Here are the stocks added to the Zacks #5 Rank ("strong sell") List today:

American Water Works Co Inc (AWK) Amerigas Partners LP (APU) Associated Banc-Corp (ASBC) Benchmark Electronics Inc (BHE) Benihana Inc (BNHNA) BMP Sunstone Corp (BJGP) Cape Bancorp Inc (CBNJ) China Nepstar Chain Drugstore Ltd (NPD) Conmed Corp (CNMD) Crucell NV (CRXL) Duke Energy Corp (DUK) Empire District Electric Co (EDE) Emulex Corp (ELX) Encore Wire Corp (WIRE) Fair Isaac Corp (FICO) ...

Today we are featuring top-performing "Utilities" equity mutual funds, which primarily invest in equity securities of utility companies, including telephone and cable-television firms.

Investors can find such funds by checking out the entire list of the Zacks #1 Rank Utilities Equity Funds.3 Powerful Picks

Fidelity Select Utilities Portfolio (FSUTX) was incepted in December 1981 and seeks capital appreciation. It is non-diversified.

The fund invests primarily in common stocks of companies in the utilities industry and companies that derive a bulk of their revenue from utility operations. Douglas Simmons has managed this Zacks#1 Rank ("Strong Buy") fund since October 2006. It has an expense ratio of 0.88%.

The fund's top holdings include Exelon Corp. (EXC), Sempra Energy (SRE) and Entergy Corp. (ETR).

American Century Utilities Inv (BULIX) is designed for investors

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Highlighted stocks include American Electric Power Co., Inc. (AEP) and Duke Energy Corp. (DUK).AEP Powers America, Reports Improved ResultsAmerican Electric Power (AEP) reported improved 4th quarter 2008 core operating earnings of $237 million, or $0.59 per share, up 13% from $209 million, or $0.52 per share, for the 4th quarter of 2007. For the full fiscal year 2008, the company reported improved core operating earnings of $1.30 billion, or $3.24 per share, up 8% over $1.20 billion, or $3.00 per share, in fiscal 2007. Revenue of $14.6 billion in fiscal 2008 also compared favorably year-over-year, with a 9% over $13.4 billion in fiscal 2007.Stable earnings growth in 2008 was primarily driven by new rates in 5 jurisdictions and investments to upgrade the utility's electricity distribution network. The company also received another balanced rate order from Oklahoma regulators in early 2009....

President-elect Barack Obama yesterday (Thursday) named Mary L. Schapiro – a strong proponent of protections for individual investors – to head the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission when his administration takes office next month, the biggest of three nominations with potential financial crisis implications.

And in the latest addition to his Obamanomics plan, the president-elect has also proposed a massive stimulus package of as much as $775 billion over the next two years as part of a historic infusion that’s aimed at overhauling America’s infrastructure, schools, broadband networks and energy use, a Congressional source told MarketWatch.com yesterday.

But making the Schapiro nomination official was considered a key move. In its Thursday morning issue, Money Morning reported that Schapiro had been chosen and that an official announcement would be made later in the day. And that’s just what happened.

Obama named

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American Electric Power Company, Inc.’s (AEP) consistent performance at the East Regulated segment, new 765-kV transmission lines at PJM, approval for the new Turk plant, joint venture with Duke Energy Corp. (DUK), and favorable approval of rate changes from the PUCO and PUCT are expected to drive modest earnings growth over the near-term.

However, the delayed construction of the West Virginia and Ohio IGCC plants, lower earnings from MEMCO, rising debt level, escalating coal costs and uncertainty surrounding pending regulatory cases collectively continue to weigh on the stock.

Accordingly, we maintain our market-neutral Hold recommendation on AEP common stock with a six-month target price of $40.50. Price appreciation to our near-term valuation target, coupled with the $0.41 per share quarterly cash dividend which we deem sustainable and secure represents annualized total return potential of 13.2%.

Going forward, AEP offers investors stable underlying core utility earnings, although with only modest

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