Utility stocks, traditionally a haven for income investors, haven’t been getting much respect relative to other sectors. But there’s still plenty of yield available.
The Utilities Select Sector SPDR fund (ticker: XLU), a proxy for large-cap U.S. utility stocks, returned 11% this year through Sept. 7, trailing the S&P 500’s 21.5%, dividends included. The fund also trails the S&P 500 over one-, two-, three-, and five-year periods. And among the 11 sectors in the S&P 500, the utilities sector is the second-worst performer over the past year with a return of 17.75% and ahead of only consumer staples.
Dividends
These returns are hardly disastrous, but they illustrate how the market has gravitated to other sectors such as financials, which have returned about 50% over the past year, and even energy, up 37%.
Best Dividend Stocks To Watch For 2023: Omeros Corporation(OMER)
Omeros Corporation, incorporated on June 16, 1994, is a biopharmaceutical company. The Company is engaged in discovering, developing and commercializing small-molecule and protein therapeutics for large-market, as well as orphan indications targeting inflammation, coagulopathies and disorders of the central nervous system. Its marketed drug product, Omidria (phenylephrine and ketorolac injection), is launched in the United States for use during cataract surgery or intraocular lens (IOL) replacement. Omidria is derived from the Company’s PharmacoSurgery platform, which is designed for patients undergoing ophthalmological, arthroscopic, urological and other surgical procedures. Its PharmacoSurgery platform is based on low-dose combinations of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved therapeutic agents delivered directly to the surgical site throughout the duration of the procedure to inhibit preemptively inflammation and other problems caused by surgical trauma, and to provide clinical assistances both during and after surgery.
The Company’s pipeline includes clinical-stage development programs focused on complement-related thrombotic microangiopathies (TMAs); complement-mediated glomerulopathies; Huntington’s disease and cognitive impairment; addictive and compulsive disorders, and problems associated with urologic surgical procedures. In addition, it has a group of preclinical programs and over two additional platforms: one capable of unlocking new G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) drug targets and the other used to generate antibodies. OMS103 is the Company’s PharmacoSurgery product candidate, which is developed for use during all arthroscopic procedures, including knee and shoulder arthroscopy, and completed Phase III trials in patients undergoing arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and arthroscopic partial meniscectomy. OMS103 is a combination of anti-inflammatory/analgesic active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), specifically amitriptyline, ketoprofen and oxymetazoline, and designed to provide a multimodal approach to block preemptively the inflammatory cascade induced by arthroscopy. OMS103 is delivered directly to the joint throughout arthroscopy and is designed to act simultaneously at multiple distinct targets to block preemptively the inflammatory cascade induced by arthroscopic surgery.
Omidria is approved by the FDA for use during cataract surgery or IOL replacement surgery to maintain pupil size by preventing intraoperative miosis (pupil constriction) and to reduce postoperative ocular pain and is approved in all European Union (EU) member states for use during cataract surgery and other IOL replacement procedures to maintain mydriasis (pupil dilation), to prevent miosis and to reduce postoperative eye pain. Omidria is a drug product containing two APIs: ketorolac, an anti-inflammatory agent, and phenylephrine, a mydriatic, or pupil dilating, agent. These procedures are performed to replace a lens opacified by a cataract or to correct a refractive error. Omidria is added to standard irrigation solution used during cataract and lens replacement surgery and is delivered intracamerally, or within the anterior chamber of the eye, to the site of the surgical trauma throughout the procedure.
Clinical Programs
The Company’s clinical programs include Mannan-binding lectin-associated serine protease-2 (MASP-2) (OMS721)-Lectin Pathway Disorders; PDE10 (OMS824)-CNS Disorders; peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (OMS405)-Addiction, and OMS201-Urology. The MASP-2 is a pro-inflammatory protein target involved in activation of the complement system. OMS721 is its lead human monoclonal antibody targeting MASP-2. OMS721 has received Orphan Drug designation for the prevention (inhibition) of complement-mediated TMAs, and Fast Track designation for the treatment of patients with Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (aHUS). Phosphodiesterase 10 (PDE10) is an enzyme that is expressed in areas of the brain linked to diseases that affect cognition, including Huntington’s disease and schizophrenia. OMS824 has received Orphan Drug designation for the treatment of Huntington’s disease and Fast Track designation for the treatment of cognitive impairment in patients with Huntington’s disease. OMS824 is in a Phase II clinical program for the treatment of Huntington’s disease and a Phase II clinical program evaluating OMS824 for the treatment of schizophrenia.
