BCE is ready for 5G growth

Article Excerpt

BCE INC. $65.95 is a buy. The company (Toronto symbol BCE; Shares o/s: 905.7 million; Market cap: $59.6 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Dividend yield: 5.3%) recently agreed to buy new wireless spectrum from the Canadian government for $2.07 billion. That will accelerate the rollout of its ultrafast 5G wireless networks in urban and rural areas. BCE expects to be able to offer 5G service to 70% of Canadians by the end of 2021. Meantime, the company continues to benefit from strong demand for new mobile phones and high-speed Internet. In the quarter ended June 30, 2021, revenue rose 6.4%, to $5.70 billion from $5.35 billion a year earlier. Earnings jumped 31.1%, to $751 million, or $0.83 a share, from $573 million, or $0.63. BCE’s shares have gained 20% since the start of 2021. They now trade at 20.7 times the company’s projected full-year earnings of $3.19 a share. That’s a reasonable multiple in light of BCE’s strong market share and…