The 123 Year Old Natural Gas Company that Pays a 3.9% Yield

There is a natural gas utility company that is the eighth oldest listed stock on the New York Stock Exchange, and celebrated its 120 year anniversary on December 7, 2009. In addition, it was one of the original stocks in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, back in 1896. How's that for a track record.

And the name of the stock is Laclede Group Inc. (LG), formerly known as Laclede Gas Company. This is a natural gas utility that yields 3.9%, trades at 15.9 times trailing earnings, and has a forward price to earnings ratio of 15.8. The company pays out $37.37 million in dividends, very well covered by the company's operating cash flow of $94 million. The company has increased its dividend every year since 2003. Net economic earnings for the latest quarter were $0.40 per share compared to $0.65 per share last year. Excluding prior year earnings of $0.27 per share from the propane sale, net economic earnings grew by 5% from the prior year.

Other natural gas and propane gas utilities with high yields are available. WallStreetNewsNetwork.com has turned up over 20 gas utilities with yields ranging from 2% to in excess of 10%, such as Nicor (GAS) yielding 4.5%, Spectra Energy (SE) yielding 3.8%, and Chesapeake Utilities (CPK) yielding 3.1%.

You might also consider investing in electric utilities, which also pay fairly high yields, many in excess of 5%.

To see a list of 20 gas utilities, you can get a free downloadable Excel database of natural gas and propane stocks at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.

Disclosure: Author did not 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

High Yield Electric Utilities: Check Out the Dividend Increasers

If dividend increases are indicative of a strong industry, then electric utilities are in great shape. Portland General Electric Company (POR) recently announced a 2 percent increase in its quarterly common stock dividend to 26.5 cents per share, up from 26.0 cents per share for the previous quarter. DTE Energy (DTE) also declared a 5% increase in its dividend payout. In addition, Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (CPK) raised its quarterly cash dividend by 4.6%.

Summer is approaching, which means more electricity to run air conditioners, and more electricity may be consumed. What electric stocks should you plug into? WallStreetNewsNetwork.com just updated its list of electricity stocks and there are more than 30 with yields above 3%. In addition, these companies can provide relative safety, security, and stability compared to stocks in many other sectors. In the past, utilities have paid favorable dividends for many years with low volatility.

Duke Energy Corporation (DUK) distributes electricity in North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky. The stock pays a yield of 5.3%, has a trailing price to earnings ratio of 17.8, and a forward PE of 13.4.

Westar Energy, Inc. (WR) also pays a decent yield, with a payout of 4.8%. It has a trailing PE of 15, and forward PE of 13.5. The company serves the state of Kansas.

Integrys Energy Group, Inc. (TEG), based in Chicago, Illinois, trades at 13.8 times earnings, 14.4 times forward earnings, paying 5.2%.

For more top yielding utilities, you can access a free downloadable Excel database of high yield electric utility stocks including one which yields more than 6%, which you can update, change, and sort, at WSNN.com.

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

By Stockerblog.com

Stocks Going Ex Dividend the Third Week of December

Here is our latest update on the stock trading technique called 'Buying Dividends'. This is the process of buying stocks before the ex dividend date and selling the stock shortly after the ex date at about the same price, yet still being entitled to the dividend. This technique generally works only in bull markets. In flat or choppy markets, you have to be extremely careful.

In order to be entitled to the dividend, you have to buy the stock before the ex-dividend date, and you can't sell the stock until after the ex date. The actual dividend may not be paid for another few weeks. WallStreetNewsNetwork.com has compiled a downloadable and sortable Excel list of the stocks going ex dividend during the next week or two. The list contains many dividend paying companies, all with market caps over $500 million, and yields over 2%. Here are a few examples showing the stock symbol, the ex-dividend date and the yield.

