Alliant Energy (NASDAQ:LNT) just locked in its 317th consecutive quarterly dividend, keeping its reputation as a rock-solid income play intact. The company announced a $0.5075 per share payout, set for February 18, 2025, to shareholders on record by January 31. That kind of consistencystretching all the way back to 1946has secured its spot in the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats Index, a club reserved for companies with an ironclad commitment to rewarding investors. With a 1.4 million-strong customer base across Iowa and Wisconsin, Alliant remains a defensive name in the utility sector, where reliability is the name of the game.

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Beyond dividends, Alliant is making waves in the ESG space. The company's inclusion in Bloomberg's Gender-Equality Index signals a push toward stronger corporate responsibilitysomething that's catching more attention from institutional investors. But all eyes are now on February 20, when Alliant drops its Q4 and full-year 2024 earnings report, followed by a conference call on February 21 at 9 a.m. CT. With the energy landscape evolving and regulatory shifts always in play, investors will be tuning in for insights into Alliant's growth plans, rate adjustments, and operational efficiency going into 2025.

For income-focused investors, a company that has never missed a dividend in nearly 80 years is hard to ignore. That kind of track record, coupled with a stable, regulated business model, makes LNT a go-to for portfolios looking for predictable returns amid market uncertainty. With its next earnings call on deck, the big question is whether Alliant can keep delivering both in terms of dividends and long-term expansion plansand that's what investors will be watching closely.