Deal should help Fortis expand in Ontario

Article Excerpt

FORTIS INC. $34 (Toronto symbol FTS; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 173.6 million; Market cap: $5.9 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.6; Dividend yield: 3.4%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.fortisinc.com) has formed a joint venture with a company controlled by Native bands in Ontario. Fortis will own 51% of this new company, which will build and operate power-transmission projects. Teaming up with these Native groups gives Fortis exclusive access to certain areas near Lake Huron. That should give it an edge over competing power-transmission proposals. Fortis is a buy. buy…