Based on the aggregated intelligence of 150,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, South American electricity provider CPFL Energia (NYSE:CPL) has earned a coveted five-star ranking.

With that in mind, let's take a closer look at CPFL's business and see what CAPS investors are saying about the stock right now.

CPFL facts

Headquarters (Founded)

Sao Paulo, Brazil (1998)

Market Cap

$9.7 billion

Industry

Electric utilities

Trailing-12-Month Revenue

$5.6 billion

Management

CEO Wilson Ferreira, Jr. (since 2002)
CFO Jose Filippo (since 2004)

Return on Equity (Average, Past 3 Years)

26%

Cash/Debt

$404 million / $4.1 billion

Dividend Yield

6.9%

Competitors

AES (NYSE:AES)
Centrais Electricas Brasileiras (NYSE:EBR)

CAPS Members Bullish on CPL Also Bullish on

Vale (NYSE:VALE)
Petrobras (NYSE:PBR)

CAPS Members Bearish on CPL Also Bearish on

BP (NYSE:BP)
Chesapeake Energy (NYSE:CHK)

Sources: Capital IQ (a division of Standard & Poor's) and Motley Fool CAPS.

On CAPS, 99% of the 606 members who have rated CPFL believe the stock will outperform the S&P 500 going forward. These bulls include Morien and diesel5.

Late last year, Morien tapped CPFL as an ideal choice for several investment styles: "High growth country, industry, and company, and it provides a good dividend."

In a pitch from three weeks earlier, diesel5 expands on the electric income opportunity:

The stock pays a 6% yield at a time when CD's are paying tiny fractions of a percentage point. ... Also Brazil is HOT, one of the BRIC countries, emerging. Even the Olympics coming can't hurt. ... [The utility] sector should stay strong until CD's can compete with it on yield and even if interest rates start rising that could take quite a while. Plus if interest rates start rising it will mean the economy is better (here and in Brazil) and utility profits should be on the rise as well. Win-win.

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