Info providers adapt to digital shift

Article Excerpt

These three information providers face a challenge from free online news and other data. However, all three are well-established leaders, which helps them hang on to their clients. They’re also keeping their costs under control, which gives them more room to maintain or raise their dividends. THOMSON REUTERS CORP. $52 (Toronto symbol TRI; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 791.8 million; Market cap: $41.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 3.3; Dividend yield: 3.2%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.thomsonreuters.com) sells specialized information products in four main areas: financial (53% of 2014 revenue, 39% of earnings); legal (28%, 39%); tax (11%, 12%); and intellectual property and science (8%, 10%). (All amounts except share price and market cap in U.S. dollars.) The Americas supplied 60% of Thomson’s 2014 revenue, followed by Europe (30%) and Asia (10%). Many banks and financial services firms cut spending on the company’s products following the 2008 financial crisis. In response, it laid off staff and simplified…