Twelve percent dividend yields almost always come with strings attached. In the case of rural communications leader Windstream Corp (NYSE: WIN), however, the hefty yield is squarely backed by a strong business that’s proving its worth under the toughest conditions. Read More

Roughly two-thirds of the 219 essential service companies tracked in How They Rate have now reported fourth quarter earnings. The good news is utility numbers, by and large, continue to hold up. Read More

Not a “going concern:” That’s the warning General Motors (NYSE: GM) gave investors this week after announcing a staggering $30.9 billion loss for 2008. The company stated it could break covenants on billions of dollars in debt over the next few months--a de facto bankruptcy--unless it gets a requested $16.6 billion in US government bailout funds. Read More

Can a company with manageable debt occupying a generally recession-resistant niche stay healthy in the worst downturn in decades? That’s the question on many investors’ minds as bad economic news continues to pour in. Read More

Sooner or later, all that money coming into the system is going to boost economic growth. We’re almost certainly going to see more pain until that happens. But as fourth quarter earnings results have demonstrated thus far, the weak are the ones getting weaker. Read More

As a general point, it really does pay to be politically agnostic when it comes to investing. We have one simple rule: Follow the money. In a weak environment like this one, Uncle Sam is one of the few players that reliably pay the bills. Read More

In a year when the Dow Jones Utility Average fell more than 30 percent and the S&P 500 sank nearly 40 percent, Southern Company finished 2008 even. That’s thanks to conservative finances, constructive regulatory relations, solid assets and growth-focused but risk-averse management. Read More

Consolidated Water shares have fallen hard since late 2007. Ironically, the seawater-to-freshwater producer has continued to seamlessly expand its reverse osmosis facilities throughout the Caribbean, locking down profitable sales of its output, mostly to governments. Read More

Since the bear market began in mid-2007, no How They Rate water utilities or energy infrastructure limited partnerships have cut dividends. PNM Resources (NYSE: PNM) is the only power company to do so, while FairPoint Communications (NYSE: FRP) and Sprint Nextel (NYSE: S) are the sole US telecoms. Read More

At its peak in early 2000, Canadian phone equipment maker Nortel (TSX: NT, NYSE: NT) sold for a split-adjusted price of $900. Last month, it filed Chapter 11, due to a combination of collapsing sales, $12 billion in total liabilities and a wave of lawsuits. Read More