Core Insights - Dividend kings are a prestigious group of publicly traded stocks that have increased their dividend payouts for at least 50 consecutive years, making them attractive for investors seeking long-term income [1][8] - These companies exhibit exceptional stability, which is crucial for maintaining uninterrupted dividend payments over decades [2][8] - The current list of dividend kings includes 53 companies, recognized for their resilience and ability to thrive through various macroeconomic cycles [8] Company Summaries - **Hormel Foods (HRL)**: Offers a yield of 3.51% and is considered a strong choice among dividend kings due to its safety and relatively high yield. Expected earnings for 2027 are projected at $2.19, with a potential share price of $52.05, indicating a 63% return over the period without dividends [3][10][11] - **Black Hills (BKH)**: This utility company provides electricity and natural gas, currently yielding 4.4%. It is noted for its stability and predictable cash flow, benefiting from population growth in its service area [5][17] - **Universal (UVV)**: Provides leaf tobacco to cigarette manufacturers and is considered the riskiest among dividend kings. Despite the decline in cigarette sales, Universal's sales continue to grow, and it has a low risk of reducing its dividend [6][18][19]

RAPID CITY, S.D., July 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Black Hills Corp. (NYSE: BKH) today announced that its board of directors declared a quarterly dividend on the common stock at a meeting held July 22, 2024. Common shareholders of record at the close of business on Aug. 19, 2024, will receive $0.65 per share, payable Sept. 1, 2024. Access the webcast at www.blackhillscorp.com under the "Investor Relations" heading. Select "News and Events," and "Events & Presentations," and click on "Q2 2024 Earnings Confe ...

Enterprise Products Partners: The boring energy company To be fair, 7% is a huge yield, and investors will have to accept that the yield will make up the lion's share of their return. But add in distribution growth in the low to mid-single digits, which is reasonable to expect, and your return will get up to around the 10% you'd expect from the broader market pretty quickly. Black Hills is an out-of-favor Dividend King Do you have some money in your pocket, say $500 (or more), just waiting to be put to work ...

Core Insights - Black Hills Corporation is partnering with Meta to provide power for a new data center in Cheyenne, Wyoming, leveraging its electric utility, Black Hills Energy [7] - The company has a capital-light service model that supports industrial and data center loads while minimizing risks for other customers [1] - The data center business currently contributes 5% to the company's earnings per share (EPS), with expectations to increase to approximately 10% over the next five years [1] Company Overview - Black Hills Corporation is a growth-oriented utility company based in Rapid City, South Dakota, serving 1.34 million natural gas and electric utility customers across eight states [1] - The company has been providing energy solutions for data centers in Wyoming for over a decade, emphasizing reliability and customized energy resources [7][8] Service Model - The Large Power Contract Service tariff, established in 2016, allows Black Hills Energy to meet specific energy requirements for qualifying data center customers [3] - This innovative service model is designed to support the expansion of data centers while aligning with sustainability objectives [7]

A view of electric power lines. In dividend growth investing, I believe that finding companies to stand the test of time is key to success. This is what makes utilities one of my favorite sectors to cover. Demand for utility services like electricity, water, and natural gas, almost certainly isn't going to be going anywhere. To the contrary, it's difficult to imagine a reality in which customers don't consume more of these resources over time. That growing demand and the overall stability of regulated utili ...

Core Points - Black Hills Corp. will announce its 2024 second quarter earnings on July 31, 2024, after market close [1] - A live conference call and webcast will be held on August 1, 2024, at 11 a.m. EDT to discuss the financial results [1] Company Overview - Black Hills Corp. is a growth-oriented utility company based in Rapid City, South Dakota, serving 1.34 million natural gas and electric utility customers across eight states: Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming [5]

Diaz has more than 20 years of combined investor relations and broad capital markets experience, including equity research and investment banking. He began his career on Wall Street as an investment banking associate at Prudential Securities in New York, with primary responsibility for valuation and financial modeling and analysis. He later served in both analytical and editorial capacities for sell-side equity research teams at Canadian investment banks CIBC World Markets and National Bank Financial in Tor ...

Core Points - Black Hills Corp. has appointed Salvador (Sal) Diaz as the new director of investor relations, effective immediately, replacing Jerome Nichols who is retiring after 20 years with the company [1] - Diaz has over 20 years of experience in investor relations and capital markets, having worked with various companies across multiple industries [2][3] - The company serves 1.34 million natural gas and electric utility customers across eight states in the U.S. [5] Group 1 - Diaz's previous roles include head of investor relations at a pre-IPO digital identity company and experience in investment banking and equity research [2][3] - He holds an MBA from The Wharton School, a graduate diploma in computer science from the University of Cambridge, and a degree in industrial engineering from the University of the Philippines [4] - Black Hills Corp. is focused on growth and aims to be the energy partner of choice, emphasizing customer service [5]

Group 1: Company Overview - Black Hills serves approximately 1.3 million customers across several states including Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wyoming, primarily as a natural gas and electric utility [1] - The company has a higher leverage compared to its peers, making it more susceptible to the impacts of rising interest rates in the near term [1][3] - Despite the leverage concerns, Black Hills maintains a strong financial position with an investment-grade credit rating [3] Group 2: Investment Potential - Black Hills offers a substantial dividend yield of 4.9%, which is significantly above the average for utility companies, making it an attractive option for income-focused investors [3][6] - The company has a strong history of dividend increases, being classified as a Dividend King, and is expected to grow earnings by approximately 4% to 6% annually [4] - The population in the regions served by Black Hills is growing at nearly three times the national average, which supports future earnings growth [4] Group 3: Comparison with Dominion Energy - Dominion Energy is characterized as a turnaround play with higher risk, while Black Hills is viewed as a stable, albeit less exciting, utility investment [6][10] - Dominion's current dividend yield stands at 5.4%, reflecting its ongoing business changes and focus on balance sheet strengthening [8] - Both companies are trading at a discount compared to their sector, with the average yield in the utility sector around 3% [11]

Core Viewpoint - Black Hills Corp. has released its 2023 Corporate Sustainability Report, showcasing its environmental, social, and governance impacts, along with progress on major projects and climate goals [1][2]. Sustainability Progress - The company achieved a 27% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from its natural gas distribution system since 2022, moving towards its goal of net zero emissions by 2035 [2]. - Electric utility greenhouse gas emissions have decreased by nearly one third since 2005, with targets to reduce electric emissions intensity by 40% by 2030 and 70% by 2040 compared to 2005 levels [2]. Clean Energy Initiatives - The Colorado Clean Energy Plan aims to add 400 MW of renewable energy and battery storage, targeting an 89% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030 compared to 2005 [3]. - The company has expanded its renewable natural gas (RNG) presence and launched the Green Forward program for eligible customers [3]. - A partnership with Babcock & Wilcox, supported by a Wyoming Energy Authority grant, is focused on developing a pilot hydrogen plant to convert coal to clean hydrogen [3]. Community Engagement - In 2023, the company contributed $6.1 million to community support initiatives, including energy assistance, grants, scholarships, and tree planting [3]. - Employees donated $495,000 to over 45 United Way organizations, with a 25% match from the Black Hills Corp. Foundation [3]. Economic Impact - Black Hills Corp.'s direct economic impact in 2023 amounted to $1.35 billion, emphasizing its commitment to safety, reliability, and sustainability in utility systems [3].