Telus diversifies for you

Article Excerpt

TELUS, $50.28, is a buy. The Canadian telecom leader (Toronto symbol T; Shares outstanding: 601.0 million; Market cap: $30.4 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Dividend yield: 4.6%; www.telus.com) continues to expand its range of services to diversify as well as cross-sell to its existing customers. Telus sees the diversification of its offerings as a way of protecting and building investor value. In addition to its main businesses, the company owns 65% of Telus International. Formed in 2005, this business operates call centres on behalf of corporate clients in North America, Central America, Europe and Asia. It also helps those clients manage their computer systems. Telus International has now agreed to buy privately owned Competence Call Center (CCC) for $1.3 billion in cash and stock. Based in Berlin, Germany, that firm helps businesses monitor and remove questionable content from websites and social media. Following the purchase, Telus will own 62% of Telus International. CCC is profitable and will accelerate the parent company’s plan to sell shares in Telus…