Alliant Energy

Unusual weather can cause big swings in gas and electricity demand. That can have a major impact on the earnings of Ameren and Alliant. Even so, their regulated businesses face little competition, and will continue to give them plenty of steady cash flows for dividends. Still, only one is a buy right now.

AMEREN CORP. $30 (New York symbol AEE; Income …read more »

Alliant Energy Corp., symbol LNT on New York, sells electricity and natural gas to 1.4 million customers in Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota and Illinois.

Alliant is one of the stock trading picks we analyze in Wall Street Stock Forecaster, our newsletter for investing in the U.S. markets.

In the three months ended March 31, 2011, Alliant’s earnings rose 45.5%, to $73.5 million, …read more »

ALLIANT ENERGY CORP. $29 (New York symbol LNT; Income Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 110.5 million; Market cap: $3.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.8; WSSF Rating: Average) expects that it earned $2.65 a share in 2008. However, earnings for 2009 will likely drop to between $2.18 and $2.48 a share as the slowing economy has hurt electricity demand. The stock now …read more »

ALLIANT ENERGY CORP. $33 (New York symbol LNT; Income Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 110.4 million; Market cap: $3.6 billion; WSSF Rating: Average) supplies electricity and natural gas to customers in Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota and Illinois.

Recent flooding forced the company to suspend operations at two of its generating stations in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Although insurance will help cover some of …read more »

Alliant and Ameren have moved down lately, largely due to fears that floods in the Midwest and rising fuel costs will hurt their earnings growth. However, power regulators will probably let them recover these extra costs through higher rates.

ALLIANT ENERGY CORP. $33 (New York symbol LNT; Income Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 110.4 million; Market cap: $3.6 billion; WSSF Rating: …read more »

AMEREN CORP. $54 (New York symbol AEE; Income Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 208.0 million; Market cap: $11.2 billion; WSSF Rating: Average) provides electricity and natural gas to customers in Illinois and Missouri.

The company has agreed to pay the State of Missouri $177.4 million to settle a lawsuit over the 2005 breach of a reservoir at Ameren’s Taum Sauk hydroelectric …read more »

WASHINGTON FEDERAL INC. $27 (NASDAQ symbol WFSL) has agreed to acquire First Mutual Bancshares, Inc. for $189.8 million in cash and stock. The price is a third more than the $143.1 million or $1.64 a share it earned in fiscal 2006. First Mutual is profitable, and will immediately add to Washington Federal’s earnings. The company also raised its quarterly dividend …read more »

AMEREN CORP. $52 (New York symbol AEE; Income Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 206.7 million; Market cap: $10.7 billion; WSSF Rating: Average) provides electrical power and gas to 2.4 million customers in Missouri and Illinois.

In the past year, severe storms have cut service to many of Ameren’s customers. Consumer groups are now pressuring regulators to force Ameren to compensate customers …read more »

ALLIANT ENERGY CORP. $36 (New York symbol LNT; Income Portfolio, Utilities sector; WSSF Rating: Average) supplies electricity and gas to over 1.4 million customers in four Midwestern states. It also provides engineering and consulting services to other utilities.

In the three months ended June 30, 2006, Alliant earned $0.39 a share (total $46.1 million) before unusual items, down 4.9% from $0.41 …read more »

ALLIANT ENERGY CORP. $32 (New York symbol LNT; WSSF Rating: Average) has agreed to sell its investments in four Chinese power companies for $84 million. The new owners will assume $23 million in debt related to these operations. Alliant still plans to sell two more plants in China with a book value of $5 million.

To put these figures in context, …read more »