The STOXX® Europe 600 Utilities index is down over 3% YTD (in terms of price in Euros) and is off about 22% in the past 52 weeks. In the past five years the index is down about 50%. Comprising of 27 of the largest utilities in Europe, the performance of the index in the 5-year period shows how much the traditionally safe sector has plunged in line with the equity markets of Europe. Despite the erosion of investors’ interest in European utility stocks, long-term investors looking for decent dividends and stable growth can consider adding some of them at current levels.
The following chart shows the Biggest Nuclear and Hydro Power Generators in Europe and Russia:
Click to enlarge
Source: Fortum, Investor/Analyst Material, May 2012
Some of the above utilities that trade on the US markets are listed below with their current dividend yields:
1.Company:Electricite de France SA (ECIFY)
Current Price: $4.18
Current Dividend Yield: 7.19%
Country: France
2.Company:E.ON AG (EONGY)
Current Price: $20.76
Current Dividend Yield: 6.29%
Country: Germany
3.Company: Enel (ENLAY)
Current Price: $3.10
Current Dividend Yield: 16.75%
Country: Italy
4.Company: GDF Suez (GDFZY)
Current Price: $22.42
Current Dividend Yield: 9.14%
Country: France
5.Company: RWE AG (RWEOY)
Current Price: $42.16
Current Dividend Yield: 6.25%
Country: Germany
6.Company: Iberdrola SA (IBDRY)
Current Price: $18.17
Current Dividend Yield: N/A
Country: Spain
7.Company: Fortum (FOJCY)
Current Price: $4.17
Current Dividend Yield: 6.31%
Country: Finland
8.Company: Verbund AG (OEZVY)
Current Price: $5.36
Current Dividend Yield: 2.69%
Country: Austria
9.Company: EDP Energias de Portugal SA (EDPFY)
Current Price: $28.62
Current Dividend Yield: 8.46%
Country: Portugal
10.Company: Gas Natural (GASNY)
Current Price: $2.90
Current Dividend Yield: 6.32%
Country: Spain
11.Company: Norsk Hydro AS (NHYDY)
Current Price: $4.54
Current Dividend Yield: 2.96%
Country: Norway
Note: All prices and dividends are as of May 4, 2012
Disclosure: Long EONGY, FOJCY, RWEOY