We prefer BCE for its growth potential

Article Excerpt

We rate BCE and Bell Aliant as “Above Average,” so they both have about the same risk level. Bell Aliant offers higher income, but BCE reinvests more of its cash flow. That reinvestment, plus its wider range of operations, gives the company better growth prospects. This makes BCE a better choice for new buying. BCE INC. $27 (Toronto symbol BCE; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 767.2 million; Market cap: $20.7 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.2; SI Rating: Above Average) has 7.2 million residential and business telephone customers in Ontario and Quebec. It also has 6.6 million wireless subscribers across Canada, and sells other services, including Internet access and satellite TV. BCE also owns 44% of Bell Aliant, which has 3.1 million telephone customers in Atlantic Canada and rural parts of Ontario and Quebec. Bell Aliant transferred most of its wireless business to BCE as part of the deal that created the trust in 2006. Last year, BCE began a major cost-cutting program…