NRG Energy Inc

Utilities winners and losers as the U.S. goes green.

In part one of our three-part special report, we examine why value has underperformed growth so dramatically in recent years.

Even the outlook for tightening monetary policies worldwide can't stop utilities from reaching near-record valuations.

We think independent power producers could benefit if subsidies to keep nuclear power plants open are scrapped by the courts.

While rising interest rates may threaten utility valuations, we think gas and power prices will stay low and renewable energy growth will continue.

It's paying down debt and moving away from renewable energy.

Even though the utilities sector appears fairly valued, there are pockets of opportunities and potential pitfalls that investors must watch carefully in the coming months.

We think less-traditional utility names Calpine, NRG Energy, and Dynegy could have 20% or more upside, but with very high uncertainty, they're not for the faint-hearted.

Only the Fed could break up utilities' M&A party.

Utilities' 4% dividend yields still look attractive even with the chance for rising interest rates.

Utilities' sharp drop since January has created buying opportunities among some quality names with long dividend-growth histories, strong balance sheets, and attractive growth prospects.

Utilities' sharp drop since January has created buying opportunities among some quality names with long dividend-growth histories, strong balance sheets, and attractive growth prospects.

We don't see an end to this atypical volatility until interest rates rise back toward historical norms.

Utilities' 23% total return through mid-December topped all sectors except for M&A-fueled health care.

Stock price volatility offers opportunities for investors committed to holding utilities for the long run.

Some of the most defensive companies in the utilities sector have performed the best this year and could face a sharp drop if interest rates start to creep up.

We believe PPL is a good candidate at the right price for a core holding in an income portfolio.

Its discount to peers neglects its steady cash flows and option value.

Interest rate fears have weighed on the sector's absolute performance, but utilities' fundamentals remain strong for the most part.

It was back to the grind last week as traders and portfolio managers returned to their desks after the holidays for the first full trading week of the year.