Dominion Energy (D) has managed to significantly outperform most other regulated utilities over the past decade, establishing itself as a quality dividend growth investment. A large driver was the utility's expansion into midstream infrastructure, specifically natural gas and liquified natural gas (LNG) storage, transportation, and export capacity. However, in recent years the midstream industry has faced major headwinds, and now Dominion Energy has announced it feels it has to radically change its midstream growth strategy by offering to buy out its MLP, Dominion Midstream Partners (DM). Let's take a look at what this means for investors in both stocks, but especially what implications it has for the future growth prospects of Dominion Energy's earnings and dividend.

For most investors, owning dividend-paying stocks is all about the income. And dividend yield is a critical metric in the stock selection process. However, there are some important concepts investors need to understand about the dividend yield formula and how to apply it to maximize their long-term financial returns. Let's take a look at what you need to know about this simple but essential formula.

Many retirement-aged investors lean on dividends to make ends meet. The idea is to receive a stream of passive, predictable, and growing income that is independent of fickle stock prices. Instead of worrying about where the market might head any given year or which investments to sell to generate income using the 4% rule, many dividend investors bank on the resiliency of their income rolling in and hope to leave their nest egg largely untouched. But is this really a wise strategy during recessions? After all, if dividends are paid out of cash flow, which shrinks for most companies during economic downturns, significant dividend cuts seem like they should be expected as well. In this article, we will examine historical evidence [...]

Preserving capital and generating safe income are core goals in retirement. So not surprisingly, conservative investors often worry about when the next recession will occur and how it will affect their portfolios. Safe dividend-paying stocks can be an appealing choice for retirees who desire a predictable income stream that can hold its ground regardless of economic conditions and short-term stock price fluctuations. In fact, over 240 dividend-paying stocks in our database maintained or increased their dividends each year during the financial crisis while also outperforming the S&P 500's 55% peak-to-trough plunge by more than 20%. In other words, there were some excellent recession proof investments a risk averse income investor could have owned prior to the last downturn. But what [...]