Why I Love TransCanada Corporation

TransCanada (NYSE: TRP) has endeared itself to investors over the years. That's what happens when a company increases its dividend for 17 straight years while delivering 14% average annual returns in the process. However, that history isn't why I love the pipeline giant. Instead, I'm enamored with what it offers investor today as well as where it's heading in the future. Here are five reasons why my affection for TransCanada continues to grow.

One of the most attractive features of TransCanada is the low-risk nature of its operations since 95% of its earnings come from regulated assets and long-term contracts. That's up from 90% a few years ago as a result of the company's focus on high-grading its portfolio by jettisoning riskier assets and replacing them with those the generate predictable cash flow. With such a large percentage of its earnings locked in, there's little risk that a market downturn will impact its financial results.

Image source: Getty Images.

Source: Fool.com