50 Best Utility Dividend Stocks To Invest In

Investors in one of the 50 best utility dividend stocks to invest in can breathe quite easily, knowing that hedge funds helmed by the best investors in the world also have vast holdings in these companies.

Several hedge funds that Insider Monkey tracks became upbeat about utility company stocks during the first quarter based on their recent wave of 13F filings. Over the next few pages, we have analyzed the best utility company stocks for investing based on that hedge fund sentiment. That’s what we do at Insider Monkey and our flagship strategy has returned 44.2% since February 2016 vs. a 29.6% gain for the S&P 500 index ETF (SPY). Our most recent stock picks, which were disclosed to our subscribers in the middle of February, beat the market by 5 percentage points in the three months that followed and our latest picks were released in the middle of May. Our system is easy for investors to implement, with just a small batch of trades to be executed once per quarter.

To give us an idea on how influential hedge funds are, here are a few statistics. As of now, there are 95 utility companies that currently offer dividends. Of those companies, 89 have at least one hedge fund backing them, with one company being owned by 33 hedge funds. The size of hedge funds’ aggregate holdings varies, from as little as $1.95 million to more than $1.60 billion. Overall, as of March 31, 2017, hedge funds have utilities investments worth $25.49 billion.

For this list of the best utility dividend stocks to invest in, the companies are ranked according to the number of hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey which are invested in the companies as of the end of the first quarter of 2017. In case two or more utility companies have the same number of hedge fund backers, the companies are then ranked based on how much money the hedge funds have invested in each of them. All hedge fund ownership information is as of March 31, 2017, while figures for each company’s dividend yield, stock price, and annual dividend are as of July 11, 2017.

Head to the following pages to discover the 50 best utility dividend stocks to invest in.

50. Otter Tail Corporation (NASDAQ:OTTR)

Hedge fund sentiment on Otter Tail Corporation (NASDAQ:OTTR): 12 hedge funds invested $46.3 million

Annual dividend: $1.28

Stock price: $39.10

Dividend yield: 3.27%

49. NorthWestern Corp (NYSE:NWE)

Hedge fund sentiment on NorthWestern Corp (NYSE:NWE): 12 hedge funds invested $48.4 million

Annual dividend: $2.10

Stock price: $59.71

Dividend yield: 3.52%

48. Avista Corp (NYSE:AVA)

Hedge fund sentiment on Avista Corp (NYSE:AVA): 12 hedge funds invested $53.5 million

Annual dividend: $1.43

Stock price: $41.63

Dividend yield: 3.44%

47. SJW Group (NYSE:SJW)

Hedge fund sentiment on SJW Group (NYSE:SJW): 13 hedge funds invested $65.7 million

Annual dividend: $0.87

Stock price: $49.02

Dividend yield: 1.77%

46. ALLETE Inc (NYSE:ALE)

Hedge fund sentiment on ALLETE Inc (NYSE:ALE): 13 hedge funds invested $77 million

Annual dividend: $2.14

Stock price: $70.31

Dividend yield: 3.04%

45. Alliant Energy Corporation (NYSE:LNT)

Hedge fund sentiment on Alliant Energy Corporation (NYSE:LNT): 13 hedge funds invested $104.2 million

Annual dividend: $1.26

Stock price: $39.56

Dividend yield: 3.19%

44. Aqua America Inc (NYSE:WTR)

Hedge fund sentiment on Aqua America Inc (NYSE:WTR): 13 hedge funds invested $110.6 million

Annual dividend: $0.77

Stock price: $32.64

Dividend yield: 2.34%

43. Eversource Energy (NYSE:ES)

Hedge fund sentiment on Eversource Energy (NYSE:ES): 13 hedge funds invested $274.7 million

Annual dividend: $1.90

Stock price: $59.91

Dividend yield: 3.17%

42. Consolidated Edison, Inc. (NYSE:ED)

Hedge fund sentiment on Consolidated Edison, Inc. (NYSE:ED): 13 hedge funds invested $467.8 million

Annual dividend: $2.76

Stock price: $80.37

Dividend yield: 3.43%

41. Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (NYSE:HE)

Hedge fund sentiment on Hawaiian Electric Industries, Inc. (NYSE:HE): 14 hedge funds invested $82.7 million

Annual dividend: $1.24

Stock price: $32.05

Dividend yield: 3.87%

40. Ormat Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:ORA)

Hedge fund sentiment on Ormat Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:ORA): 14 hedge funds invested $111.6 million

Annual dividend: $0.32

Stock price: $56.06

Dividend yield: 0.57%

39. Cosan Ltd (USA) (NYSE:CZZ)

Hedge fund sentiment on Cosan Ltd (USA) (NYSE:CZZ): 15 hedge funds invested $141.6 million

Annual dividend: $0.08

Stock price: $6.40

Dividend yield: 1.18%

38. TransCanada Corporation (USA) (NYSE:TRP)

Hedge fund sentiment on TransCanada Corporation (USA) (NYSE:TRP): 15 hedge funds invested $248.4 million

