Constellation Energy Group Inc. (CEG) and EDF Development Inc. recently announced that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has approved the investment structure and license transfer related to EDF’s investment in Constellation Energy Nuclear Group LLC. EDF Development Inc. -- the wholly owned subsidiary of French energy major EDF S.A. -- is planning to acquire 49.99% stake in Constellation Energy’s nuclear assets for $4.5 billion. Subsequently, EDF’s interest in Constellation Energy Nuclear Group will be structured as a new joint venture between the companies. The deal has received the necessary federal approvals and clearance from the New York Public Service Commission. However, regulatory approval from the Public Service Commission in Maryland is pending. A final decision will be taken by the Maryland Public Service Commission in October 2009. Constellation Energy is pursuing the divestment of its nuclear assets to improve liquidity position and strengthen balance ...

Constellation Energy Group Inc. (CEG) is focused on improving its liquidity position and strengthen its balance sheet. The company was able to reduce its total debt level from $8.5 billion at year-end 2008 to below the $7 billion mark after the first half of fiscal 2009. The debt-loaded company with a debt-to-equity ratio of 134.6% after the first half of fiscal 2009 dished out $143.9 million in interest expenses during the recent second quarter of 2009 compared to only $78.8 million in the year-ago quarter. The pain may get even worse with the July 2009 downgrade by Fitch Ratings, bringing Constellation Energy's senior unsecured debt rating from BBB to BBB- and BGE's (Baltimore Gas & Electric) senior unsecured debt rating from A- to BBB+. With more than $1.5 billion of debt lined up for maturity this fiscal year, the company may have to resort to ...

As the second-largest provider of electricity to the United States, Constellation Energy Group Inc. (NYSE: CEG) has a tremendous upside. At least, it would if the economy were growing strongly. 

Unfortunately, that’s not the case. And that means Constellation will have to clear a number of hurdles if it’s going to fulfill its long-term promise. Last year, the company bet big on higher energy prices and paid the price dearly when the economy collapsed.

Constellation’s very high level of debt, with large bond maturities in 2009 and 2012 at that time meant they were flirting with financial disaster.  That forced the company into a deal with Électricité de France SA (EDF), in which the European energy giant agreed to inject $4.5 billion into Constellation in exchange for almost 50% ownership of its nuclear plants.

That includes a brand new plant, Calvert Cliffs 3, that’s still subject

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Constellation Energy Group, Inc. (CEG) announced that it has repaid a $500 million, 6.125% fixed-rate bond solely through internal accruals. This is in-line with the company’s aim to improve liquidity and strengthen the balance sheet. Constellation Energy was able to reduce the total debt level from $8.5 billion at year-end 2008 to below the $7 billion mark after the first half of fiscal 2009. The debt-loaded company with a debt-to-equity ratio of 134.6% after the first half of fiscal 2009 dished out $143.9 million in interest expenses during the recent second quarter of 2009 compared to only $78.8 million in the year-ago quarter. The pain may get even worse with the July 2009, downgrade by Fitch Ratings, bringing Constellation Energy's senior unsecured debt rating from BBB to BBB- and BGE's senior unsecured debt rating from A- to BBB+. With more than $1.5 billion of debt ...

EDF Scooping Constellation; Research in Motion Posts Tough 3Q; Legg Mason’s Miller Calls Market Bottom; Cyber Monday Sales Strong; Crude Stocks Drop; New Zealand Fights Recession

The world’s biggest nuclear utility company, Electricité de France SA will offer as much as $6.5 billion for assets of Constellation Energy Group, Inc (CEG), source familiar with the matter told The Wall Street Journal. A previous offer by EDF was turned down, with Constellation opting for a $4.7 billion bid from Warren Buffett’s MidAmerican unit of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK.A,BRK.B). Research In Motion Ltd.’s (RIMM) third-quarter subscriptions and profit fell short of forecasts, as it simultaneously faces increased competition and recession in its largest market. Profit for the Blackberry maker rose no more than 83 cents a share in the quarter ended Nov. ...

