9 Brightly Shining Utility Stocks

Electricity powers everything from homes to the computer you use to read clever
stock picks. Water and gas also make life comfortable, if not plain livable.
Although this year has been unkind to investors looking for stability in the
market, the utilities sector has at least given them a reason to enter 2012 with
renewed hope and energy. What can be more stable than the power used to make the
world go round? I watch more than 5,000 publicly traded companies with my
Portfolio Grader tool, ranking companies by a number of fundamental and
quantitative measures. And this week, nine utilities companies are shining
bright. Here they are, in alphabetical order. Each one of these stocks gets an
"A" or "B" according to my research, meaning it is a "strong buy" or
"buy." American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP ) is a holding company that owns
power companies across the county. In 2011, AEP has posted a return of more than
10%. AEP gets a "B" for operating margin growth and an "A" for earnings
momentum in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete
analysis of AEP stock . CenterPoint Energy (NYSE: CNP ) is a public utility
holding company, best known for its operating company CenterPoint Houston.
Year-to-date, CNP stock is up 21%, while the broader markets have posted modest
returns. CNP stock gets an "A" for operating margin growth, an "A" for
earnings growth, an "A" for earnings momentum, an "A" for its ability to
exceed the consensus earnings estimates on Wall Street and a "B" for return
on equity in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete
analysis of CNP stock . Constellation Energy Group (NYSE: CEG ) is best known
for its three subsidiaries: NewEnergy, Generation, and Baltimore Gas and
Electric. Year-to-date, CEG stock has posted an impressive gain of 30%. CEG
stock gets an "A" for earnings momentum and an "A" for its ability to
exceed the consensus earnings estimates on Wall Street in my Portfolio Grader
tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of CNP stock . Duke Energy
(NYSE: DUK ) is split into the following three segments: Electric and Gas,
Commercial Power and International Energy. Year-to-date, DUK stock has seen an
increase of 18%, compared to a gain of 2% for the Dow Jones. DUK stock gets an
"A" for operating margin growth, a "B" for earnings momentum and a
"B" for the magnitude in which earnings projections have increased over the
past month in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete
analysis of DUK stock . Exelon Corp. (NYSE: EXC ) has posted a modest return of
4% year-to-date. EXC stock gets a "B" for the magnitude in which earnings
projections have increased over the past month and a "B" for return on
equity in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete
analysis of EXC stock . FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE ) is another holding company
that owns eight energy companies in the U.S. Like other big utility stocks, FE
has posted a big gain in 2011 about 20%. FE gets a "B" for sales growth, an
"A" for earnings momentum, an "A" for earnings growth, a "B" for its
ability to exceed consensus earnings estimates on Wall Street and a "B" for
the magnitude in which earnings projections have increased over the past month
in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of
FE stock . PPL Corp. (NYSE: PPL ) is an energy and utility holding company. A
10% gain for PPL this year has kept shareholders happy. PPL gets an "A" for
sales growth, an "A" for operating margin growth, a "B" for earnings
momentum, a "B" for its ability to exceed consensus earnings estimates on
Wall Street, a "B" for the magnitude in which earnings projections have
increased over the past month, and a "B" for return on equity in my
Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of PPL
stock . Southern Co. (NYSE: SO ) owns numerous power companies across the
southern U.S. SO stock has posted a gain of nearly 17% year-to-date. SO gets a
"B" for earnings momentum, a "B" for the magnitude in which earnings
projections have increased during the past month and a "B" for return on
equity in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete
analysis of SO stock . Xcel Energy Inc. (NYSE: XEL ) is a holding company whose
subsidiaries provide electric and natural gas to customers in eight states.
Since the start of 2011, XEL stock has gained 12%. XEL stock gets a "B" for
earnings momentum and a "B" for the magnitude in which earnings projections
have increased during the past month in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more
information, view my complete analysis of XEL stock . Get more analysis of these
picks and other publicly traded stocks with Louis Navellier's Portfolio Grader
tool, a 100% free stock-rating tool that measures both quantitative buying
pressure and eight fundamental factors.