Gasoline Cracks $5 a Gallon at the Pump in California

Over the weekend, I noticed that the price of gasoline at the pump has really skyrocketed in anticipation of the summer travel season. At one gas station I stopped at along Highway 5 near Bakersfield in California, the price of regular gas was $4.999 per gallon.

Since gas stations won't give you one-tenth of a cent in change, the price is essentially five dollars a gallon. And if you have to get high octane gas, you would have the pleasure of paying $5.20 a gallon.

Of course, this excludes the unusual gas situations in areas such as Catalina Island, which has very few cars to begin with. There you would be paying over seven dollars a gallon.

If you think oil and natural gas is a good area to invest in, you may want to consider the oil and gas Master Limited Partnerships, also known as MLPs. WallStreetNewsNetwork.com has a selection of a dozen oil and gas MLPs, mst of which yield in excess of 8%.

A couple of examples are BreitBurn Energy Partners (BBEP) which has a yield of 9.5% and Mid-Con Energy Partners (MCEP) paying 9.2%. Also, Vanguard Natural Resources (VNR) is structured as an LLC as opposed to a limited partnership. It pays a yield of 8.2%.

Talk to your accountant before putting MLPs in your retirement plan, as their can be adverse tax consequences. But if you own them outside your retirement plan, they can provide you with a very decent income, subject to interest rate risks of course.

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

By Stockerblog.com

Hot Oil MLPs with High Incomes

Investors looking for high incomes often turn to MLPs or Master Limited Partnerships, and generally are companies in energy, primarily oil and gas exploration and production. According to WallStreetNewsNetwork.com, there are over a dozen Oil and Gas Exploration and Production MLPs, with yields ranging from 3.1% to 9.9%.

MLPs are investments that are similar to income royalty trusts, except that they are structured as limited partnerships. MLP's differ from high income stocks in several ways. Since they pass through income without being taxed at the corporate level, they avoid double taxation. In addition, tax deductions can be passed through to the holders of MLPs, providing sheltering of the MLP dividends.

But there are differences when you compare them to income royalty trusts. MLPs shouldn’t be put into a retirement plan because of the UBTI or Unrelated Business Taxable Income problem, which could jeopardize the tax deferred status of retirement plans. The UBTI issue is way beyond the scope of this article so you should certainly talk to your accountant about any and all tax consequences of MLPs. Also, MLPs don't send out 1099 forms, they send out a Schedule K-1 Form, and the income is reported differently on tax returns. This may mean extra hours and aggravation when you or your accountant prepare your taxes.

One example is Mid-Con Energy Partners, LP (MCEP), which pays a yield of 8.8%. The dividend is paid quarterly. This Dallas, Texas based company explores, develops, and produces oil and natural gas on properties in southern Oklahoma, northeastern Oklahoma, and parts of Colorado. The MLP trades at 11.9 times trailing earnings and 10.5 times forward earnings.

Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P. (PSE), based in Irving, Texas, yields 8.2%. The company has a price to earnings ratio of 11.5 and forward PE of 10. Pioneer operates in the Spraberry field in the Permian Basin area of west Texas.

One high yield company that is actually structure as an LLC instead of a MLP is Linn Energy, LLC (LINE), which operates in the Mid-Continent, the Permian Basin, Michigan, California, and the Williston Basin. Linn pays a dividend rate of 6.8%. It has a forward PE of 24.9. It was the first publicly traded independent oil and natural gas limited liability company in January 2006.

In spite of the fact that Linn is an LLC, it is classified as a partnership for tax purposes, so a unitholder is considered a partner and receives a Schedule K-1. In regards to the taxation of the income, the company website says "In general, cash distributions received from LINN Energy are not taxable. You are typically only required to report in your tax return items of income, gain, loss, deduction or tax credit reflected on your Schedule K-1. However, if the cumulative cash distributions received from LINN Energy exceed your tax basis in the Company, you could be taxed on the amount exceeding your tax basis."

For a free list of all of the oil and gas exploration and production master limited partnerships including three that pay more than 9%, go to WallStreetNewsNetwork.com. The list can be downloaded, updated, and sorted.

