Upgrades pay off for MBT

Article Excerpt

MANITOBA TELECOM SERVICES INC. $32.43 (Toronto symbol MBT; Shares outstanding: 65.5 million; Market cap: $2.2 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Average; Dividend yield: 5.2%; www.mts.ca) has been upgrading its wireless and Internet networks in the past few years. That’s helping it attract new customers for its wireless, high-speed Internet and Internet-based TV services. As well, the company has lowered its annual costs by $20.6 million in the first six months of 2011. For all of 2011, it expects its cost cuts to save it between $25 million and $35 million. In the three months ended June 30, 2011, the company’s earnings rose 41.5%, to $49.8 million, or $0.76 a share. A year earlier, it earned $35.2 million, or $0.54 a share. Without unusual items, earnings per share would have risen 9.2%, to $1.31 from $1.20. Revenue rose 0.2%, to $443.7 million from $442.9 million. Manitoba Telecom is a buy. buy…