Get steady income with these industrials

Article Excerpt

These two Canadian industrial firms are leaders in their niche markets. Their strong reputations should continue to help them win new customers and contracts. Both of those are key to future dividend increases. STANTEC INC. $43 is a buy. The company (Toronto symbol STN; Cyclical-Growth Payer Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 111.9 million; Market cap: $4.8 billion; Dividend yield: 1.4%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.stantec.com) sells a range of consulting, design and technology services to clients in the oil and gas, transportation and construction industries. With the April 2020 payment, Stantec raised its quarterly dividend by 6.9%, to $0.155 a share from $0.145. The new annual rate of $0.62 yields 1.4%. The company continues to grow through acquisitions. By sharing administrative expenses, financing and employee benefits among its businesses, it cuts costs. I also cuts the risk of expanding this way by focusing on smaller firms that can be easily integrated. Thanks partly to new businesses, revenue in the quarter ended March 31, 2020, rose…