Telecoms still a top choice for income

Article Excerpt

BCE, Telus and Manitoba Telecom are facing rising competition from cable companies, as well as new entrants in the wireless market. However, all three companies have spent heavily on their wireless and high-speed Internet networks in the past few years. That’s letting them launch new services, like Internet-based TV. The extra cash flows from these services should let all three firms raise their already high dividends. BCE INC. $39 (Toronto symbol BCE; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 777.5 million; Market cap: $30.3 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.6; Dividend yield: 5.3%; 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 6.3 million residential and business customers in Ontario and Quebec. BCE sells wireless services to 7.3 million subscribers across Canada. As well, it has 2.1 million high-speed Internet customers and 2.0 million TV subscribers. Through Bell Media, the company owns the CTV Television Network (28 TV stations), 29 specialty channels and…