TELUS $64.54 (Toronto symbol T.A; Sharesoutstanding: 324.9 million; Market cap: $21.0billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average;Dividend yield: 4.0%; www.telus.com) hasreceived approval from the B.C. Supreme Courtto convert its 151 million non-voting class Ashares into regular common shares (which haveone vote each) on a one-for-one basis.Shareholders have already approved the plan.The plan will dilute common shareholders’voting power. However, it will let the …read more »

RIOCAN REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTTRUST $27.80 (Toronto symbol REI.UN; Unitsoutstanding: 297.3 million; Market cap: $8.3 billion;TSINetwork Rating: Average; Dividend yield: 5.1%;www.riocan.com) is raising its monthly distributionby 2.2% with the January 2013 payment, to $0.1175a unit from $0.115.The new annual rate of $1.41 yields 5.1%. This isthe first increase since 2008. (See more on RioCan inbox at right.)RioCan is still a buy.CANADIAN …read more »

Airlines continue to upgrade their fleets with more fuel-efficient aircraft. That will continue to improve these two aerospace firms’long-term prospects. Rising airliner demand should also help them offset a potential decline in military sales as governments cut defense spending to deal with their budget deficits. UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORP. $83 (New York symbol UTX; …read more »

GENERAL ELECTRIC CO. $21 (New York symbol GE; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 10.5 billion; Market cap: $220.5 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.6; Dividend yield: 3.6%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.ge.com) is benefiting from its recent purchases of companies that supply equipment to oil and natural gas producers. It’s also cutting …read more »

ENCANA CORP. $20 (New York symbol ECA; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Resources sector; Shares outstanding: 736.3 million; Market cap: $16.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.5; Dividend yield: 3.6%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.encana.com) has formed a joint venture with PetroChina International Investment Company Ltd., which is controlled by the Chinese government, to develop its Duvernay property in …read more »

INTEL CORP. $21 (Nasdaq symbol INTC; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 5.0 billion; Market cap: $105.0 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.9; Dividend yield: 4.3%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.intel.com) is the world’s leading maker of computer chips. Its products power about 80% of the world’s personal computers. Intel’s revenue …read more »

HEWLETT-PACKARD CO. $14 (www.hp.com) recently wrote down its August 2008 purchase of Electronic Data Systems, provides computer services to large government agencies and corporations. It also wrote down its August 2011 purchase of U.K.-based Autonomy Corp., whose products help businesses organize a variety of information. These purchases pushed up Hewlett’s long-term debt from $7.7 …read more »

We’ve long admired Canadian Utilities for its decades of steady earnings and dividend growth. In September 2009, we also began recommending ATCO, its parent company.

Due to its holding company discount, ATCO gives investors a cheaper way to invest in Canadian Utilities. However, it pays a lower dividend, so income seekers may prefer Canadian Utilities. Either way, both stocks offer low-risk …read more »

CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY LTD. $97 (Toronto symbol CP; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 173.0 million; Market cap: $16.8 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 3.0; Dividend yield: 1.4%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.cpr.ca) plans to cut 25% of its workforce as part of a major restructuring plan aimed at improving its efficiency. CP is also increasing the length and …read more »

TELUS CORP. (Toronto symbols T $65 and T.A $65; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 325.8 million; Market cap: $21.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.0; Dividend yield: 3.9%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.telus.com) recently received shareholder approval for its plan to convert its 151 million non-voting class A shares into regular common shares (one vote per share) on a one-for-one …read more »