5 Best Electric Utility Stocks To Invest In Right Now

On this day in economic and business history...

The flow of moving water has been one of humanity's oldest sources of energy. However, water wheels at shoreline mills are hardly sufficient for a modern electrified civilization. And so, less than a year after Thomas Edison first developed a working electric light bulb, the first modern hydroelectric turbine began operating at the Wolverine Chair Factory in Grand Rapids, Mich., on July 24, 1880.

The turbine, operated by the Grand Rapids Electric Light and Power Company, generated enough power to light up 16 arc lamps. It lit up several riverside businesses as well as the chair factory, and the Grand Rapids Eagle observed: "The light was a grand success, strong, steady, white and uniform. It called thousands of people on to the streets and into places lighted by it, and it was admired and enjoyed by all."

Two years later, the first purpose-built hydroelectric plant went into service on the Fox River in Wisconsin. By the end of the 1880s, more than 200 electric plants generated at least some of their power from the movement of water. Hydropower use continued to grow, and by 1907 15% of all American electricity was generated from the water. By 1940, after a massive boost from President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal construction programs, hydropower accounted for a full 40% of all electricity generated in the United States.

Top 5 Electric Utility Companies For 2015: Wolverine World Wide Inc.(WWW)

Wolverine World Wide, Inc. designs, manufactures, sources, markets, licenses, and distributes branded footwear, apparel, and accessories. It offers industrial work shoes, boots, uniform shoes, outdoor sports footwear, rugged casual footwear, lifestyle footwear, sandals, and closed-toe products. It also provides outdoor apparel, and work and rugged casual apparel; and accessories, such as packs, bags, and luggage, as well as eyewear, gloves, handbags, socks, watches, and plush toys. The company offers its products under various brand names, including Bates, Cat Footwear, Chaco, Cushe, Harley-Davidson Footwear, Hush Puppies, HyTest, Merrell, Patagonia Footwear, Sebago, Soft Style, and Wolverine. It sells its products to a range of retail customers, which comprise department stores, national chains, catalogs, specialty retailers, mass merchants, Internet retailers, governments, and municipalities in the United States, Canada, and Europe. The company also markets its products in approximately 190 countries and territories through company-owned wholesale operations, licensees, and distributors. It also licenses its brands for use on non-footwear products. As of December 31, 2011, the company operated 101 retail stores in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom; and operated 42 consumer-direct Websites. Further, it markets pigskin leather, and purchases raw pigskins from other source. Wolverine World Wide, Inc. was founded in 1883 and is based in Rockford, Michigan.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Shares of Deckers Outdoor have dropped 13% to $73.90, while Crocs (CROX) has gained 0.8% to $15.24, Steve Madden (SHOO) has dropped 0.1% to $36.52, Wolverine World Wide (WWW) has fallen 1.2% to $126.36 and Skechers (SKX) has fallen 1.6% to $33.82.

• [By Chuck Carnevale]

  Wolverine World Wide (WWW): A Faster Growing Global Marketer of Footwear

  Our third example, Wolverine World Wide, moves farther up the growth chain with earnings averaging 9.4% per annum. Nevertheless, we once again see the strong relationship and close correlation between stock price and earnings over the long run. Perhaps due to the faster earnings growth rate, we do see several periods where the company�� price earnings ratio has deviated significantly above the 15 standard, indicating overvaluation. Nevertheless, just as we saw with our first two examples, stock price inevitably and soon moves back into alignment with earnings.

5 Best Electric Utility Stocks To Invest In Right Now: MRC Global Inc (MRC)

MRC Global Inc., formerly known as McJunkin Red Man Holding Corporation, incorporated on November 20, 2006, is a holding company. The Company is the distributor of pipe, valves and fittings (PVF) and related products and services to the energy industry. The Company offers a range of PVF and oilfield supplies encompassing a complete line of products from its global network of suppliers to its more than 12,000 customers. The Company operates in two segments: North American segment and International segment. Its North American segment includes over 180 branch locations, six distribution centers in the United States, one distribution center in Canada, 11 valve automation service centers and over 170 pipe yards located in the oil and natural gas regions in North America. Its International segment includes over 40 branch locations throughout Europe, Asia and Australasia with distribution centers in each of the United Kingdom, Singapore and Australia and 10 automation service centers in Europe and Asia. On June 9, 2011, it acquired Stainless Pipe and Fittings Australia Pty. Ltd. (MRC SPF). On July 22, 2011, it acquired Valve Systems and Controls (VSC). In January 2013, the Company's subsidiary, McJunkin Red Man Corporation,acquired operating assets of Production Specialty Services, Inc. In July 2013, MRC Global Inc announced that it has completed the previously announced acquisition of the operating assets of Dan H. Brown, Inc., D/B/A Flow Control Products (Flow Control). In December 2013, MRC Global Inc acquired Flangefitt Stainless Ltd. Effective January 6, 2014, MRC Global Inc a unit of GS Capital Partners LP subsidiary of Goldman Sachs Group Inc's Goldman Sachs & Co unit, acquired Stream AS.

