OAKVILLE, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. (TSX/NYSE: AQN) ("AQN†, "Algonquin†or the "Company†) today announced the appointment of Peter Norgeot as Chief Operating Officer (COO), effective immediately. Mr. Norgeot joins Algonquin after having recently retired as COO from Entergy Corporation (NYSE: ETR) ("Entergy†) and will be responsible for leading the Company's electric, gas, and water regulated utility operations, capital execution, and enterprise- wide operati. ...

In this article, we will take a look at some of the best dividend aristocrat stocks to invest in.Strategies built around steady dividend growth have tended to deliver better results over time than broader benchmarks.A clear example is the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index, which tracks companies that have raised their dividends every year for at least 25 years. Research from ProShares shows that, since the index began, it has beaten the S&P 500 on a risk-adjusted basis. It captured about 90% of the market’ ...

Core Insights - The U.S. Federal Reserve has lowered the interest rate benchmark by 25 basis points to a target range of 3.50-3.75%, marking the third reduction in 2025, aimed at supporting a cooling labor market [1][2] Interest Rate Impact on Utilities - Lower interest rates create a favorable environment for capital-intensive sectors like utilities, which require significant funding for infrastructure and operations [2] - The utility sector has an inverse correlation with interest rates; rate cuts reduce the cost of servicing debt, enhancing profit margins and cash flows for utility companies [3] - As interest rates fall, utility stocks become more attractive to income-focused investors, leading to increased demand for high-dividend sectors like utilities [4] Investment Case for Utilities - The combination of lower financing costs, stable cash flows, and rising electricity demand from AI data centers strengthens the investment case for utilities amid macroeconomic uncertainty [5] - Investing in diversified Utility ETFs is recommended over individual utility stocks to mitigate risks associated with regulatory changes and company-specific issues [6] Utility ETFs Overview - Utility ETFs provide a one-stop solution for investors, offering exposure to a broad range of companies in the utilities sector while ensuring superior liquidity and lower expense ratios compared to actively managed funds [7] Recommended Utility ETFs - **Fidelity MSCI Utilities Index ETF (FUTY)**: Net assets of $2.25 billion, exposure to 67 utility stocks, year-to-date gain of 17.1%, fees of 8 bps [9] - **State Street Utilities Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLU)**: AUM of $22.16 billion, exposure to 31 companies, year-to-date gain of 16.6%, fees of 8 bps [10][11] - **iShares U.S. Utilities ETF (IDU)**: Net assets of $1.78 billion, exposure to 44 companies, year-to-date gain of 15.7%, fees of 38 bps [12] - **Vanguard Utilities ETF (VPU)**: Net assets of $8.3 billion, exposure to 68 companies, year-to-date gain of 17.1%, fees of 9 bps [13] - **Invesco Dorsey Wright Utilities Momentum ETF (PUI)**: Market value of $51.5 million, exposure to 35 companies, year-to-date gain of 16.8%, fees of 81 bps [14][15]

German state-owned utility Uniper will launch the sale of its 20% stake in the natural gas pipeline Opal, one of Europe's largest transmission corridors, the company said on Monday. ...

Core Insights - Dividend aristocrat stocks are essential for investors aiming for stability and long-term wealth creation, as they have consistently increased dividends for at least 25 years, showcasing financial discipline and commitment to shareholders [1][2] Dividend Aristocrats Overview - Dividend aristocrats serve as a hedge against economic uncertainty, providing downside protection and consistent payout increases, making them suitable anchors in diversified portfolios [2] - Five highlighted dividend aristocrats for 2026 include Atmos Energy Corporation, Medtronic plc, PepsiCo, Inc., Caterpillar Inc., and S&P Global Inc., all of which exhibit robust dividend growth and steady returns [3][8] Atmos Energy Corporation (ATO) - ATO has raised its annual dividend for 42 consecutive years, with a current quarterly dividend of $1 per share and an annual dividend yield of 2.38% [3][4] - The new dividend for fiscal 2026 is $4 per share, reflecting a nearly 15% increase from fiscal 2025 [4] Medtronic plc (MDT) - MDT has increased its dividend for 48 consecutive years, with a current quarterly dividend of 71 cents and an annual dividend yield of 2.84% [5][6] - The company is expanding its global presence, particularly in the Cardiovascular business, despite facing near-term supply and tariff-related challenges [6] PepsiCo, Inc. (PEP) - PEP has raised its annualized dividend by 5% in 2025, reaching $5.69 per share, marking its 53rd consecutive annual dividend increase [7][9] - The company plans to return $8.6 billion to shareholders in 2025, including $7.6 billion in dividends and $1 billion in buybacks, with an annual dividend yield of 3.78% [9] Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) - CAT has a long history of dividend payments, having raised dividends for 32 consecutive years, with a recent quarterly dividend hike of 7% to $1.51 per share [10][11] - The company returned approximately $1.1 billion to shareholders in dividends and share repurchases in Q3 2025, with an annual dividend yield of 1.01% [11] S&P Global Inc. (SPGI) - SPGI has increased its dividend annually for over 50 years, with a current quarterly dividend of 96 cents and an annualized dividend of $3.84 per share [12][13] - The company reported a strong adjusted operating profit margin of 52.1% and generated free cash flow of $1.4 billion in the last quarter [14]

To ensure this doesn’t happen in the future, please enable Javascript and cookies in your browser.If you have an ad-blocker enabled you may be blocked from proceeding. Please disable your ad-blocker and refresh. ...

Group 1 - The article does not provide any relevant content regarding the company or industry [1]

Core Viewpoint - BlackRock intends to sell approximately 69 million shares in Spanish gas utility Naturgy, representing 7.1% of the company, through an accelerated bookbuild placement managed by JP Morgan [1] Company Summary - The share sale by BlackRock will involve around 69 million shares of Naturgy [1] - This transaction accounts for 7.1% of Naturgy's total shares outstanding [1] Industry Summary - The sale is being facilitated by JP Morgan, indicating active involvement of major financial institutions in the energy sector [1]

Core Viewpoint - Black Hills Corp. has received approval for new natural gas rates in Nebraska, which will support the recovery of over $453 million in system investments and operational costs, benefiting over 304,000 customers [1][2]. Financial Impact - The new rates will generate approximately $23.9 million in new annual revenues and will migrate about $18.5 million in annual rider revenue to base rates, resulting in a total annual base rate revenue increase of $42.4 million [2]. - The rates are based on a return on equity of 9.85% and a capitalization structure of 50.5% equity and 49.5% debt [2]. Implementation Details - The new rates will take effect on January 1, 2026, replacing interim rates that have been in place since August 1, 2025 [2]. - The approved settlement includes a five-year System Safety and Integrity Rider for accelerated pipeline replacement, a new insurance tracker, a manufactured gas plant tracker, and a weather normalization pilot program [3]. Company Overview - Black Hills Corp. is a growth-oriented utility company serving 1.35 million natural gas and electric utility customers across eight states, including Nebraska [4].

Brandon Carlson[/caption]   By combining mesh and cellular technologies, utilities can leverage a range of communication options to address the most extreme connectivity use cases, delivering the visibility needed to improve safety and reliability across the network. POWER: Solid-state meters utilization is expected to continue rising across North America in the coming years. From a safety-first perspective, what changes when every meter can act as both a sensor and a protective device rather than just a ...