Network upgrades paying off

Article Excerpt

MANITOBA TELECOM SERVICES INC. $31 (Toronto symbol MBT; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 65.2 million; Market cap: $2.0 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.1; Dividend yield: 5.5%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.mtsallstream.com) has been upgrading its wireless and Internet networks in the past few years. That’s helping attract new customers for its wireless, high-speed Internet and Internet-based TV services. The company has also cut its annual costs by $20.6 million in the first six months of 2011. For all of 2011, it expects to save between $25 million and $35 million. In the three months ended June 30, 2011, the company’s earnings rose 41.5%, to $49.8 million, or $0.76 a share. A year earlier, it earned $35.2 million, or $0.54. Without unusual items, earnings per share would have risen 9.2%, to $1.31 from $1.20. Revenue rose 0.2%, to $443.7 million from $442.9 million. Manitoba Telecom is a buy. …