The Company distributes products globally, including in PVF intensive, oil and natural gas exploration and production (E&P) areas, such as the Bakken, Barnett, Eagle Ford, Fayetteville, Haynesville, Marcellus, Niobrara and Utica shales in North America. Its Canadian subsidiary Midfield Supply ULC and its! subsidiaries (MRC Midfield), provides PVF products to oil and natural gas companies operating primarily in Western Canada, including the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin, Alberta Oil Sands and heavy oil regions. It offers more than 150,000 stock keeping units (SKUs), including a range of PVF, oilfield supply, automation, instrumentation and other general and specialty industry supply products.

The Company is the majority owned subsidiary of PVF Holdings LLC. Its wholly owned subsidiary, McJunkin Red Man Corporation and its subsidiaries (MRC), are global distributors of pipe, valves, fittings and related products and services across each of the upstream (exploration, production and extraction of underground oil and gas), midstream (gathering and transmission of oil and gas, gas utilities, and the storage and distribution of oil and gas) and downstream (crude oil refining, petrochemical processing and general industrials) markets. The Company serves the global oil and natural gas industry, generating approximately 90% of its sales from supplying products and services to customers throughout the energy industry. Of its total sales, 62% of sales are comprised of valves, fittings and flanges and other industrial supply products and 38% are tubular products, mainly line pipe and oil country tubular goods (OCTG) as of September 30, 2011.

North American Operations

The Company distributes PVF products, primarily used in applications in the energy infrastructure sector, from its global network of suppliers. The products it distributes are used in the construction, maintenance, repair and overhaul of equipments. The products include Valves and Specialty Products, Line Pipe, OCTG, Carbon Steel Fittings and Flanges and Stainless Steel and Alloy Pipe and Fittings and others. The products under valves and specialty products include ball, butterfly, gate, globe, check, needle and plug valves, which are manufactured from cast steel, stainless/alloy steel, forged steel, carbon st! eel or ca! st and ductile iron. Specialty products include lined corrosion resistant piping systems, valve automation and top work components used for regulating flow and on/off service, and a range of steam and instrumentation products used in various process applications within its refinery, petrochemical and general industrial sectors.

Carbon line pipe is used in high-yield, high-stress, abrasive applications, such as the gathering and transmission of oil, natural gas and phosphates. Line pipe is part of its tubular product category. OCTG is part of its tubular product category, includes casing (used for production and to line the well bore) and tubing pipe (used to extract oil or natural gas from wells) and is either classified as carbon or alloy depending on the grade of material. Carbon steel fittings and flanges include carbon weld fittings, flanges and piping components used primarily to connect piping and valve systems for the transmission of various liquids and gases. These products are used across all the industries in which it operates. Stainless steel and alloy pipe and fittings include stainless, alloy and corrosion resistant pipe, tubing, fittings and flanges. These are used in the chemical, refining and power generation industries, as well as across all of the sectors in which the Company operates. Alloy products are principally used in high-pressure, high-temperature and high-corrosion applications typically seen in process piping applications.

The products under other category include natural gas distribution products, oilfield supplies, and other industrial products, such as mill and safety and electrical supplies. Natural gas distribution products include risers, meters, polyethylene pipe and fittings and various other components and industrial supplies used primarily in the distribution of natural gas to residential and commercial customers. It offers a range of oilfield and industrial supplies and completion equipment, and products offered include high density polyet! hylene pi! pe and fittings, valves, well heads, pumping units and rods. In addition, it supplies a range of specialized production equipment, including meter runs, tanks and separators used in its upstream sector.

The Company provides its customers with a range of services, including multiple deliveries each day, zone store management, valve tagging and system interfaces that directly tie the customer into its information systems. Its information system, which provides for customer and supplier electronic integrations, information sharing and e-commerce applications, provides service to its customers. The Company sources the products it distributes from a global network of suppliers. The remainder of the products it distributes are sourced from manufacturer representatives, trading companies and, in some instances, other distributors.

The Company competes with Wilson Industries, Inc., National Oilwell Varco, Inc. and Ferguson Enterprises.

