Dividend increase: Pembina Pipeline

Article Excerpt

PEMBINA PIPELINE CORP. $41 (Toronto symbol PPL; High-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 502.5 million; Market cap: $20.6 billion; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; Dividend yield: 5.3%; www.pembina.com) has completed its acquisition of rival pipeline operator Veresen Inc. (Toronto symbol VSN, a now-former pick of Dividend Advisor). Pembina paid $4.9 billion for Veresen, including that firm’s debt. Under the deal, Veresen investors could choose either $18.65 in cash or 0.4287 shares of Pembina for each share they held. However, Pembina capped the total amount of cash it would pay. As a result, most Veresen shareholders received $4.8494 in cash and 0.3172 of a Pembina share. Given the purchase, Pembina has raised its monthly dividend by 5.9%. Starting with the November 2017 payment, investors will receive $0.18 a share, up from $0.17. The new annual rate of $2.16 yields 5.3%. Pembina is a top buy for 2017. 2017…