A solid pick for turbulent times

Article Excerpt

Fears that higher interest rates and inflation will trigger a recession in Canada and other countries has caused the S&P/TSX Composite Index to drop 12% since the start of 2022. However, BCE is down just 8% this year. That’s because consumers and businesses increasingly rely on its services, no matter the direction of the overall economy. Big investments in its networks also set up BCE for many more years of growth—and higher dividend payments. BCE INC. $61 is a buy. The company (Toronto symbol BCE; Income-Growth Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 911.9 million; Market cap: $55.6 billion; Dividend yield: 6.0%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Highest; www.bce.ca) is Canada’s largest traditional telephone service provider with 2.21 million residential customers in Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, and the Atlantic provinces. BCE also has 3.98 million high-speed Internet users and 2.72 million TV subscribers (satellite and fibre-optic). In addition, it sells wireless services to 11.90 million users across Canada. BCE has raised its dividend rate each year since 2008. The latest increase…