These small-caps offer investors steady yields

Article Excerpt

Many of you avoid smaller firms such as these three (including Leon’s—see box) due to their higher risk and lower liquidity. However, each of the three small caps on this page is a leader in its niche market. That helps protect your dividends. CALIAN GROUP LTD. $39 is a buy. The company (Toronto symbol CGY; High-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding; 7.9 million; Market cap: $308.1 million; Dividend yield: 2.9%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.calian.com) has two main operations: Business and Technology Services (72% of revenue) provides clients with engineers, health-care workers and other skilled professionals on a contract basis; and Systems Engineering (28%) sells hardware and software for testing, operating and managing satellite and other communication systems. Calian investors receive a quarterly dividend of $0.28 for a 2.9% yield. The company raised that payment five times between 2010 and 2012 and has held it steady since then. In April 2019, Calian acquired Germany-based SatService for $16.0 million. That firm offers engineering…