The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma program is developing compositions that include peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma agonists for the treatment and prevention of addiction to substances of abuse, which may include opioids, nicotine and alcohol. It has completed two Phase II clinical trials related to its peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma program. OMS201 is its PharmacoSurgery product candidate designed for use during urological procedures, including ureterscopy for removal of ureteral or renal stones. OMS201 is a combination of ketoprofen, an anti-inflammatory API, and nifedipine, a smooth muscle relaxant API. It has completed a Phase I/Phase II clinical trial.
Preclinical Programs
The Company’s preclinical programs include phosphodiesterase 7 (PDE7) (OMS527), Plasmin (OMS616), MASP-3 (OMS906)-Alternative Pathway Disorders, GPR17-CNS Disorders, GPR101-Metabolic Disorders, GPR151-CNS Disorders, GPR161-Cancer, GPR174-Immune Disorders, GPR183-Skeletal and Infectious Diseases, GPCR Platform and Antibody Platform. The PDE7 program is based on its discoveries of previously unknown links between PDE7 and any addiction or compulsive disorder and between PDE7 and any movement disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease. In its plasmin program, the Company is advancing antifibrinolytic agents for the control of blood loss during surgery or resulting from trauma, as well as for other hyperfibrinolytic states. As part of its MASP program, it has identified MASP-3.
The Company is conducting medicinal chemistry to optimize compounds against GPR17, a GPCR that is linked to myelin formation. It is conducting medicinal chemistry to optimize compounds against GPR101, a GPCR that is linked to appetite and eating disorders. It is conducting medicinal chemistry to optimize compounds against GPR151, a GPCR that is linked to neuropathic pain and cognitive disorders. It is conducting medicinal chemistry to optimize compounds against GPR161, a GPCR that is linked to triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) and sarcomas. It is conducting medicinal chemistry to optimize compounds against GPR174, a GPCR that is linked to autoimmunity. It is conducting medicinal chemistry to optimize compounds against GPR183, a GPCR that is linked to osteoporosis and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infections, and associated diseases. The ex vivo platform is for the discovery of monoclonal antibodies, which utilizes a chicken B-cell lymphoma cell line.
The Company competes with The Nordic Group.
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Motley Fool Transcribers]
Omeros Corp (NASDAQ:OMER)Q4 2018 Earnings Conference CallMarch 01, 2019, 8:30 a.m. ET
Contents:
Prepared Remarks Questions and Answers Call Participants
Prepared Remarks:Operator
- [By Todd Campbell]
Geron (NASDAQ:GERN) shares collapsed after Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) gave it the cold shoulder. Similarly, Omeros (NASDAQ:OMER) stock tumbled following less-than-inspiring trial data. Are these two clinical-stage stocks bargain-bin buys?
- [By Keith Speights]
Shares of Omeros Corporation (NASDAQ:OMER) were up 10.2% as of 3:20 p.m. EDT on Tuesday after dropping 43% on Monday. The biotech announced yesterday what it described as “additional positive data” from an ongoing phase 2 clinical study of experimental drug OMS721 in treating IgA nephropathy, a rare kidney disease. However, patients receiving OMS721 in the study experienced only slightly higher median reduction in proteinuria (protein in urine) than did patients in the placebo group.
