If there's been one sector that's been a consistent powerhouse ever since the depths of the financial crisis, it is the one probably considered the most humdrum and boring by the public: utilities. I mean, how many people can get excited by an electric company versus, say, GoPro? But one glance at the chart below proves the case – utilities are up about 170%, throwing off dividends the entire time, and now have exceeded even their long-term ascending channel.