be downloaded, sorted, and updated, go to WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.

Disclosure: Author didn't own any of the above at the time the article was written.

By Stockerblog.com

Top Yielding Gas Utility Stocks

Now that many investors believe that the price of natural gas has bottomed out, they are paying closer attention to the natural gas drillers and the gas utilities. WallStreetNewsNetwork.com has discovered a dozen of these gas utilities that are paying over 4%, and most have forward PE ratios under 12. Here are a few examples:

Transcanada Corp (TRP) with a forward PE of 10.67, and a yield of 6.3%.

Atmos Energy Corp (ATO) with a forward PE of 9.55, and a yield of 6.0%.

Nicor Inc (GAS) with a forward PE of 9.87, and a yield of 5.9%.

To access an Excel database list of 19 gas utilities, including two that pay more than 7%, that can be downloaded, sorted, and changed, go to wsnn.com.

By Stockerblog.com