Ares Capital Corporation (ARCC) market cap: $3.2B ex div date: 12/13/2010 yield: 8.6%

BancorpSouth, Inc. (BXS) market cap: $1.1B ex div date: 12/13/2010 yield: 6.8%

Corus Entertainment Inc. (CJREF) market cap: $1.7B ex div date: 12/13/2010 yield: 3.6%

Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (CPK) market cap: $361.1M ex div date: 12/13/2010 yield: 3.5%

Cellcom Israel Ltd. (CEL) market cap: $3.4B ex div date: 12/13/2010 yield: 10.5%

Navios Maritime Holdings Inc. (NM) market cap: $559.6M ex div date: 12/14/2010 yield: 4.3%

OneBeacon Insurance Group, Ltd. (OB) market cap: $1.4B ex div date: 12/15/2010 yield: 5.7%

Solar Capital Ltd. (SLRC) market cap: $778.5M ex div date: 12/15/2010 yield: 10.2%

The additional ex-dividend stocks can be found at wsnn.com. (If you have been to the website before, and the latest link doesn't show up, you may have to empty your cache.) If you like dividend stocks, you should check out the high yield utility stocks and the Monthly Dividend Stocks at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com or WSNN.com.

Dividend definitions:

Declaration date: the day that the company declares that there is going to be an upcoming dividend.

Ex-dividend date: the day on which if you buy the stock, you would not be entitled to that particular dividend; or the first day on which a shareholder can sell the shares and still be entitled to the dividend.

Record date: the day when you must be on the company's books as a shareholder to receive the dividend. The ex-dividend date is normally set for stocks two business days before the record date.

Payment date: the day on which the dividend payment is actually made, which can be as long at two months after the ex date.

Don't forget to reconfirm the ex-dividend date with the company before implementing this technique.

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

By Stockerblog.com

Spotlight on a 4.6% Gas Utility Generating Revenues for Over 150 Years

This stock has been around for a long, long time. This is a stock that is the eighth oldest listed stock on the New York Stock Exchange, has traded on the exchange for 121 years, was one of the original stocks in the Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1896, has increased its dividend for the last seven years, and was founded in 1857, more than a century and a half ago. On top of that, the company just boosted its quarterly dividend by 2.5% to 40.5 cents per share, providing a very favorable yield of 4.6%.

The stock, Laclede Group Inc. (LG), which was formerly known as Laclede Gas Company, is a natural gas utility that provides natural gas service to about 630,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers in Missouri. It trades at 13.5 times forward earnings and has an operating cash flow of about three times its total dividend payout. The company has increased its dividend every year since 2003.

Laclede recently reported net income for its fiscal year ended September 30, 2010 at $2.43 diluted earnings per share, the third-highest in the company's history. For the fourth fiscal quarter of 2010, the company narrowed its loss, reporting a loss of $0.07 per share, versus a loss of $0.22 per share for the same quarter last year. Quarterly earnings rose 12.7% year over year.

There are many other high yield natural gas and propane gas utilities. WallStreetNewsNetwork.com has just updated its Excel list of 25 gas utilities with yields ranging up to to 7.5%, such as Nicor (GAS) yielding 4.2%, Spectra Energy (SE) yielding 4.2%, and Chesapeake Utilities (CPK) yielding 3.5%.

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

By Stockerblog.com

Recovery from the Natural Gas Explosion

A couple weeks ago, a horrific natural gas explosion took place in San Bruno, California, just south of San Francisco near the San Francisco International Airport. There were several deaths and an enormous amount of property losses and destroyed homes. The area is served by PG & E Corp. (PCG). Senator Dianne Feinstein and Senator Barbara Boxer have sponsored a bill to create strict new pipeline safety standards and increase the number of federal inspectors.

Although a tragedy, major natural gas explosions like this are not very common. Natural gas has a few benefits over oil, especially in the green area, as natural gas generates a lower carbon footprint. It also has a long history as a fuel; as a matter of fact, one of the original Dow Jones Industrial Average stocks from the 1800's is a natural gas distributor that is still trading today, Laclede Group Inc. (LG).

The natural gas utility companies pay fairly high yields. For example, Energy Transfer Partners L.P. (ETP) is a publicly traded limited partnership that processes, transports, and sells natural gas. The stock does have a fairly high price to earnings ratio of 37, but pays a generous yield of 7.4%. The company has been paying quarterly since 1997.

Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (CPK) is a provider of natural gas distribution services in Delaware, Maryland, and Florida, has a PE ratio of 13 and pays a yield of 3.8%.

