High p/e’s keep these utilities on hold

Article Excerpt

These two utilities are using different strategies to boost their earnings: Enbridge is investing heavily in new pipelines, while Manitoba Telecom is cutting costs at its struggling Allstream unit. We feel both firms will ultimately succeed, and their future growth will give them more cash for dividends. Right now, however, we think their high multiples to earnings make them vulnerable to a setback if their profit growth stalls. ENBRIDGE INC. $56 (Toronto symbol ENB; Conservative Growth and Income Portfolios, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 860.1 million; Market cap: $48.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.4; Dividend yield: 3.3%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.enbridge.com) gets 85% of its revenue from pipelines that pump oil and natural gas from Western Canada to Eastern Canada and the U.S. The remaining 15% mainly comes from distributing gas to 2.1 million consumers in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and New York State. The company recently completed the major reorganization it announced in December 2014. Under the plan, Enbridge transferred…