Wireless Expansion Should Fuel Growth

MANITOBA TELECOM SERVICES INC. $44 (Toronto symbol MBT; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 64.6 million; Market cap: $2.8 billion; SI Rating: Average) earned $0.73 a share (total $47.7 million) in the third quarter of 2007, up 17.7% from $0.62 a share ($42.2 million)… Read More

Three Portfolio Replacements for BCE

BCE Inc. is the subject of a $42.75-a-share takeover offer.

We feel BCE shareholders should vote in favour of the offer at a special meeting on September 21, 2007. That way, you’ll get the full amount without paying brokerage fees.

We think most investors should hold some… Read More

Takeover Rumors Highlight Value

The likely takeover of BCE Inc. has pushed up prices of our two other telecom buys, Manitoba Telecom (see below) and Telus (see box on page 62). Any telecom takeover would face hurdles such as limits on foreign ownership and anti-competition concerns. But regardless of… Read More

TV Service Continues to Gain Market Share

MANITOBA TELECOM SERVICES INC. $47 (Toronto symbol MBT; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 66.8 million; Market cap: $3.1 billion; SI Rating: Average) launched its TV service in 2003, which uses high-speed Internet technology to deliver TV signals over regular telephone lines.

This business now… Read More

Two Telecom Buys For Income & Growth

BCE INC. $30.94 (Toronto symbol BCE; SI Rating: Above-Average) is Canada’s largest provider of traditional telephone services, with over 12 million customers in Ontario and Quebec. It also provides Internet access (Sympatico), satellite TV (Bell ExpressVu) and wireless services (Bell Mobility).

BCE continues to restructure its… Read More