Topic: Dividend Stocks

Strong wireless sales pushed up this dividend paying stock’s results in 2010

Telus Corp., symbol T.A on Toronto, provides telephone services in B.C., Alberta and eastern Quebec. It also sells wireless services across Canada.

In 2010, the dividend paying stock’s sales rose 1.8%, to $9.8 billion from $9.6 billion in 2009. Sales in the company’s wireless division rose 6.6%, and the wireline division’s sales fell 2.2%.

Overall, Telus added 378,000 customers in 2010, bringing the total to 12.3 million. That figure includes 7.0 million wireless subscribers, 3.7 million wireline access lines, 1.2 million Internet subscribers and 314,000 “Optik TV” customers. (Optik TV is an Internet-based television service that operates through phone lines.)

Earnings for the year rose 3.6%, to $1.04 billion from $1.0 billion in 2009. Earnings per share rose 2.9%, to $3.23 from $3.14, on more shares outstanding.

Telus bought the 113-store Black’s Photo chain in 2009. That gives it about 1,000 stores through which to sell its wireless phones, and adds to its presence in Ontario.

Wireless currently provides more than half the company’s revenue. However, Telus faces rising competition, including three new wireless providers (Wind Mobile, Mobilicity and Public Mobile). Also, Shaw Communications Inc. plans to launch a wireless service in western Canada in early 2012.

The stock pays quarterly dividends of $0.525. The annual rate of $2.10 yields 4.5%.

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