Which utility ETF has beaten 99% of its peers in the utility category over the past three years and is currently trading at a double-digit discount?

A.) DNP Select Income Fund Inc. (DNP)
B.) UltraSort Utilities ProShares (SDP)
C.) WisdomTree International Utilities Sector Fund (DBU)
D.) First Investors Value Fund (FIUTX)
E.) Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust (GLU)

Published: December 15, 2008

The correct answer is      (E.)  Gabelli Global Utility & Income Trust (GLU)

Gabelli Global Utility and Income has one of the most attractive and well-run portfolios of utilities and independent power producers around -- not to mention its steady monthly dividends equating to a sizeable yield of nearly 8%. GLU has beaten 99% of its peers in the utility category over the past three years and is trading near the widest discount in the fund's history.

Though most funds force shareholders to choose between U.S. and foreign companies, GLU offers a balanced global approach. Roughly two-thirds of the fund's assets are invested in North America, with the rest spread among promising utilities in Europe, Asia, and Latin America. The well-rounded portfolio is also less concentrated at the top than its cap-weighted peers and has a much broader focus. And unlike most utility ETFs that track extremely narrow indices, GLU also offers a meaningful stake in the cable, satellite, water and telecom segments. With all of this in mind, and with the shares now trading at an attractive -13% discount to NAV..

The utility industry sits squarely at the confluence of two trends: the charge for alternative-energy development and pumping hundreds of billions into vital infrastructure projects. After all, utilities own and operate power plants, transmission lines, and other key infrastructure. And many are planning to ramp up capital spending to upgrade these facilities to boost efficiency, increase capacity, and embrace greener energy. These increased expenditures lead directly to stronger earnings -- and higher dividend distributions for shareholders.

But despite their steady cash flows and lofty distributions, hedge funds have been liquidating utility positions (among others) to raise cash -- and that has opened up an excellent buying opportunity. That's why StreetAuthority editor Nathan Slaughter plans to add GLU to his "Sector Trading" Portfolio -- a portfolio of ETFs profiting from today's hottest industries and one he highlights in every issue of The ETF Authority newsletter. To learn more about the other ETFs in Nathan's "Sector Trading" portfolio, or to learn more about The ETF Authority, please visit this link.

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