Top 10 Utilities ETFs to Watch

The utility sector has enjoyed a positive first half of 2011 particularly for U.S. investors in terms of total return. Buyers in this sector are generally conservative and income oriented although current dividends are historically low but not compared to cash equivalents. The industry tends to suffer with weak economic growth as demand is reduced theoretically. Further environmental issues plague expansion as do regulatory constraints. Nevertheless people and industry need power as a basic necessity.

There is a lot to choose from in terms of indexes linked to ETFs. Some are passive and duplicative relatively. It's essential to remember it's really a game of battleship for sponsors seeking to be first to a sector space or just being competitive in the space. This is their business interest apart from your investment interest. You should always ignore their interests and align your choices with what serves your objectives best.

Investors should note that in a rising market particularly ETFs linked to enhanced issues will tend to outperform conventional index linked issues. I've not done enough analysis to determine their relative performance during down market periods.

New ETFs from highly regarded and substantial new providers are also being issued. These may include Charles Schwab's ETFs and Scottrade's Focus Shares which both are issuing new ETFs with low expense ratios and commission free trading at their respective firms. These may also become popular as they become seasoned.

For further information about portfolio structures using this or other ETFs see www.etfdigest.com .

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The source for holding data is from the ETF Database and from various sponsors.

This commentary comes from an independent investor or market observer as part of TheStreet guest contributor program. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of TheStreet or its management.

Dave Fry is founder and publisher of ETF Digest, Dave's Daily blog and the best-selling book author of Create Your Own ETF Hedge Fund, A DIY Strategy for Private Wealth Management, published by Wiley Finance in 2008. A detailed bio is here: Dave Fry.

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