Utilities

Although stocks surged Monday, just 14 exchange-traded funds hit all-time highs. Indicating that conservative, lower beta fare is still in style, six of the seven sector ETFs that hit new highs Monday were consumer staples, telecom or utilities funds. Of the seven ETFs in the all-time high club,...

A simplistic view would be to say the Utilities SPDR ETF (NYSE: XLU) and the Energy Select Sector SPDR (ETF) (NYSE: XLE) are impressing this year. So is the Materials Select Sector SDPR (NYSE: XLB). Beyond that, there is not a lot to brag about among the major sector exchange-traded funds. The...

Nearly six months into 2016, many investors know the deal with utilities stocks. The sector with a reputation for lulling the investment community to sleep is, in a good way, betraying that reputation. Just look at the Utilities SPDR (ETF) (NYSE: XLU). XLU, the largest utilities exchange-traded...

The Energy Select Sector SPDR (ETF) (NYSE: XLE), the largest equity-based exchange-traded fund tracking the energy sector, is up more than 10 percent in the second quarter. That extends a run that has XLE up 12.5 percent year-to-date, a showing that, among the sector SPDR ETFs, has been trumped...

Shares of Chesapeake Energy Corporation (NYSE: CHK) fell more than 5 percent after RBC downgraded the stock to Underperform from Sector Perform on limited opportunities to add value. "Our downgrade is based on relative valuation and our view that CHK's opportunities to add value in a rising...

It can be argued that Ryu is one of the most popular characters from the famous "Street Fighter" video game franchise. You weren't really playing with Dhalsim, were you? There is another RYU that deserves more popularity: The Guggenheim S&P 500 Equal Weight Utilities ETF (NYSE: RYU). A More...

Solidifying the notion that boring can be beautiful, the utilities sector and its relevant exchange-traded funds are acting like the NASDAQ of the 1990s. Well, that is hyperbole, but the Utilities SPDR (ETF) (NYSE: XLU) is up 12.5 percent year-to-date. Utilities ETFs And The S&P Additionally,...

No it is not consumer discretionary or technology — both frequent stomping grounds for hedge funds. It is not the healthcare sector, another hedge fund favorite, either. Data indicate that in the first quarter, hedge funds, an investment vehicle often viewed as exotic, even sexy, were drawn...

Take a poll of investors who are familiar with low-volatility exchange-traded funds, of which data suggest there are plenty, and ask those investors what sectors they would use to build a new low-volatility ETF. Chances are those polled would say a low-volatility ETF should include consumer...

Goldman Sachs has upgraded CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE: CNP) to Neutral from Sell, despite weakness in the utility sector. "Utility valuations overall do not appear attractive, but we believe CNP presents investors with solid dividend yield, given improving cash flows," analyst Michael Lapides...

Shares of SolarCity Corp (NASDAQ: SCTY) were trading higher by more than 3 percent early Thursday morning after the company announced the launch of three new services for utility operators. First, SolarCity launched its development of utility-scale solar power plants, which act as an alternative to...

Market volatility has been a boon for defensive sectors this year, namely consumer staples and utilities. Seasoned income investors know that while the consumer staples and utilities sectors have some dividend perks, these groups often trade at rich multiples relative to the broader market....

It is a song that has been played on a loop this year. Ten-year Treasury yields are off 23.3 percent— a decline that has helped make utilities the best-performing sector. With utilities being the best-performing S&P 500 sector, some dividend ETFs that emphasize high-yield stocks are...