An Energy Investment Yielding 7 Percent

Coal is one commodity that people love to hate. Admittedly, the coal industry has had some issues, ranging from mine safety to potential links to global warming. Still, when it comes to generating the power that lights our homes and businesses (and often heats them, too), coal continues to lead the way. Annual production is growing, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, and the country's exports also continue to rise. As this EIA chart shows, coal generates nearly half of our country's electricity ... and that's not expected to change much in the decades ahead: To play this strength, investors should consider exposure to coal in their portfolios. One potential option is Penn Virginia Resource Partners L.P. (PVR), a limited partnership that's mostly mining in the Appalachian region. The stock is worth a look not only because the company carries less risk then a pure coal mining company, but... Read more