WallStreetNewsNetwork.com has just released its updated list of high yield natural gas utility stocks, which can be accessed for free. There are twenty different stocks with yields above 3%.

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

By Stockerblog.com

Stocks Going Ex Dividend the Third Week of September

Here is our latest update on the stock trading technique called 'Buying Dividends'. This is the process of buying stocks before the ex dividend date and selling the stock shortly after the ex date at about the same price, yet still being entitled to the dividend. This technique generally works only in bull markets. In flat or choppy markets, your have to be extremely careful.

In order to be entitled to the dividend, you have to buy the stock before the ex-dividend date, and you can't sell the stock until after the ex date. The actual dividend may not be paid for another few weeks. WallStreetNewsNetwork.com has compiled a downloadable and sortable Excel list of the stocks going ex dividend during the next week or two. The list contains many dividend paying companies, all with market caps over $500 million, and yields over 3%. Here are a few examples showing the stock symbol, the ex-dividend date and the yield.

Corus Entertainment Inc. (CJREF) market cap: $1.5B ex div date: 9/13/10 yield: 3.1%

Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (CPK) market cap: $319.6M ex div date: 9/13/10 yield: 3.9%

Community Trust Bancorp, Inc. (CTBI) market cap: $383.4M ex div date: 9/13/10 yield: 4.9%

Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (DLR) market cap: $5.0B ex div date: 9/13/10 yield: 3.7%

GATX Corporation (GMT) market cap: $1.2B ex div date: 9/13/10 yield: 4.3%

The additional ex-dividend stocks can be found at wsnn.com. (If you have been to the website before, and the latest link doesn't show up, you may have to empty your cache.) If you like dividend stocks, you should check out the high yield utility stocks and the Monthly Dividend Stocks at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com or WSNN.com.

Dividend definitions:

Declaration date: the day that the company declares that there is going to be an upcoming dividend.

Ex-dividend date: the day on which if you buy the stock, you would not be entitled to that particular dividend; or the first day on which a shareholder can sell the shares and still be entitled to the dividend.

Record date: the day when you must be on the company's books as a shareholder to receive the dividend. The ex-dividend date is normally set for stocks two business days before the record date.

Payment date: the day on which the dividend payment is actually made, which can be as long at two months after the ex date.

Don't forget to reconfirm the ex-dividend date with the company before implementing this technique.

Author does not own any of the above.

By Stockerblog.com

What Original Dow Stock from 1896 Currently Pays a 4.8% Yield

Talk about a stock that stands the test of time. If you want a stock that is the eighth oldest listed stock on the New York Stock Exchange, celebrated its 120 year anniversary last year, one of the original stocks in the Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1896, has increased its dividend for the last six years, and currently yields 4.8%, then you will now know what this gem is.

The stock, Laclede Group Inc. (LG), which was formerly known as Laclede Gas Company, is a natural gas utility that is the longest lived of the Dow. It trades at 12.9 times earnings and has an operating cash flow of about seven times its total dividend payout. The company has increased its dividend every year since 2003.

Of course, there are plenty of other natural gas and propane gas utilities. WallStreetNewsNetwork.com has turned up 25 gas utilities with yields ranging from 2% to above 8%, such as Nicor (GAS) yielding 4.4%, Spectra Energy (SE) yielding 4.8%, and Chesapeake Utilities (CPK) yielding 3.9%.

To see a list of 25 gas utilities, you can get a free list of natural gas and propane stocks, that can be downloaded, sorted, and changed, check out the lists at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.

Author does not own any of the above.

By Stockerblog.com

Top Stocks of Delaware

The state of Delaware was the first state of the Union to ratify the Constitution on December 7, 1787. Today the state is home to some of the largest companies around the world. Delaware’s business-friendly laws and incentives make it the nation’s number one choice for incorporating a company.

1. About one million corporations are headquartered in Delaware.
2. Delaware’s number one export is the chemistry sector, which employs more than 16,000 people.
3. The Health Science industry contributes more than 45,000 jobs and accounted for more than $3 billion to the Delaware’s economy.
4. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce ranked Delaware as the best legal environment for business in 2008 (for the seventh year in a row).
5. The financial services industry in Delaware provides 40,000 jobs.
6. Delaware does not have a sales tax.
7. The Biotechnology & Life Sciences sector is Delaware’s fastest growing industry.
8. An estimated 7.8 million tourists visit the state each year.
9. Delaware is the state with fewer counties in the United States, only three.
10. Delaware’s top commodities are broilers, corn and soybeans.

