Telus adds Black’s

Article Excerpt

TELUS CORP. (Toronto symbols T $34 and T.A $33; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 317.7 million; Market cap: $10.8 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.1; SI Rating: Above Average) has purchased privately owned Black’s Photo Corp., which operates 113 stores that sell cameras, film and other photographic equipment. Telus plans to sell its cellphones and wireless services through Black’s. This looks like a good fit, as more consumers are using their cellphones to take pictures and videos. Adding Black’s will also help Telus compete with BCE, which recently bought consumer-electronics retailer The Source in an effort to attract new wireless customers. The company paid just $28 million for Black’s, which is equal to 11% of the $244 million, or $0.77 a share, that it earned in the three months ended June 30, 2009. Telus is a buy. The non-voting “A” shares are the better choice. choice…