Dividends give them extra appeal

Article Excerpt

WESTJET AIRLINES $15.48 (Toronto symbol WJA; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (1-877-493-7853; www.westjet.com; Shares outstanding: 130.8 million; Market cap: $2.0 billion; Dividend yield: 1.6%) serves 76 destinations in North America and the Caribbean. Its fleet of 98 modern Boeing Next-Generation 737s are 30% more fuel efficient than older aircraft. WestJet is scheduled to receive 37 more 737s through 2018. In the three months ended March 31, 2012, West- Jet’s revenue rose 15.3%, to $781.5 million from $692.2 million a year earlier. Earnings jumped 41.6%, to $68.3 million from $48.2 million. That’s a new record for the first quarter. It also marks the company’s 28th consecutive quarter of profitability. The higher revenue was the main reasons for the gain. Earnings per share rose 47.1%, to $0.50 from $0.34, on fewer shares outstanding. WestJet recently selected Bombardier to supply Q400 NextGen planes for its new short-haul Canadian regional airline. The company aims to start up the new airline by the end of 2013. The company has a..