A Way For Dividend Investors To Play The AI Megatrend

Core Insights - Utilities are evolving into essential players in the AI sector, offering attractive dividends while traditional investors focus on momentum stocks [3][20] - The demand for electricity is projected to surge significantly, particularly in Texas, where power demand is expected to increase by 62% by 2030, with Oncor indicating that current projections may be conservative [4] - Companies like Portland General Electric (PGE) are leveraging AI technologies to enhance grid flexibility and meet growing data center demands, showcasing genuine growth potential in the utility sector [5][6] Group 1: Texas Utility Landscape - Texas is experiencing a strained grid due to rapid population growth and industrial expansion, with ERCOT forecasting a 62% increase in power demand by 2030 [4] - Oncor, Texas's largest utility, has 186 GW of interconnection requests, indicating a demand that exceeds current peak capacity by 118% [4] Group 2: Portland General Electric (PGE) - PGE is utilizing AI tools to optimize grid capacity, freeing up over 80 megawatts for data center interconnections [6] - The utility is investing in infrastructure to mitigate wildfire risks while capitalizing on the growing data center market in Oregon [6] Group 3: Edison International (EIX) - Edison International offers a nearly 6% yield and has a low forward P/E ratio of 9, indicating it may be undervalued [8] - The company faces known wildfire risks and ongoing litigation, which have impacted its stock performance and investor sentiment [9][10] Group 4: Brookfield Infrastructure Partners (BIP) - Brookfield Infrastructure Partners combines stable cash flow with growth opportunities in the AI sector, managing extensive electricity and natural gas connections [11][12] - The company has a strong track record of raising distributions for 16 consecutive years, although it operates as a master limited partnership [14] Group 5: Investment Vehicles - Closed-end funds like the Gabelli Utility Trust (GUT) and MEGI offer exposure to utility companies and infrastructure, with GUT having a distribution rate of 10.4% [18] - MEGI has a distribution rate of 10.1% and includes a diverse asset allocation, though it trades at a discount to net asset value [16][17]