The following companies are headquartered in Delaware:

El DuPont de Nemours & Co. (DD) is a science and technology company. Its products include benzene, insect control products, products used in the alternative energy industry, and chemicals among other products. The stock has a market cap of $35.5 billion, it has a PE of 17, a PEG of 2, and it pays a yield of 4.1%.

Incyte Corp. (INCY) is a biotechnology company. It researches and develops oncologic and hematologic drugs. The company has a market cap of $1.8 billion.

Delphi Financial Group, Inc. (DFG) provides disability insurance and excess workers compensation insurance to small and mid-size businesses, group dental and limited health insurance, and group life insurance. The company operates in the United States and Canada. The stock has a market cap of $1.3 billion, a PE of 8, a PEG of 0.87, and it pays a yield of 1.5%.

Wilmington Trust Corporation (WL) is a financial company that offers administrative services, asset management, and broker dealer services in the U.S. and abroad. The stock has a market cap of 1.3 billion, a PE of 67, a PEG of 11.2, and it pays a yield of 0.2%.

WSFS Financial Corp. (WSFS) is the holding company for Wilmington Savings Fund Society, a financial company that provides savings accounts, certificates of deposit, mortgages, as well as commercial loans. The stock has a market cap of $291 million, a PE of 40, a PEG of 8 and pays a yield of 1.1%.

Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (CPK) delivers and sells natural gas to customers in the states of Florida, Delaware and Maryland to residential customers, businesses and other utilities companies. The stock has a market cap of $284 million, a PE of 13, a PEG of 2.24, and it pays a yield of 4.2%.

The Bancorp Inc. (TBBK) is the holding company of Bancorp Bank (a financial institution that provides banking services to small and midsize businesses in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. The stock has a market cap of $239 million, a PE of 32.6, and a PEG of 2.71.

Artesian Resources Corp. (ARTNA) is a water utility company operating in Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania. The company sells water to residential, commercial and governmental customers. The stock has a market cap of $120 million, a PE of 17, a PEG of 2.82, and it pays a yield of 4.2%.

Acorn Energy Inc. (ACFN) is a technology company that provides consulting services to companies operating coal power plants using the SCR system; it also provides management and cleaning services to coal-fired power plants. The stock has a market cap of $88 million. This is a small cap stock and should be considered speculative.

Dover Downs Gaming & Entertainment Inc. (DDE) operates a casino in the United States. The stock has a market cap of $61 million, a PE of 12, and it pays a yield of 3%. This is a small cap stock and should be considered speculative.

For stocks from other states, check out Nevada stocks, Alaska stocks, and Kansas stocks.

Author does not own any of the above.

By Stockerblog.com

What Natural Gas Company is 120 Years Old and Pays 4.8%?

There is a natural gas utility company that is the eighth oldest listed stock on the New York Stock Exchange, and celebrated its 120 year anniversary on December 7, 2009. In addition, it was one of the original stocks in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, back in 1896. How's that for a track record.

And the name of the stock is Laclede Group Inc. (LG), formerly known as Laclede Gas Company. This is a natural gas utility that yields 4.8%, and has a forward price to earnings ratio of 12.8. The company pays out $35.17 million in dividends, extremely well covered by the company's operating cash flow of $245.95 million. The company has increased its dividend every year since 2003.

Of course, there are plenty of other natural gas and propane gas utilities. WallStreetNewsNetwork.com has turned up 25 gas utilities with yields ranging from 2% to as high as 8.8%, such as Nicor (GAS) yielding 4.6%, Spectra Energy (SE) yielding 4.6%, and Chesapeake Utilities (CPK) yielding 4.2%.

You might also consider investing in electric utilities, which also pay fairly high yields, many in excess of 5%.

To see a list of 25 gas utilities, you can get a free downloadable Excel database of natural gas and propane stocks at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.

Author does not own any of the above.

By Stockerblog.com