The S&P 500 finally made a new all-time high on Aug. 4, its first new record in more than two months. But while the index was notching its high, the volatility index (VIX) also spiked 4%, indicating a flurry of options activity under the market’s surface.
Inflation is still elevated, the war in Iran is grinding on, and tech valuations are in nosebleed territory, so what’s a risk-averse investor to do? Turn to the utility sector, with its low-beta, dividend-paying stocks. In this exercise, we’re looking for the cream of the crop, so each company must pass a three-part screen:
