Cisco prospers with acquisitions and research

CISCO SYSTEMS INC. $47 (Nasdaq symbol CSCO; High-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Manufacturing sector; Shares outstanding: 4.5 billion; Market cap: $211.5 billion; Dividend yield: 2.8%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.cisco.com) makes hardware and software that links and manages computer networks.
The company paid its first quarterly dividend of $0.06… Read More

Dividend increase: Telus

TELUS CORP. $47 (Toronto symbol T; Income-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 599.0 million; Market cap: $28.2 billion; Dividend yield: 4.6%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Highest; www.telus.com) is Canada’s third-largest wireless carrier, after Rogers Communications (No. 1) and Bell Mobility (No. 2), with 9.15 million subscribers. It… Read More

Updating Symantec Corp., Snap-on Inc., and North West Co.

SYMANTEC CORP. $23 (Nasdaq symbol SYMC; High Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Manufacturing sector; Shares outstanding: 638.9 million; Market cap: $14.7 billion; Dividend yield: 1.3%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Average; www.symantec.com) sells computer-security technology, including antivirus and email-filtering software, to both businesses and consumers.
The company pays a quarterly dividend of… Read More

Two big oil companies with gains ahead

SUNCOR ENERGY INC. $43 (Toronto symbol SU; Cyclical-Growth Payer Portfolio, Resources sector; Shares outstanding: 1.6 billion; Market cap: $68.8 billion; Dividend yield: 3.3%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.suncor.com) is Canada’s largest integrated oil company, with major projects in the Alberta oil sands. It also owns four refineries… Read More

These two insurers just raised their dividends

MANULIFE FINANCIAL CORP. $22 (Toronto symbol MFC; Conservative-Growth Payer Portfolio; Finance sector; Shares o/s: 2.0 billion; Market cap: $44.0 billion; Dividend yield: 4.5%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.manulife.ca) is Canada’s largest life insurance provider. It also sells other forms of insurance, including health, dental and travel plans… Read More

Campbell settles with activist

CAMPBELL SOUP CO. $40 (New York symbol CPB; Conservative-Growth Payer Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares o/s: 300.7 million; Market cap: $12.0 billion; Dividend yield: 3.5%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.campbellsoupcompany.com) has agreed to expand its board of directors from 12 members to 14, and will place two of… Read More

Keep holding these giant U.S. foodmakers

GENERAL MILLS INC. $42 (New York symbol GIS; Income-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 596.1 million; Market cap: $25.0 billion; Dividend yield: 4.7%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.generalmills.com) is one of the world’s largest foodmakers. Its top brands include Big G (cereal), Green Giant (canned… Read More

These REITs feature steady distributions

CHOICE PROPERTIES REIT $12 (Toronto symbol CHP.UN; Cyclical-Growth Payer Portfolio; Manufacturing & Industry sector; Units o/s: 277.2 million; Market cap: $3.3 billion; Divd. yield: 6.2%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.choicereit.ca) acquired Canadian REIT (old symbol REF.UN) on May 7, 2018. The merger created Canada’s biggest real estate… Read More

A Yield to Caution

BED BATH & BEYOND INC. $12.43 (Nasdaq symbol BBBY; Shares outstanding: 138.1 million; Market cap: $1.7 billion; Dividend yield: 5.1%; www.bedbathandbeyond.com) sells a wide range of home furnishings and other merchandise for the home. It operates under the names Bed Bath & Beyond, Christmas Tree Shops, andThat!, Harmon, Face Values,… Read More

Emera’s new target cuts its risk

Emera now plans to raise its annual dividend rate between 4% and 5% each year through 2021. That’s down from its previous aim to raise the dividend 8% annually through 2020.
The company cut that growth target to conserve cash for new projects and pay down… Read More