Annual dividend: $1.89

Stock price: $48.36

Dividend yield: 3.91%

37. Southwest Gas Holdings Inc (NYSE:SWX)

Hedge fund sentiment on Southwest Gas Holdings Inc (NYSE:SWX): 15 hedge funds invested $256.7 million

Annual dividend: $1.98

Stock price: $74.02

Dividend yield: 2.67%

36. Duke Energy Corp (NYSE:DUK)

Hedge fund sentiment on Duke Energy Corp (NYSE:DUK): 15 hedge funds invested $538.6 million

Annual dividend: $3.56

Stock price: $83.19

Dividend yield: 4.28%

The next 35 companies on this list of the 50 best utility dividend stocks to invest in each have more than 15 hedge funds invested in them as of the end of the first quarter of 2017.

35. Avangrid Inc (NYSE:AGR)

Hedge fund sentiment on Avangrid Inc (NYSE:AGR): 16 hedge funds invested $165.7 million

Annual dividend: $1.73

Stock price: $43.54

Dividend yield: 3.97%

34. Ameren Corp (NYSE:AEE)

Hedge fund sentiment on Ameren Corp (NYSE:AEE): 16 hedge funds invested $476.7 million

Annual dividend: $1.76

Stock price: $53.95

Dividend yield: 3.26%

33. DTE Energy Co (NYSE:DTE)

Hedge fund sentiment on DTE Energy Co (NYSE:DTE): 16 hedge funds invested $608.9 million

Annual dividend: $3.30

Stock price: $104.93

Dividend yield: 3.14%

32. Pinnacle West Capital Corporation (NYSE:PNW)

Hedge fund sentiment on Pinnacle West Capital Corporation (NYSE:PNW): 16 hedge funds invested $684.5 million

Annual dividend: $2.62

Stock price: $84.20

Dividend yield: 3.11%

31. Atlantica Yield PLC (NASDAQ:ABY)

Hedge fund sentiment on Atlantica Yield PLC (NASDAQ:ABY): 17 hedge funds invested $335.5 million

Annual dividend: $1.00

Stock price: $20.12

Dividend yield: 4.97%

30. Xcel Energy Inc (NYSE:XEL)

Hedge fund sentiment on Xcel Energy Inc (NYSE:XEL): 17 hedge funds invested $646.1 million

Annual dividend: $1.44

Stock price: $45.56

Dividend yield: 3.16%

29. Covanta Holding Corp (NYSE:CVA)

Hedge fund sentiment on Covanta Holding Corp (NYSE:CVA): 18 hedge funds invested $202.2 million

Annual dividend: $1.00

Stock price: $13.25

Dividend yield: 7.55%

28. National Fuel Gas Co. (NYSE:NFG)

Hedge fund sentiment on National Fuel Gas Co. (NYSE:NFG): 18 hedge funds invested $223.6 million

Annual dividend: $1.66

Stock price: $55.45

Dividend yield: 2.99%

27. Dominion Energy Inc (NYSE:D)

Hedge fund sentiment on Dominion Energy Inc (NYSE:D): 18 hedge funds invested $249.9 million

Annual dividend: $3.02

Stock price: $75.60

Dividend yield: 3.99%

26. OGE Energy Corp. (NYSE:OGE)

Hedge fund sentiment on OGE Energy Corp. (NYSE:OGE): 19 hedge funds invested $180 million

Annual dividend: $1.21

Stock price: $34.21

Dividend yield: 3.54%

25. American Water Works Company Inc (NYSE:AWK)

Hedge fund sentiment on American Water Works Company Inc (NYSE:AWK): 19 hedge funds invested $350.6 million

Annual dividend: $1.66

Stock price: $77.87

Dividend yield: 2.13%

24. UGI Corp (NYSE:UGI)

Hedge fund sentiment on UGI Corp (NYSE:UGI): 19 hedge funds invested $409.1 million

Annual dividend: $1.00

Stock price: $48.15

Dividend yield: 2.08%

23. PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG)

Hedge fund sentiment on PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG): 19 hedge funds invested $1.04 billion

Annual dividend: $2.12

Stock price: $65.06

Dividend yield: 3.26%

22. Entergy Corporation (NYSE:ETR)

Hedge fund sentiment on Entergy Corporation (NYSE:ETR): 20 hedge funds invested $622.2 million

Annual dividend: $3.48

Stock price: $75.31

Dividend yield: 4.62%

21. Edison International (NYSE:EIX)

Hedge fund sentiment on Edison International (NYSE:EIX): 20 hedge funds invested $845.9 million

Annual dividend: $2.17

Stock price: $76.44

Dividend yield: 2.84%

20. PPL Corp (NYSE:PPL)

Hedge fund sentiment on PPL Corp (NYSE:PPL): 21 hedge funds invested $348.4 million