Best Dividend Stocks To Watch For 2023: Granite Construction Incorporated(GVA)
Granite Construction Incorporated, incorporated on January 24, 1990, is a heavy civil contractor and construction materials producer in the United States. The Company operates through three segments: Construction, Large Project Construction and Construction Materials. The Company operates across the nation, serving both public and private sector clients. Within the public sector, it concentrates on heavy-civil infrastructure projects, including the construction of streets, roads, highways, mass transit facilities, airport infrastructure, bridges, trenchless and underground utilities, power-related facilities, water and wastewater facilities, utilities, tunnels, dams and other infrastructure-related projects. Within the private sector, the Company offers site preparation and infrastructure services for residential development, energy development, commercial and industrial sites, and other facilities, as well as provides construction management professional services.
The Company owns and leases aggregate reserves and owns plant facilities to produce construction materials for use in its construction business and for sale to third parties. The Company also has heavy construction equipment fleet. Its portfolio of equipment includes backhoes, barges, bulldozers, cranes, excavators, loaders, motor graders, pavers, rollers, scrapers, trucks, special equipment for pipeline rehabilitation and tunnel boring machines.
Construction
The Construction segment performs construction management, as well as various civil construction projects with a portion of the work focused on new construction and improvement of streets, roads, highways, bridges, site work, underground, power-related facilities, water-related facilities, utilities and other infrastructure projects. These projects are bid-build and construction management projects completed within two years. Revenue from its Construction segment is derived from both public and private sector clients. Customers in its Construction segment include certain federal agencies, state departments of transportation, county and city public works departments, school districts and developers, utilities and owners of industrial, commercial and residential sites.
Large Project Construction
The Company’s Large Project Construction segment focuses on large and complex infrastructure projects, which have a longer duration than its Construction segment work. These projects include highways, mass transit facilities, bridges, tunnels, waterway locks and dams, pipelines, canals, power-related facilities, water-related facilities, utilities and airport infrastructure. The segment includes bid-build, design-build and construction management or general contractor contracts, together with various contract methods relating to public-private partnerships. Customers of its Large Project Construction segment are predominantly in the public sector and include various state departments of transportation, local transit authorities, utilities and federal agencies.
Construction Materials
The Company’s Construction Materials segment mines and processes aggregates and operates plants that produce construction materials for internal use and for sale to third parties. Customers of the Company’s Construction Materials segment include internal usage by the Company’s own construction projects, as well as third-party customers. Its third party customers include contractors, landscapers, manufacturers of products requiring aggregate materials, retailers, homeowners, farmers and brokers.
Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Motley Fool Transcribers]
Granite Construction Inc (NYSE:GVA)Q4 2018 Earnings Conference CallFeb. 20, 2019, 11:00 a.m. ET
Contents:
Prepared Remarks Questions and Answers Call Participants
Prepared Remarks:Operator
- [By Stephan Byrd]
Dai Ichi Life Insurance Company Ltd grew its position in Granite Construction Inc. (NYSE:GVA) by 103.2% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 129,545 shares of the construction company’s stock after acquiring an additional 65,806 shares during the quarter. Dai Ichi Life Insurance Company Ltd owned about 0.32% of Granite Construction worth $7,210,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
- [By Shane Hupp]
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Best Dividend Stocks To Watch For 2023: Orion Marine Group Inc(ORN)
Orion Marine Group, Inc., its subsidiaries and affiliates provide a broad range of construction and specialty services both on and off the water in the continental United States, Alaska, Canada, and the Caribbean Basin through its heavy civil marine construction and its commercial concrete construction segments. The Company’s heavy civil marine construction segment services include marine transportation facility construction, marine pipeline construction, marine environmental structures, dredging of waterways, channels and ports, environmental dredging, design, and specialty services. The Company’s commercial concrete construction segment provides turnkey concrete construction services including pour and finish, dirt work, layout, forming, rebar, and mesh across the light commercial, structural and other associated business areas. The Company is headquartered in Houston, Texas with offices throughout its operating areas. Orion Marine Group, Inc. is a Delaware corporation. Advisors’ Opinion:
- [By Stephan Byrd]
Get a free copy of the Zacks research report on Orion Group (ORN)
For more information about research offerings from Zacks Investment Research, visit Zacks.com
- [By Max Byerly]
Get a free copy of the Zacks research report on Orion Group (ORN)
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