Williams Companies Inc. Is Off to a Great Start in 2018

Williams Companies (NYSE: WMB)generated $371 million in cash flow available for dividends during the first quarter of 2018, which was enough money to cover its payout by a comfortable 1.32 times. That's after factoring in the 13.3% increase the company announced earlier this year, which boosted its yield up to 5.

3%. The main source of this income continues to be its majority-owned master limited partnership Williams Partners (NYSE: WPZ), which delivered another solid quarter.