If the idea of a recession proof stock means a stock from a company that produces something people absolutely must have, then it's no surprise that utility stocks would be high on the list of stocks for trying economic times.

And for those of us who are familiar with our Long Term PowerRatings, it is also no surprise that many of these same utilities stocks are on our list of Top PowerRatings Stocks that investor can and should consult whenever looking at add good stocks to their portfolios.

All of these stocks are have high Long Term PowerRatings. What are our Long Term PowerRatings all about? We did historical testing of thousands and thousands of stocks, from 1995 to 2007, to determine what made stocks go up over time. Looking at a variety of characteristics, we were able to rate stocks on a scale of 1 to 10 based on the stock's likelihood of being higher after one year.

We found, for example, that the average stock was higher one year later around 68% of the time at best. At the same time, stocks with Long Term PowerRatings of 10, the highest rating possible, were higher one year later more than 81% of the time. Even stocks with Long Term PowerRatings of 8 were more reliable than the average stock, with 8-rated stocks being higher one year later more than 74% of the time.

This kind of performance can potentially provide investors with a huge edge. By building a portfolio out of higher Long Term PowerRatings stocks, active investors can own portfolios that are likely to outperform the average stock year in and year out. If a stock's Long Term PowerRating slips below 8 back toward the average range, all an investor has to do is sell it and replace it with another high PowerRating stock.

If stocks in your portfolio look to be in need of replacement, then consider stocks such as the three utility stocks below. All of these stocks have Long Term PowerRatings of 9. 9-rated stocks, according to our research, were not only higher one year later more than 79% of the time. Stocks with Long Term PowerRatings of 9 were also tended to gain more than 18% after one year. The average stock, by comparison, gained between 12-13% after one year. This is also based on our historical testing, including delisted stocks, from 1995 to 2007.

Ameren (AEE | news | PowerRating | PR Charts )

Vectren (VVC | news | PowerRating | PR Charts )

Wisconsin Energy (WEC | news | PowerRating | PR Charts )

Looking for more long-term solutions to your investing problems? Don't let the volatility of this market cause you to miss out on stocks you'll be glad to have bought a year from now. Click here to get a copy of our special, Free Report on the "5 Secrets to Successful Stock Investing," and learn what you need to know as an active investor looking to invest in companies with a history of financial strength and a track record for growth. Call us at 888-484-8220 to get your copy of the "5 Secrets to Successful Stock Investing" today.

David Penn is Senior Editor at PowerRatings.net.

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