Top 5 Electric Utility Companies To Invest In Right Now

Pennsylvania-based electric utility PPL (NYSE: PPL  ) found itself in the path of one of the most devastating storms in history last year, as Hurricane Sandy barreled into the mid-Atlantic and left billions of dollars in damage in its wake. Although PPL stock didn't suffer a long-term hit from the storm, the utility now faces a much different threat from rising interest rates that could eventually have a major impact on its financing costs. Let's take a look at what's been happening with PPL in the recent past and how it's responding to this new threat.

Understanding PPL's business
Investors often treat utilities like boring businesses, but each one has different types of exposure to the various markets within the broader sector. For its part, PPL has an interesting combination of businesses, with both regulated customer-focused transmission and distribution units and unregulated electricity generation. Moreover, it does business not only in the U.S. but also in the U.K., where it has a relatively place in the market through its WPD subsidiary.

Top 5 Electric Utility Companies To Invest In Right Now: Century Casinos Inc.(CNTY)

Century Casinos, Inc. operates as an international casino entertainment company in the United States and internationally. The company owns and operates the Century Casino & Hotel Cripple Creek in Cripple Creek; the Century Casino Calgary in Alberta, Canada; the Century Casino & Hotel in Central City, Colorado; and the Century Casino & Hotel in Edmonton, Canada. It also operates ship-based casinos aboard, including the Silver Cloud, the Mein Schiff, and three Oceania Cruises ships. The company, through its Austrian subsidiary, Century Casinos Europe GmbH, holds a 33.3% ownership interest in Casinos Poland Ltd, which owns and operates seven full casinos in Poland. The company also manages the casino at the Radisson Aruba Resort, and Casino & Spa in Aruba, Caribbean. Century Casinos, Inc. was founded in 1992 and is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Top 5 Electric Utility Companies To Invest In Right Now: ONEOK Partners L.P.(OKS)

ONEOK Partners, L.P. engages in the gathering, processing, storage, and transportation of natural gas in the United States. The company?s Natural Gas Gathering and Processing segment gathers and processes natural gas produced from crude oil and natural gas wells located in the Mid-Continent region; and gathers natural gas in the Williston Basin, which spans portions of Montana and North Dakota, and the Powder River Basin of Wyoming. Its Natural Gas Pipelines segment primarily owns and operates regulated natural gas transmission pipelines, natural gas storage facilities, and natural gas gathering systems for non-processed gas. It also provides interstate natural gas transportation and storage services. This segment?s interstate natural gas pipeline assets transport natural gas through FERC-regulated interstate natural gas pipelines in North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Texas, and New Mexico. In addition, it transports intra state natural gas through its assets in Oklahoma; and owns underground natural gas storage facilities in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas. Its Natural Gas Liquids segment gathers, fractionates, and treats natural gas liquids (NGLs), as well as stores NGL products primarily in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas. This segment owns FERC-regulated natural gas liquids gathering and distribution pipelines in Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Wyoming, and Colorado; terminal and storage facilities in Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, and Illinois; and FERC-regulated natural gas liquids distribution and refined petroleum products pipelines in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana that connect its Mid-Continent assets with Midwest markets, including Chicago, Illinois. ONEOK Partners GP serves as the general partner of the company. The company was formerly known as Northern Border Partners, L.P. and changed its name to ONEOK Partners, L.P. in May 2006. The company was founded in 1993 and is based in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Louis Navellier]

  Oneok Partners (NYSE:OKS) is known for gathering, processing, storage and transportation of natural gas in the U.S. OKS has posted more modest gains than others on this list but still is up 10% year to date.

10 Best Consumer Stocks To Watch Right Now: Tufco Technologies Inc.(TFCO)

Tufco Technologies, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides integrated manufacturing services in the United States. The company offers contract manufacturing and specialty printing services. Its services include wet and dry-wipe converting, wide web flexographic printing, hot melt adhesive laminating, folding, integrated downstream packaging, and quality and microbiological process management. The company involved in the contract manufacture of products from various materials, such as polyethylene films, nonwovens, papers, and tissues. Its products comprise disposable wet and dry wipes for home, personal/baby/medical care use, flexible packaging, and disposable table covers. The company also manufactures and distributes business imaging paper products. It converts a range of paper products, including specialty and fine printing papers, thermal papers, inkjet papers, and coated products for use in retail, convenience store, restaurant, dry cleaning, and bank applicat ions. In addition, the company provides business forms products in laser cut sheets and multi-part forms; wide format rolls for drafting and architectural applications; printed and unprinted paper products used in business imaging equipment in market segments comprising architectural and engineering design, high speed data processing, point of sale, automatic teller machines, and office equipment; and various products for the restaurant market, such as children?s placemats, crayons, and guest checks. It markets its products and services through its sales and customer service employees, manufacturer?s representatives, and distributors to multinational consumer products companies, and dealers and distributors of business imaging papers. The company was founded in 1974 and is headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Top 5 Electric Utility Companies To Invest In Right Now: Inlet Resources Ltd (INL.V)

Inlet Resources Ltd., a junior resource company, engages in the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties in Canada. It primarily holds a 50% interest in the Broken Hill-Leo property comprising 133 claims with zinc-lead-silver deposits located north-north east of Kamloops, British Columbia. The company is based in Vancouver, Canada.

Top 5 Electric Utility Companies To Invest In Right Now: C&C Group(CCR.L)

C&C Group plc manufactures, markets, and distributes branded alcoholic drinks primarily in Ireland, the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, and North America. It offers cider products under the Magners, Bulmers, Gaymers, Blackthorn, Olde English, Addlestones, Special VAT, K, Natch, Diamond White, Hornsby, and St Aubel brands; and beer products under the Tennent?s brand. The company also distributes a range of third party beer and cider brands, and soft drinks; and provides management services. C&C Group plc was founded in 1935 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.