With oil prices climbing, Treasury yields near 4.71% and investors worrying about inflation and interest rates staying higher for longer, dividend stocks with steadier business models are back in focus. This article looks at how the latest headlines around the Iran war, bond markets and Fed expectations connect to a Defensive Dividend Stocks screener, and what that might mean for investors who care about income and resilience when markets are under pressure. Ahead, you will see 3 stocks from this screener that appear positively exposed to these developments.

Atmos Energy (ATO)

Overview: Atmos Energy is a regulated natural gas utility based in Dallas that distributes gas to about 3.4 million customers across eight US states. It also operates pipelines and underground storage that move and store gas for itself and third parties.

Operations: Atmos Energy generates most of its US$5.7b business revenue from its Distribution segment at about US$4.6b. The Pipeline and Storage segment contributes around US$1.1b.

Market Cap: US$29.8b

Atmos Energy stands out in the Defensive Dividend Stocks screener because it combines a long record of regular dividend increases with a regulated utility model that can appeal when rates and inflation are in focus. The company is investing heavily in modern pipelines and storage, supported by regulatory frameworks that are designed to help recover those costs. Demand from data centers and industrial users supports its gas infrastructure business. At the same time, earnings growth, a P/E close to estimated fair levels and an 85.4% discount to Simply Wall St’s fair value estimate raise valuation questions that income investors tend to care about. However, higher debt use, weaker free cash flow coverage of the dividend and legal and regulatory risks mean you need to look more closely at how durable this cash return story really is.

Atmos Energy’s regulated cash flows and the large gap to fair value raise a simple question: is the market mispricing this dividend story or sensing something bigger in the background? Find out in the DCF valuation analysis for Atmos Energy

Otter Tail (OTTR)

Overview: Otter Tail Corporation is a Fergus Falls based company that combines a regulated electric utility serving customers in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota with manufacturing operations and a plastics business that produces PVC pipes for water, wastewater and other infrastructure uses across multiple end markets.

Operations: Otter Tail generates around US$582.9m of revenue from its Electric segment, US$408.4m from Plastics and US$322.4m from Manufacturing.

Market Cap: US$3.9b

Otter Tail provides a mix of regulated utility earnings and industrial exposure, which can be appealing when rising oil prices, higher Treasury yields and inflation concerns are putting pressure on growth stocks. The utility segment focuses on grid reliability and renewables, while the plastics and manufacturing businesses are directly exposed to PVC resin and broader industrial demand, so the Iran war and resin price moves matter. At the same time, investors may consider the impact of higher rates on its debt funded capital plan and the ongoing PVC Pipe Antitrust Litigation settlements in the context of its long history of paying dividends and relatively low P/E versus peers. The overall picture depends on how these factors interact over the next few years.

Otter Tail’s mix of regulated power and PVC driven plastics is harder to read than a typical utility, and that is exactly why the analysis report for Otter Tail might change how you see its dividend story

National Fuel Gas (NFG)

Overview: National Fuel Gas is a diversified US energy company that combines natural gas exploration and production, interstate pipelines and storage, and a regulated gas utility serving customers in New York and Pennsylvania. Its integrated model links the wells that produce gas to the networks that transport, store and deliver it to utilities, industrial users, power plants and households.

Operations: National Fuel Gas generates around US$1.3b of revenue from Integrated Upstream and Gathering, about US$930.5m from its Utility segment and roughly US$429.8m from Pipeline and Storage, with small corporate eliminations.

Market Cap: US$7.9b

National Fuel Gas sits at the intersection of energy production, critical infrastructure and regulated utility income. This mix can be appealing when higher oil prices, rising borrowing costs and inflation worries are affecting growth stocks. The company combines a long history of dividends with a P/E below both the US market and its gas utility peers, while recent results show solid profitability and a higher quarterly payout. At the same time, it carries meaningful debt, faces higher diesel and project costs linked to the Iran conflict, and operates in regions where tighter climate policy could affect long term gas demand. The key question for investors is how its integrated structure, hedging approach and planned expansion projects balance those risks against the income and value characteristics of the business.

National Fuel Gas appears to be a classic income stock on the surface, but its integrated model, debt load and project pipeline could be masking a very different risk reward profile in the 5 key rewards and 1 important warning sign

The three Defensive Dividend Stocks in this article are just a starting point, because the full screener surfaced 18 more large US companies in utilities, consumer staples and healthcare with income stories and risk profiles that may be just as compelling as the ones already covered. Identify and analyze the dividend strength, balance sheet resilience and sector specific catalysts that matter most to you by going through the Defensive Dividend Stocks screener.

Take Control of Your Investment Journey

If Atmos Energy or any of these companies sound like a great opportunity, register for FREE with Simply Wall St and add your companies to a Watchlist to monitor the share price against the fair value the ideal entry point. Once you've made your move, manage your holdings with our Portfolio Command Center that filters out the noise to deliver only the most critical, actionable updates. Throughout your journey, our Community allows you to filter the best ideas from thousands of investor perspectives. By uncovering hidden catalysts and risks early, you'll accelerate your decision-making and stay one step ahead of the market.

Seeking Alternatives Before Everyone Else?

Fresh stock ideas move fast, and the best entry points can be caught or missed while momentum builds, prices are flying or quietly dropping under the radar for now, so consider acting promptly.

• Spot resilient cash generators early by scanning companies in the 38 high quality undervalued stocks before valuation gaps close and the crowd rushes toward the same opportunities.
• Explore structural themes in infrastructure and electrification by reviewing the curated 35 power grid technology and infrastructure stocks while these trends may still be developing.
• Stay informed on developments in automation by checking the focused 34 robotics and automation stocks as industrial demand evolves.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.