Utility stocks typically make stable investments. Demand for utility services such as electricity, natural gas, and water distribution tends to remain steady, even during a recession. Meanwhile, the rates they charge for delivering these services are either regulated (approved by a government entity) or contractually guaranteed (non-regulated), so utilities generate reliable earnings. That also allows them to pay dividends with above-average yields.
The combination of predictable profitability and income generation makes utility stocks lower-risk options for investors because they’re less volatile. As a result, they’re often ideal choices for retirement income strategies. That lower volatility also makes utilities more defensive, making them ideal holdings during uncertain economic times.
However, not all utility stocks deliver competitive investment returns. The best utilities share additional noteworthy characteristics that give them the power to outperform. With that in mind, here are some top utility stocks to buy and what to look for in a utility investment.
Three top utility stocks to buy
The best utility investments are companies with a top-notch financial profile and visible growth prospects. Each of the companies below meets those criteria and has the potential to produce above-average total stock returns -- dividend yield plus stock price appreciation.
| Top utility stock | Ticker Symbol | Dividend Yield |
|---|---|---|
| American Water Works | (NYSE:AWK) | 1.8% |
| Brookfield Infrastructure | (NYSE:BIP) (NYSE:BIPC) | 3.4% |
| NextEra Energy | (NYSE:NEE) | 2.2% |
1. American Water Works
American Water Works is the largest publicly traded water and wastewater utility in the U.S. It makes most of its money by providing regulated water and wastewater services, with the rest coming from less-predictable market-based activities, including providing water-related services to homeowners and the military.
American Water Works expects to increase its earnings per share (EPS) at a 7% to 9% compound annual rate between 2022 and 2026, which would make it one of the fastest-growing utilities in the country. Driving that outlook is its plan to invest $13 billion to $14 billion to expand its regulated water utility operations through capital investments and acquisitions.
The water utility has the financial flexibility to support its expansion plan, thanks to its top-tier financial profile. It has an investment-grade credit rating, giving it the ability to borrow money at lower rates. Meanwhile, it has a very conservative dividend payout ratio (it has targeted an average between 50% to 60% of its adjusted EPS). The strong financial profile has American Water Works forecasting dividend growth at the high end of its 7% to 10% annual target range through 2026. That would enable the utility to continue its dividend growth streak, which hit 14 straight years in 2022.
2. Brookfield Infrastructure Partners
Brookfield Infrastructure owns a diversified portfolio of utility-like infrastructure businesses, including:
- Regulated utilities: Regulated electric and natural gas transmission and distribution businesses and a port terminal.
- Transport: Railroads, toll roads, ports, and liquefied natural gas (LNG) export operations supported by long-term contracts or regulated rates.
- Energy: Oil and natural gas midstream assets backed by long-term contracts or regulated rates.
- Data infrastructure: Data centers, cell towers, fiber-optic cables, and data transmission assets supported by long-term contracts with customers.
Brookfield Infrastructure operates several utilities and utility-like businesses that generate predictable cash flow that grows over time. The company benefits from inflation-linked rate escalations, higher volumes as the economy expands, and its ability to complete expansion projects. Brookfield believes these organic growth drivers alone can support 5% to 9% annual dividend growth over the long term.
On top of that organic growth, Brookfield anticipates that acquisitions can provide a further boost to its earnings each year. The company has helped privatize an Australian utility, acquired a leading smart meter company in Australia and New Zealand, purchased a leading fiber-to-the-home provider in Australia, and invested in a European cell tower operator in 2022.
Brookfield Infrastructure sees ample opportunities to expand its infrastructure platform in the coming years. That should enable the company to continue increasing its high-yielding dividend, which should give it the power to produce attractive total returns.
3. NextEra Energy
NextEra Energy operates a regulated electric utility in Florida. It also owns and operates natural gas pipelines, electricity transmission lines, and renewable energy projects that generate predictable income backed by long-term, fixed-rate contracts. These businesses supply NextEra with steady cash flow to support its dividend and invest in expanding its utility business.
NextEra is currently investing billions of dollars to expand its utility operations and clean energy business. The utility unveiled its Real Zero strategy to eliminate carbon emissions from its operations by 2045, which should be a major long-term growth driver. In the near term, the company expects these investments to boost its EPS at or near the high end of its 6% to 8% annual target range rate through 2025. That’s faster than the EPS growth rate projections of its largest peers in the electric utilities sector, which are in the low- to mid-single digits.
Another factor helping power above-average growth is NextEra’s strong financial profile, which gives it the flexibility to fund its investments. Its profile includes one of the highest credit ratings among large rate-regulated electric utility companies and a dividend payout ratio that’s historically been below the sector average. Because of its lower payout ratio, NextEra plans to increase its dividend by roughly 10% annually through at least 2024.
What makes a good utility stock investment?
Utility infrastructure is costly to build and maintain. Utilities need a strong financial profile to maintain and expand infrastructure while also paying an attractive dividend. These three metrics can help you gauge a utility’s financial strength:
An investment-grade bond rating
A bond rating or credit rating for a company is like a credit score for an individual. Companies with higher investment-grade bond ratings can borrow money at lower rates and on easier terms. That's important for utilities since they routinely need to borrow money to help fund maintenance and expansion projects. Investors should seek out companies with high bond ratings since they can more easily finance their operations, which helps them increase their earnings and dividends.
Low leverage metrics
While utilities need to borrow money to finance their operations, too much debt limits their ability to grow. Investors should look for utilities with conservative leverage metrics for the sector. Two notable ones are debt-to-earnings before interest taxes, depreciation, or amortization, or EBITDA (debt in relation to income), and debt to total capital (debt in relation to total value). Good targets for the sector are a debt-to-EBITDA ratio of less than 4.5 times and a debt-to-capital value of less than 60%.
A conservative dividend payout ratio
A dividend payout ratio is the percentage of a company's profits that it pays out to investors via its dividends. Utilities traditionally have higher dividend payout ratios than other companies. Most target a payout ratio between 60% to 70% of their earnings, well above the 40% average of higher-yielding stocks in the S&P 500.
However, utilities with a relatively lower payout retain more cash to reinvest in expansion projects. Consequently, they don't need to borrow as much money (which would lower their credit rating) or issue as many new shares (which would dilute existing investors’ shares of their profits) to finance growth.
Utilities with stronger financial profiles have greater flexibility to invest in expansion projects and make acquisitions, positioning them to expand their earnings at an above-average rate. The extra fiscal strength also gives them more power to increase their dividends.
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The best utility stocks offer above-average growth for less risk
These utility companies all have top-tier financial profiles. As a result, they have the flexibility to expand operations while also increasing their dividends. Utility stocks with dual growth drivers have the power to produce attractive total returns for investors over the long term, making them stand out as excellent investments.
With market volatility increasing in 2022 amid concerns about a slowing economy, utilities offer investors a more defensive option. Given the resilient demand for their services, their rate structures, and their long-term investment programs, top-tier utilities should be able to continue increasing their earnings even if the economy slows. That makes the current environment an ideal one to consider adding a utility to your portfolio to benefit from its income and stable growth profile.