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

By Stockerblog.com

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

Stocks Going Ex Dividend the Fifth 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, 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 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 market capitalization, the ex-dividend date and the yield.

Nicor Inc. (GAS) market cap: $2.4B ex div date: 9/28/2011 yield: 3.6%

Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW) market cap: $20.3B ex div date: 9/28/2011 yield: 3.5%

Kraft Foods Inc. (KFT) market cap: $59.1B ex div date: 9/28/2011 yield: 3.5%

National Health Investors Inc (NHI) market cap: $1.1B ex div date: 9/28/2011 yield: 6.0%

Thor Industries, Inc. (THO) market cap: $1.1B ex div date: 9/28/2011 yield: 3.2%

TransCanada Corporation (TRP) market cap: $28.4B ex div date: 9/28/2011 yield: 4.2%

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

By Stockerblog.com

The Price of Gasoline in Pictures

Yes, it seems like every day the price of gas at the pump keeps going higher. It is hard to believe that back in January of 2009, the price per gallon of U.S. regular all-formulations retail gasoline was only $1.67 and now it is above $3.80 a gallon. If you have the privilege of living in California, you will pay an average price for regular of $4.21 per gallon and in the City of Los Angeles, the average price is $4.25 per gallon.

Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I thought I would provide you with a couple of graphs showing the increase in the price of gasoline since both 1990 and 2009.

Stocks Going Ex Dividend the Fifth Week of March

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 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 market capitalization, the ex-dividend date and the yield.

Nicor Inc. (GAS) market cap: $2.4B ex div date: 3/29/2011 yield: 3.6%

Kilroy Realty Corporation (KRC) market cap: $2.0B ex div date: 3/29/2011 yield: 3.7%

National Health Investors Inc (NHI) market cap: $1.2B ex div date: 3/29/2011 yield: 5.5%

Nucor Corporation (NUE) market cap: $14.8B ex div date: 3/29/2011 yield: 3.1%

PG&E Corporation (PCG) market cap: $18.0B ex div date: 3/29/2011 yield: 4.0%

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

By Stockerblog.com

Stocks Going Ex Dividend the Fifth 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.

Boardwalk REIT (BOWFF) market cap: $2.0B ex div date: 12/29/2010 yield: 4.3%

Nicor Inc. (GAS) market cap: $2.0B ex div date: 12/29/2010 yield: 4.2%

Molex Incorporated (MOLX) market cap: $3.6B ex div date: 12/29/2010 yield: 3.4%

National Health Investors Inc (NHI) market cap: $1.2B ex div date: 12/29/2010 yield: 5.4%

TransCanada Corporation (TRP) market cap: $24.4B ex div date: 12/29/2010 yield: 4.4%

Kimco Realty Corporation (KIM) market cap: $6.7B ex div date: 12/30/2010 yield: 4.4%

Superior Industries International Inc. (SUP) market cap: $511.6M ex div date: 12/30/2010 yield: 3.3%

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.

Disclosure: Author did 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

Stocks Going Ex Dividend the Fifth 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.

Nicor Inc. (GAS) market cap: $1.9B ex div date: 9/28/10 yield: 4.4%

Getty Realty Corp. (GTY) market cap: $726.1M ex div date: 9/28/10 yield: 8.0%

Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW) market cap: $20.8B ex div date: 9/28/10 yield: 3.3%

Kraft Foods Inc. (KFT) market cap: $51.2B ex div date: 9/28/10 yield: 4.0%

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

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

Puget Sound Energy Distributes Rotten Egg Smell by Mail

Puget Sound Energy, which used to trade on the New York Stock Exchange, and is now privately held, distributes electricity to over a million customers and natural gas to over 700,000 customers. But this month, the company will be distributing something else, a scartch-and-sniff flyer that smells like rotten eggs. The company did this to let customers know what a gas leak aroma smells like.

Although you can't invest in this rotten eggs smell distributor, there are plenty of other natural gas utilities that are available for your portfolio, over 20 with yields above 3%. For example, Nicor Inc. (GAS), with the unforgettable stock ticker symbol, pays a dividend of 4.3% and sports a forward PE ration of 14.6. The company distributes natural gas to over 2 million customers in Illinois.

