Core Insights - Fortis Inc. is recognized as one of the best Canadian dividend stocks for long-term investment [1] - CIBC has raised its price target for Fortis to C$75 while maintaining an Outperform rating [2] - Fortis reported a capital expenditure of approximately $4.2 billion in the first nine months of the year, aiming for a full-year target of $5.6 billion [3] Financial Performance - The company has introduced a five-year capital plan worth $28.8 billion for the period from 2026 to 2030, with an expected annual rate base growth of about 7% [3] - Fortis announced a 4% increase in its quarterly dividend to $0.64 per share, marking the 52nd consecutive year of dividend growth [4] Business Model - Fortis operates a regulated utility network, with around 93% of its assets in lower-risk transmission and distribution, providing stability in financial results [5] - The investment strategy aims to increase dividends by 4 to 6% annually through 2030, appealing to income-focused investors [4]

Group 1 - NiSource (NYSE: NI) operates five local distribution utility companies and one gas and electric utility, NIPSCO [1] - The stock price increase has positively impacted utilities that may supply AI data centers [1] - Laura Starks, founder and CEO of Starks Energy Economics, has extensive experience in energy investment and analysis [1] Group 2 - The coverage of Laura Starks includes various sectors such as utilities, independent power producers, and all sectors of oil and natural gas [1]

Core Viewpoint - The Southern Company is recognized as one of the best high dividend stocks to buy under $100, highlighting its strong dividend resilience and growth potential [1][2]. Group 1: Financial Performance and Plans - The Southern Company has increased its five-year base capital plan by $13 billion, raising the total to $76 billion [2]. - The company is reviewing approximately 10 gigawatts (GW) of new generation requests as of the second quarter of 2025 [2]. Group 2: Market Demand and Strategy - The Southern Company has a pipeline exceeding 50 GW of potential customer load, driven by strong demand from hyperscale clients and data centers in Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi [3]. - The company emphasizes a focus on disciplined, risk-adjusted contract structures to protect customer benefits while maintaining financial flexibility [3]. Group 3: Dividend History and Yield - The Southern Company offers a quarterly dividend of $0.74 per share, having increased it by 2.8% in April 2025, marking the 24th consecutive year of dividend growth [4]. - The company has paid regular dividends for the past 78 years, with a current dividend yield of 3.24% as of September 18 [4].

Core Message - The article emphasizes the importance of calling 811 before any digging project to prevent damage to underground utility lines and avoid costly repairs averaging $3,500 [1][3][8] Company Information - Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) serves over 16 million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California [9] - PG&E has reported 471 incidents of underground utility line damage due to digging in 2025, with 59% of those incidents occurring without a call to 811 [3][8] Industry Insights - The average repair cost for damaged utility lines is $3,500, highlighting the financial implications of not calling 811 before digging [3][8] - The leading causes of damage to underground utility lines include activities such as building or replacing fences, gardening, and landscaping [8] - The 811 call center operates 24/7 and provides services in multiple languages, ensuring accessibility for all customers [8]

Core Insights - Dominion Energy's latest earnings report showed a nearly 1% increase in stock price, outperforming the S&P 500 index's 0.6% rise [1] Financial Performance - In the first quarter, Dominion reported revenue of just under $4.08 billion, reflecting a 12% year-over-year improvement [2] - Operating earnings reached $803 million, or $0.93 per share, compared to $485 million in the previous year [2] - Both revenue and adjusted net income exceeded analyst expectations, with consensus estimates of $3.78 billion for revenue and $0.77 per share for adjusted net income [3] Growth Drivers - The growth was primarily driven by customers in Virginia and South Carolina, particularly due to the demand for electricity from data centers related to artificial intelligence [4] Future Outlook - Dominion reaffirmed its full-year 2025 guidance, expecting operating earnings of $3.28 to $3.52 per share, with a projected annual growth rate of 5% to 7% through 2029 [5] - The company plans to maintain its annual dividend payment of $2.67 per share until it achieves a utility industry-aligned payout ratio [5] Strategic Positioning - Dominion is positioned as a key provider in a region with growing power needs driven by the demand for AI technologies, suggesting a favorable investment opportunity [6]

Economic Sentiment - Investors and consumers are feeling anxious about a potential recession due to an inverted yield curve and a downward revision of GDP growth to -2.8% for Q1 2025 from +4.0% [1][2] Republic Services - Republic Services Inc. (NYSE: RSG) provides essential waste management services, insulating it from declines in consumer spending [4] - The company has shown strong financial performance with a 5.6% year-over-year revenue growth and a 16.4% improvement in net income in the latest quarter [6] - Republic Services has a moderate buy rating with a projected earnings growth of 9.48% and a healthy adjusted free cash flow of nearly $2.2 billion in 2024 [5][6] - The stock has increased nearly 26% in the year ending March 4, and 10 out of 16 analysts have rated it a buy [7] McKesson Corporation - McKesson Corp. (NYSE: MCK) is a major player in the healthcare sector, distributing pharmaceuticals and health supplies, and has seen an 18% year-over-year revenue improvement [9][10] - The company achieved an all-time high stock price in early March after growing more than 20% in the last year, with a projected earnings growth of 11.81% [9][10][12] - McKesson's strategic acquisitions and solid financial footing position it well against potential recession impacts, with 13 out of 15 analysts rating it a buy [11][12] PG&E Corporation - PG&E Corp. (NYSE: PCG) is a key player in the utilities sector, exceeding its goal of 9,000 new-service customer connections for 2024 by over 50% [13][14] - The company reported operating cash flow of $8 billion in 2024, nearly double that of the previous year, and has a projected earnings growth of 9.40% [15] - PG&E's financial position is strong, with its equity needs fully satisfied for a $63 billion capital plan through 2028, despite risks associated with climate change [15]