3 Utility Stocks With World-Class Dividends

Most utility stocks pay a dividend, thanks to the regulated and resilient nature of utilities that allows companies to generate steady, often predictable, revenue and cash flows. Utility stocks, therefore, often make it into the portfolios of income investors.

However, one mistake investors make is chasing dividend yields. That's not to say a high yield isn't better, but overlooking stocks just because their yields aren't that great could mean missing out on big returns. That's what I found out when I dug deeper into dividend-paying utility stocks, which is why the three utility stocks I've picked here have two themes in common: world-class dividend payout and dividend growth track records.

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) is one heck of a dividend stock if you're looking to invest in a traditional utility. Here's why:

Source Fool.com