Low rates a plus for Telus

Article Excerpt

TELUS CORP. $41.99 (Toronto symbol T.A; Shares outstanding: 335.6 million; Market cap: $14.1 billion; SI Rating: Above Average; Dividend yield: 4.8%) has taken advantage of low interest rates to refinance some of its debt. The company recently issued $1 billion of new 5.05%, 10-year notes. It will use some of this cash to repay $613 million U.S. of its 8.0% notes, which are due in June 2011. Telus’s long-term debt stands at $6.2 billion, or 44% of its market cap. However, high debt loads are common for telephone utilities. That’s because they must invest large sums in their networks and infrastructure. However, these assets produce steady revenue streams to cover interest costs and pay down debt. Telus is a buy. buy…