Network upgrades set the stage for gains

Article Excerpt

Canada’s big telephone companies face strong competition from cable companies and new entrants in the wireless market. However, their traditional phone businesses continue to provide strong cash flows. That’s letting them upgrade their networks, and maintain or increase their dividends. BCE INC. $35 (Toronto symbol BCE; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 752.3 million; Market cap: $24.4 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.5; Dividend yield: 5.6%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.bce.ca) is Canada’s largest provider of telephone, Internet and wireless services. The company’s main subsidiary, Bell Canada, has 6.5 million residential and business customers in Ontario and Quebec. BCE sells wireless services to 7.2 million subscribers across Canada. As well, it has 2.1 million high-speed Internet customers and 2.0 million satellite-TV subscribers. The company has received regulatory approval to buy the remaining 85% of CTVglobemedia that it does not already own. This is the private company that owns the CTV Television Network (28 TV stations), 29 specialty channels and 33 radio stations. BCE will…