IDU News and Press, iShares U.S. Utilities From 04/11/22

A low dividend yield for utilities stocks suggests low returns for the remainder of the decade. The dividend yield on utilities is now lower than the yields on long-term Treasuries, and this has historically suggested low utility returns relative to bonds. The stock market as a wh...

Does the yield curve inversion cause a recession or does it just provide a signal? Is the inversion only about expected future monetary policy? Do other factors also influence the shape of the curve, and if so, can we disentangle the various factors? There is a lot that we don’...

Wall Street has been on edge lately, with financial markets roiled by a host of factors: yield curve inversion, rising inflation, rate hikes, a possible recession and geopolitical tensions. In this environment, it’s no surprise that exchange traded funds focused on defensive stocks hav...

Inflation expectations have kept the Federal Reserve center stage as they commenced their interest rate rising cycle in March. The war in Ukraine and Omicron’s spread in China impacted inflation and supply chains differently, but both delay supply chain normalization. Regar...

Stock markets fell in the first quarter as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine destabilized the growth outlook, amplified concerns about rising interest rates and unleashed geopolitical risks. While the conflict has created many uncertainties, we believe the impact of persistent infla...

Follow the Money is a series of brief, information-rich posts that I will publish periodically but not on a fixed schedule. After rallying for 9 of the last 11 days, the S&P 500 went from down -13% to down just -3.4%. Growth has been hit hard by the slide in tech stocks this y...

iShares U.S. Utilities ETF (IDU) - $0.5062. 30-Day SEC Yield of 2.49% as of Feb. 28. Payable Mar 30; for shareholders of record Mar 25; ex-div Mar 24. For further details see: iShares U.S. Utilities ETF declares quarterly distribution of $0.5062

Utilities have traditionally been an attractive place for income-oriented investors with their stable and generous dividends. However, their dividends need to be interpreted under the context of risk-free rates. The 10-year Treasury rates just surged above 2.15% for the first time...

XLU provides simple cap-weighted exposure to 29 S&P 500 Utilities stocks. It's the largest Utilities ETF with $13.45 billion in AUM, and the second cheapest with a 0.10% expense ratio. Figuring out the direction of utility stocks is a complex task. I'll highlight some factors I co...

Inflation and its implications for real economic growth are the main portfolio positioning consideration of the conflict in Ukraine. On the 8th of March, the U.S. sanctioned Russian energy imports, giving companies 45 days to comply. Higher commodity prices are not the only factor...