7 Dividend-Paying Utility Stocks That Are Perking Up

Renewed weakness in the stock market this week, as well as a pullback in market-derived inflation expectations, has driven demand in Treasury bonds and pushed down yields. The catalyst has been ongoing worries that the Federal Reserve will hike interest rates for the first time since 2006 before the end of the year, combined with concerns about the upcoming Q3 earnings season and weak economic data (especially the regional manufacturing surveys).

That in turn has put a bid under yield-sensitive utility stocks as investors seek safety in non-cyclical dividend payers. The sector is enjoying a surge of relative strength last seen in early August. Overall, this is a return to favor for utility stocks on a level that hasn’t been seen since January — ending a long period of listlessness between February and July. For those looking for picks in the sector, consider these seven utility stocks: Consolidated Edison (ED), American Electric Power (AEP), Duke Energy (DUK), PG&E (PCG), Public Service Enterprise Group (PEG), PPL Corp. (PPL) and Southern Co. (SO).

Source: InvestorPlace

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