Energy Education Series

NSTAR Is Made for Winter of Discontent

 

Despite having a product or service that could be labeled a necessity, NSTAR isn't immune to falls in profits and revenue. Some consumers may not be able to pay their bills as the economic crisis worsens. But the reality is that NSTAR's revenue has been growing steadily since 1999 and didn't miss a beat during the 2001 downturn. So there is evidence that the stock is recession-resistant, if not recession-proof.

Net income collapsed in 2001, caused by the impairment stemming from NSTAR's entire investment of $173 million in RCN Corp., whose stock was brutalized in the technology bubble. Apart from this one glitch, the company was solid through the 2001-2002 downturn.

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Sam Patel, CFA, is the manager of mutual fund research for the TheStreet.com Ratings.

In keeping with TSC's Investment Policy, employees of TheStreet.com Ratings with access to pre-publication ratings data must pre-clear any potential trade through the legal department, and are prohibited from trading any security that is the subject of an unpublished rating revision until the second business day after the rating is published.

While Patel cannot provide investment advice or recommendations, he appreciates your feedback; click here to send him an email.

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