#utilities

#utilities

What's the first thing that springs to mind when someone mentions the Nasdaq Composite? It's likely tech stocks that are trading at nosebleed valuations, many without any cash flow at all. The index is packed with the world's fastest-moving software, semiconductor, and social-media giants, all of them celebrated more for explosive price swings than for the slow, steady drip of cash that dividends provide.

Most investors are well aware of the distinction between most dividend stocks and dividend aristocrats. The latter group is comprised of companies that have paid out a growing dividend for more than 25 years. Among this group, we have dividend kings, which have paid increasing dividends for more than five decades straight. I'm going to highlight three such companies in this piece.

"After analyzing a detailed pipeline of data center projects, we predict an average global growth rate of 17% per year in data-center-related power demand between 2022 and 2030," the report states. In the US, that average growth rate jumps to 25%. By 2030, data centers could account for more than 14% of the US's total power demand, even with gains in energy efficiency from new chips and sustainable data center infrastructure.

24/7 Wall St. hosts Doug McIntyre and Lee Jackson analyze a major move by BlackRock to acquire the utility company AES, describing it as the beginning of a larger wave of consolidation across the utility and banking sectors. It could signal how companies like BlackRock might be positioning themselves to control the energy sources needed to power data centers and AI infrastructure.

Reliable high-yielders are your best friends today, and they will likely remain that way for the coming years. That's especially true if they operate as midstream or as a utility. They have a rare combination of defense and growth that no other sector can match. Demand for electricity, gas, and water does not flutter when the headlines turn grim, so cash flow stays predictable and dividends stay funded.

These dividend stocks can perform well in bad times and good times. Their underlying businesses are on a strong footing. They are well-positioned to deliver stellar gains next year. Are you ahead, or behind on retirement? SmartAsset's free tool can match you with a financial advisor in minutes to help you answer that today. Each advisor has been carefully vetted, and must act in your best interests. Don't waste another minute; learn more here.(Sponsor)

The average monthly cost for the six most common utilities is about $523, and understanding these costs can significantly influence your home budget.