Alliant Energy Corp. $33 - New York symbol LNT

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 its losses, the company estimates the flood will cut its 2008 earnings by $0.20 a share. To put that estimate in perspective, Alliant earned $0.62 a share (total $68.1 million) in the first quarter of 2008, up 10.7% from $0.56 a share ($65.2 million) a year earlier. Revenue grew 8.7%, to $992.0 million from $912.7 million. Alliant now plans to build a wind farm in southern Minnesota that will generate 400 megawatts of power. The first phase of this project will cost $450 million to $475 million, and generate 200 megawatts by the end of 2010. Wind power is less reliable than traditional power plants. However, this project should help Alliant cut its reliance on coal, natural gas and oil for virtually all of its power. It will also help the company curry favor with regulators and environmentalists. The company should earn $2.60 a share in 2008, excluding non-recurring charges. The stock trades at 12.7 times that estimate. The $1.40 dividend yields 4.2%. Alliant Energy is a buy.

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