Dividend stocks were the big story of 2011, with tobacco and utility stocks outperforming. But don’t think it’s time to pull the plug on your utility investments. There are a host of utilities that get top marks, as well as dishing up a big dividend to boot.

I watch more than 5,000 publicly traded companies with my Portfolio Grader tool, ranking companies by a number of fundamental and quantitative measures. This week: seven electric utilities stocks to buy.

Here they are, in alphabetical order. Each one of these stocks gets an “A” or “B” according to my research, meaning it is a “strong buy” or “buy.”

American Electric Power (NYSE:AEP) owns numerous power companies across the U.S. In the last year, AEP has gained a modest 8%. AEP gets a “B” grade for operating margin growth, a “B” grade for earnings growth and a “B” grade for return on equity in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of AEP. AEP yields a 4.9% dividend.

Duke Energy Corp. (NYSE:DUK) is an energy company that works in the Americas. DUK is up 16% in the last year, compared to the Dow Jones, which has gained only 5% in the same time. DUK gets a “B” grade for operating margin growth, a “B” grade for its ability to exceed the consensus earnings estimates on Wall Street and a “B” grade for the magnitude in which earnings projections have. For more information, view my complete analysis of DUK. Duke Energy yields a 4.7% dividend.

FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE:FE) owns eight energy companies throughout the U.S. Since last March, FE has jumped 21%. FirstEnergy gets a “B” grade for sales growth, an “A” grade for earnings momentum and a “B” grade for the magnitude in which earnings projections have increased over the past months in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of FE. FirstEnergy has a 5.0% dividend.

NextEra Energy Inc. (NYSE:NEE) is an American electric power company that was formerly known as FPL Group Inc. NEE has climbed 9% in the last 12 months. NEE gets an “A” grade for earnings growth, an “A” grade for earnings momentum and a “B” grade for return on equity in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of NEE. NEE yields 4.0%.

Pepco Holdings Inc. (NYSE:POM) is involved with the transmission, distribution and supply of electricity and the distribution and supply of natural gas. Since last year, POM is up 3%. Pepco stock gets an “A” grade for earnings growth and an “A” grade for earnings momentum in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of PO. Pepco pays a 5.5% dividend.

PPL Corp. (NYSE:PPL) is an energy and utility holding company that has reported an 11% gain since this time last March. PPL stock gets an “A” grade for sales growth, an “A” grade for operating margin growth, a “B” grade for earnings growth, a “B” grade for its ability to exceed the consensus earnings estimates on Wall Street and a “B” grade for return on equity in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of PPL. PPL yields 5.2%.

Southern Co. (NYSE:SO) owns numerous power companies throughout the Southeast. SO rounds out the list with a gain of 18% in the last 12 months. SO gets a “B” grade for operating margin growth, an “A” grade for earnings growth, a “B” grade for earnings momentum and a “B” grade for return on equity in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of SO. The dividend for Southern Co. is 4.2%.

Get more analysis of these picks and other publicly-traded stocks with Louis Navellier’s Portfolio Grader tool, a 100% free stock-rating tool that measures both quantitative buying pressure and eight fundamental factors.