Piedmont Natural Gas Co. Inc. (PNY), a North Carolina nat gas distributor with almost a million customers, pays a 4.1% yield and trades at 16 times forward earnings. The company was upgrades by Robert W. Baird Company in July.

For a list of over 20 high yield natural gas and propane utilities, you should check out the list at WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.

Author does not own any of the above.

By Stockerblog.com

Stocks Going Ex Dividend the Fifth Week of June

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.

Edison International (EIX) market cap: $11.2B ex div date: 6/28/2010 yield: 3.7%

Nicor Inc. (GAS) market cap: $1.9B ex div date: 6/28/2010 yield: 4.4%

Kraft Foods Inc. (KFT) market cap: $52.3B ex div date: 6/28/2010 yield: 3.9%

Nucor Corporation (NUE) market cap: $13.1B ex div date: 6/28/2010 yield: 3.4%

Aircastle Limited (AYR) market cap: $765.2M ex div date: 6/28/2010 yield: 4.2%

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.

Author does not own any of the above.

By Stockerblog.com

Top Yielding Natural Gas Stocks

Income investors like natural gas stocks for several reasons. First, they pay a decent dividend with over 15 paying more than 4%. Second, they provide diversification from electric utilities. The average price to earnings ratio for all these stocks is less than 15. And in terms of gas stocks, in addition to natural gas companies, investors can also choose propane distributors.

There are plenty of natural gas and propane gas utilities available to invest in. WallStreetNewsNetwork.com has just updated their list of about 25 gas utilities with yields ranging from 2% to above 8%, such as Nicor Inc (GAS) yielding 4.5%, Amerigas Partners (APU) yielding 7%, and Sempra Energy (SRE) yielding 3.2%.

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 in the form of a free downloadable Excel database of natural gas and propane stocks, eight of which yield more than 5%, go to WallStreetNewsNetwork.com.

Author does not own any of the above.

By Stockerblog.com

Stocks Going Ex Dividend the Fifth Week of March 2010

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 free 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.

Nicor Inc. (GAS) ex div date: $1.9B market cap: 3/29/10 yield: 4.4%

Nucor Corporation (NUE) ex div date: $14.3B market cap: 3/29/10 yield: 3.2%

PG&E Corporation (PCG) ex div date: $15.9B market cap: 3/29/10 yield: 4.3%

SYSCO Corporation (SYY) ex div date: $17.0B market cap: 3/30/10 yield: 3.5%

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 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

Gas Utilities are a Gas: 17 Pay Over 4%

The price of natural gas is relatively very low, so consumers don't mind cranking up the heat. Now were are entering the Winter season when consumption will increase. How about looking at natural gas utilities as possible investments, especially because of the great dividends. Seventeen of these stocks pay 4% or more.

Here are a few examples of high yielding natural gas and propane utilities and limited partnerships:

Amerigas Partners (APU) 7.1%
Laclede Group Inc (LG) 5.1%
Spectra Energy (SE) 5.1%
Nicor Inc (GAS) 5.0%

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.

By Stockerblog.com

Stocks Going Ex Dividend During the Fifth Week of September

The stock trading technique called 'Buying Dividends' is becoming more and more popular, especially with the recent increase in the stock market. 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.

When you buy dividends, there are many stocks in many different sectors to choose from. 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 has compiled a free downloadable and sortable Excel list of the stocks going ex dividend during the next week. wsnn.com came up with many companies all with market caps over $500 million. Here are a couple examples showing the stock symbol, the ex-dividend date and the yield.

DNP Select Income Fund Inc. DNP ex div date: 9/28/09 market cap: $2.0B yield: 9.1%

Nicor Inc. GAS ex div date: 9/28/09 market cap: $1.6B yield: 5.2%

National Health Investors NHI ex div date: 9/28/09 market cap: $906.6M yield: 6.7%

The rest of the ex-dividend stocks can be found at wsnn.com. (If you have been to the website before, and the September 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. For more details on dividend definitions, check out definitions of dividend dates. Don't forget to reconfirm the ex-dividend date with the company before implementing this technique.

Author doesn't own any of the above.

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