Stock Analysis: Consolidated Edison, Inc. (ED)

This article originally appeared on The DIV-Net July 21, 2008.

Linked here is a PDF copy of my detailed analysis of Consolidated Edison, Inc. (ED) (alt.1, alt.2). Below are some highlights from the above linked analysis:

Company Description: Consolidated Edison, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides electric, gas, and steam utility services in the United States serving parts of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Fair Value: I consider four calculations of fair value, see page 2 of the linked PDF for a detailed description:

1. Avg. High Yield Price
2. 20-Year DCF Price
3. Avg. P/E Price
4. Graham Number

ED is trading at a discount to 1.), 3.) and 4.) above. If I exclude the high and low valuation and average the remaining two, ED is trading at a 14.8% discount. ED earned a Star in this section since it is trading at a fair value.

Dividend Analytical Data: In this section I consider five factors, see page 2 of the linked PDF for a detailed description:

1. Rolling 4-yr Div. > 15%
2. Dividend Growth Rate
3. Years of Div. Growth
4. 1-Yr. > 5-Yr Growth
5. Payout 15% of avg.

ED earned one Star in this section for 3.) above. ED has paid a cash dividend to shareholders every year since 1885 and has increased its cash dividend payment for 35 consecutive years.

Dividend Income vs. MMA: Why would you assume the equity risk and invest in a dividend stock if you could earn a better return in a much less risky money market account (MMA)? This section compares the earning ability of this stock with a high yield MMA. Two items are considered in this section, see page 2 of the linked PDF for a detailed description:

1. NPV MMA Diff.
2. Years to >MMA.

ED earned both available Stars in this section. With a NPV MMA Diff. of $4,321, ED is well above the $3,000 I look for in a company that is both an Achiever and an Aristocrat. ED's current yield of 6.16%, exceeds the 20-year expected MMA rate of 4.61%.

Other: ED is both an S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrat and a member of The Broad Dividend Achievers™ Index. As a regulated electric and gas utility, ED produces a strong and steady cash flows. It has a solid balance sheet, an A- credit rating and operates in a historically supportive regulatory environment.

Conclusion: ED earned a Star in the Fair Value section, earned one Star in the Dividend Analytical Data section and two Stars in the Dividend Income vs. MMA section for a net total of 4 Stars. This quantitatively rates ED as a 4 Star-Buy.

Using my D4L-PreScreen.xls model, I determined the share price could go up to $41.39 before ED's NPV MMA Diff. drops to the $3,000 NPV MMA Diff. I like to see. At that price ED would yield 5.65%. I would be very comfortable adding to my position at the current price of $38.48 and a 6+% yield.

Disclaimer: Material presented here is for informational purposes only. The above quantitative stock analysis, including the Star rating, is mechanically calculated and is based on historical information. The analysis assumes the stock will perform in the future as it has in the past. This is generally never true. Before buying or selling any stock you should do your own research and reach your own conclusion. See my Disclaimer for more information.

Full Disclosure: At the time of this writing, I own shares of ED (2.9% of my Income Portfolio).

What are your thoughts on ED?


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