International Operations

The Company�� International segment represents its valve and stainless and alloy pipe, fitting and flange distribution business to the energy and general industrial sectors, across each of the downstream and upstream sectors, through its distribution operations located throughout Europe, Asia, Australasia and the Middle East. Through its over 40 branch and service facilities throughout Europe, Asia, Australasia and the Middle East, it distributes a complete line of valve and stainless and alloy pipe, fittings and flanges and specialty products. Its Valve products offered include ball, butterfly, gate, globe, check, needle and plug valves, which are manufactured from cast steel, stainless/alloy steel, forged steel, carbon steel or cast and ductile iron. Valves are used in oilfield and industrial applications to control direction, velocity and pressure of fluids and gases within transmission networks. Specialty products include lined corrosion resistant piping systems, valve automation and top work compo! nents use! d for regulating flow and on/off service and a range of steam and instrumentation products used in various process applications within its offshore, refinery, petrochemical and general industrial sectors.

Stainless steel products are used in all sectors in which it operates, including oil and gas, mining and mineral processing, water treatment and desalination, and petrochemical. It provides its customers with a range of services, including multiple daily deliveries, zone stores management, valve tagging and system interfaces that directly tie the customer into its information systems.

The Company competes with Econosto.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Monica Wolfe]

  MRC Global (MRC)

  Over the duration of the second quarter, Columbia Wanger upped their position in MRC Global by 258.43%. The fund purchased 1,809,000 shares of the company�� stock at an average price of $29.69. Since their increase, the price per share has dropped -18.9%.

5 Best Electric Utility Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited (TEVA)

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, a pharmaceutical company, develops, produces, and markets generic drugs; and proprietary branded pharmaceuticals in various therapeutic categories and active pharmaceutical ingredients worldwide. The company?s provides generic drug portfolio of approximately 1,450 molecules and a direct presence in 60 countries. It offers generic pharmaceutical products in a range of dosage forms, such as tablets, capsules, ointments, creams, liquids, injectables, and inhalants. The company sells its generic injectable products to hospitals, clinics, and other institutional channels, primarily in the United States and Europe, as well as in Latin America and eastern Europe. Its branded products include Copaxone to treat multiple sclerosis; and Azilect to treat Parkinson?s disease, as well as biosimilars, respiratory, and women?s health products. The company was founded in 1901 and is headquartered in Petach Tikva, Israel.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  ANI Pharmaceuticals (ANIP) has climbed 8.9% to $18.80 after it said it would buy 31 generic drugs from Teva Pharmaceuticals (TEVA). Teva’s shares are little changed in pre-open trading.

• [By Sean Williams]

  Bipolar disorder is the final mood disorder characterized by major shifts in mood, energy, and ability to function, and it affects roughly 6 million people in the United States. Similar to dysthymia, medication and counseling are the two most common therapies used to keep this long-term disease in check. Perhaps one of the best-known treatments is Johnson & Johnson's�Risperdal, which has long since gone to a generic form and is now manufactured by Teva Pharmaceutical (NYSE: TEVA  ) .�

• [By Maria Armental var popups = dojo.query(".socialByline .popC"); popups.forEach]

  Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.(TEVA) said an appeals court upheld a federal judge’s ruling that Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.'s(BMY) patent for hepatitis B treatment Baraclude is invalid, allowing Teva to sell a generic version.

5 Best Electric Utility Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Denny's Corporation(DENN)

Denny's Corporation, through its subsidiaries, engages in the ownership and operation of a chain of family-style restaurants. The company operates traditional American-style food restaurants under the Denny?s brand name. As of December 28, 2011, it had 1,479 franchised/licensed restaurants and 206 company-owned and operated restaurants in the United States, Canada, Costa Rica, Mexico, Honduras, Guam, Puerto Rico, and New Zealand. The company was founded in 1980 and is headquartered in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Ben Levisohn]

  Shares of Ruby Tuesday have gained 4.8% to $7.59 this morning, making it the third-best performer in the S&P 1500 and outpacing other restaurant stocks. Jack in the Box (JACK) has dropped 0.8% to $38.76, DineEquity (DIN), which operates Applebee’s and IHOP, has gained 0.1%% to 66.12, Denny’s (DENN) has fallen 0.2% to $6.06 and recent-IPO Potbelly (PBPB) has gained 1.7% to $30.73.

• [By Peter Graham]

  The Q4 2014 earnings report for restaurant stock Bob Evans Farms Inc (NASDAQ: BOBE), a potential peer of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBRL), Denny's Corporation (NASDAQ: DENN) and DineEquity Inc (NYSE: DIN), is scheduled for after the market closes on Tuesday. Aside from the Bob Evans Farms report, it should be said that Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc reported Q3 2014 earnings on May 28th (revenues and profit�rose on�lower expenses); Denny's Corporation reported Q1 2014 earnings on April 28th (they had their strongest quarter of same-store sales at company restaurants in over seven years); and DineEquity Inc reported Q1 2014 on May 1st (earnings rose on stronger sales). However, Bob Evans Farms�recently replaced�three board members with new independent directors after�facing criticism from shareholder Sandell Asset Management Corp.