Investors occasionally use a stock trading technique called 'Buying Dividends,' which is the technique of buying stocks before the ex dividend date and selling the stock shortly after the ex date at about the same price, yet still being entitled to the dividend. This technique generally works only in bull markets.br /br /If you are interested in a href="http://stockerblog.blogspot.com/2008/05/buying-dividends-top-7-stocks-going-ex.html"buying dividends/a, there are many stocks in many different industries to choose from. In order to be entitled to the dividend, you have to buy the stock before the ex-dividend date, and you can't sell the stock until after the ex date. The actual dividend may not be paid for another few weeks.br /br /All of the following stocks yield over 2%. br /br /Avery Dennison Corporation (AVY) goes ex-dividend on 12/1/2008 . The stock has a yield of 6.55% .br /Callaway Golf Company (ELY) goes ex-dividend on 12/1/2008 . The ...

When the stock market is volatile and in recessionary times, investors often turn to electric utilities as investments. The advantages are the high income, less volatility than other stocks, they are monopolies, they provide a product that everyone requires, and during a recession when people are cutting back, one of the last things they cut back on are their electric bills. The following electric utility stocks all have yields over 6%, PE ratios below 18, and PEG ratios below 3.Great Plains Energy Incorporated ( GXP ) is a Kansas City based generator of electricity from coal, nuclear, natural gas, oil, and wind. It pays a yield of 8.70% , and has a PE of 10 and a PEG of 1.42 .Ameren Corporation ( AEE ) is a utility that serves Missouri and Illinois. It pays a ...

In a sign that the planned construction of new nuclear reactors in the U.S. market could jump-start the nation’s moribund manufacturing sector, France’s Areva SA and defense-industry giant Northrop Grumman Corp. (NOC) have formed a joint venture to make nuclear reactor vessels, steam generators and other related components at Northrop’s Newport News shipyard in Virginia.

The venture – Areva Newport News LLC – will emanate from a $360 million investment, and will lead to the construction of a 300,000-square-foot production-and-engineering facility, the two companies said yesterday (Thursday). It will employ 500 workers when completed in 2011, according to an MSNMoneycentral report.

Mike Petters, president of Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, the unit that has signed on to work with Areva, told The Wall Street Journal that “we’ve watched manufacturing wane in shipbuilding and we’ve watched for other opportunities to go into adjacent areas…We think a nuclear renaissance

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In this time of uncertainty, there is one thing definitely clear – people will continue to need and use utilities. That’s the wager that nuclear power giant Exelon is making as it put in a $6.2 billion bid for NRG Energy. If the deal goes through, Exelon would become the nation’s largest power company. Two years ago, NRG declined an offer from Mirant Corp for $8 Billion.

The combined Exelon and NRG would be big enough to power nearly 45 million homes with 47,000 megawatts. It would have a diverse power mix and a market capitalization of $40 billion. If NRG agrees to the deal, it would be the second big power generation merger announced in the past month. A unit of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is buying wholesale power generator Constellation Energy Group Inc. of Baltimore for the bargain price of $4.7 billion.

“This company combined would be the

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If you are interested in buying dividends, there are lots of stocks in several different sectors and industries to choose from. Keep in mind that you have to buy the stock before the ex-dividend date in order to be entitled to the dividend, and you can't sell the stock until after the ex date.Buying dividends is the technique of buying stocks before the ex date and selling shortly after the ex date at roughly the same price, yet being entitled to the dividend. This generally works only in bull markets.All of the following stocks have market caps over $500 million, PEs below 20, PEGs below 2, and yields over 2%. ArcelorMittal (MT) Ex-div date: 9/2/2008 Yield: 2.0% PE: 8 PEG: 0.46Cohen & Steers, Inc. (CNS) Ex-div date: 9/3/2008 Yield: 3.1% PE: 19 PEG: 1.62Kimberly-Clark Corporation (KMB) Ex-div date: 9/3/2008 ...