Annual dividend: $1.58

Stock price: $37.94

Dividend yield: 4.16%

19. Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE)

Hedge fund sentiment on Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE): 21 hedge funds invested $503.8million

Annual dividend: $3.29

Stock price: $110.77

Dividend yield: 2.97%

18. NiSource Inc. (NYSE:NI)

Hedge fund sentiment on NiSource Inc. (NYSE:NI): 214 hedge funds invested $586.1 million

Annual dividend: $0.70

Stock price: $25.21

Dividend yield: 2.78%

17. NRG Yield, Inc. Class A (NYSE:NYLD.A)

Hedge fund sentiment on NRG Yield, Inc. Class A (NYSE:NYLD.A): 22 hedge funds invested $86.2 million

Annual dividend: $1.08

Stock price: $17.40

Dividend yield: 6.21%

16. CMS Energy Corporation (NYSE:CMS)

Hedge fund sentiment on CMS Energy Corporation (NYSE:CMS): 23 hedge funds invested $511.4 million

Annual dividend: $1.33

Stock price: $45.59

Dividend yield: 2.92%

15. Great Plains Energy Incorporated (NYSE:GXP)

Hedge fund sentiment on Great Plains Energy Incorporated (NYSE:GXP): 23 hedge funds invested $550.2 million

Annual dividend: $1.10

Stock price: $29.81

Dividend yield: 3.69%

14. Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. (NYSE:PEG)

Hedge fund sentiment on Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. (NYSE:PEG): 23 hedge funds invested $618 million

Annual dividend: $1.72

Stock price: $41.97

Dividend yield: 4.10%

13. Targa Resources Corp (NYSE:TRGP)

Hedge fund sentiment on Targa Resources Corp (NYSE:TRGP): 23 hedge funds invested $682 million

Annual dividend: $3.64

Stock price: $43.84

Dividend yield: 8.30%

12. CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE:CNP)

Hedge fund sentiment on CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE:CNP): 25 hedge funds invested $408.5 million

Annual dividend: $1.07

Stock price: $27.27

Dividend yield: 3.92%

11. SCANA Corporation (NYSE:SCG)

Hedge fund sentiment on Prudential Financial Inc (NYSE:PRU): 26 hedge funds invested $355.4 million

Annual dividend: $2.45

Stock price: $63.75

Dividend yield: 3.84%

10. Southern Co (NYSE:SO)

Hedge fund sentiment on Southern Co (NYSE:SO): 26 hedge funds invested $390.1 million

Annual dividend: $2.32

Stock price: $47.28

Dividend yield: 4.91%

9. EQT Corporation (NYSE:EQT)

Hedge fund sentiment on EQT Corporation (NYSE:EQT): 26 hedge funds invested $852.6 million

Annual dividend: $0.12

Stock price: $59.90

Dividend yield: 0.20%

8. American Electric Power Company Inc (NYSE:AEP)

Hedge fund sentiment on American Electric Power Company Inc (NYSE:AEP): 26 hedge funds invested $1.60 billion

Annual dividend: $2.36

Stock price: $68.89

Dividend yield: 3.43%

7. ONEOK, Inc. (NYSE:OKE)

Hedge fund sentiment on ONEOK, Inc. (NYSE:OKE): 27 hedge funds invested $436.7 million

Annual dividend: $2.46

Stock price: $51.00

Dividend yield: 4.82%

6. Exelon Corporation (NYSE:EXC)

Hedge fund sentiment on Exelon Corporation (NYSE:EXC): 27 hedge funds invested $437.4 million

Annual dividend: $1.31

Stock price: $35.76

Dividend yield: 3.66%

5. Westar Energy Inc (NYSE:WR)

Hedge fund sentiment on Westar Energy Inc (NYSE:WR): 27 hedge funds invested $976.4 million

Annual dividend: $1.60

Stock price: $50.41

Dividend yield: 3.17%

4. NextEra Energy Inc (NYSE:NEE)

Hedge fund sentiment on NextEra Energy Inc (NYSE:NEE): 27 hedge funds invested $1.16 billion

Annual dividend: $3.93

Stock price: $141.03

Dividend yield: 2.79%

3. AES Corp (NYSE:AES)

Hedge fund sentiment on AES Corp (NYSE:AES): 28 hedge funds invested $246.6 million

Annual dividend: $0.48

Stock price: $10.94

Dividend yield: 4.39%

2. FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE:FE)

Hedge fund sentiment on FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE:FE): 28 hedge funds invested $1.06 billion

Annual dividend: $1.44

Stock price: $29.31

Dividend yield: 4.91%

1. NRG Energy Inc (NYSE:NRG)

Hedge fund sentiment on NRG Energy Inc (NYSE:NRG): 33 hedge funds invested $1.02 billion

Annual dividend: $0.12

Stock price: $16.12

Dividend yield: 0.74%

The support that NRG Energy gets from 33 hedge funds puts the company on top of this list of the 50 best utility dividend stocks to invest in.

Disclosure: None