BCE Inc.
Toronto symbol BCE, provides local and long distance telephone services in Ontario and Quebec. It also operates a nationwide wireless service.
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MANITOBA TELECOM SERVICES INC. $29.80 (Toronto symbol MBT; Shares outstanding: 65.7 million; Market cap: $2.0 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Average; Dividend yield: 5.7%; www.mts.ca) has over 1.3 million telephone and wireless customers in Manitoba. This business now accounts for 54% of the company’s revenue.
The remaining 46% comes from its Allstream division, which provides integrated telephone, Internet and other communication services to businesses across Canada.
In the three months ended September 30, 2011, Manitoba Tel’s revenue fell 1.7%, to $443.2 million from $451.0 million a year earlier. The MTS division’s revenue rose 0.7%. Allstream’s revenue fell 4.6%, mostly because it is closing less-profitable businesses. Earnings per share fell 8.2%, to $0.56 from $0.61. The stock yields a high 5.7%.
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The remaining 46% comes from its Allstream division, which provides integrated telephone, Internet and other communication services to businesses across Canada.
In the three months ended September 30, 2011, Manitoba Tel’s revenue fell 1.7%, to $443.2 million from $451.0 million a year earlier. The MTS division’s revenue rose 0.7%. Allstream’s revenue fell 4.6%, mostly because it is closing less-profitable businesses. Earnings per share fell 8.2%, to $0.56 from $0.61. The stock yields a high 5.7%.
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BELL ALIANT INC. $28.65 (Toronto symbol BA: Shares outstanding: 227.8 million; Market cap: $6.5 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Yield: 6.6%; www.aliant.ca) sells telephone and Internet services to 2.8 million customers in Atlantic Canada, as well as rural parts of Ontario and Quebec. The company also sells wireless services through an alliance with BCE, which owns 43.8% of Bell Aliant.
The company faces strong competition from cable providers. In addition, many of its phone customers are switching to wireless devices. However, Bell Aliant’s wireless agreement with BCE and recent upgrades to its high-speed Internet network are helping it hold on to clients and attract new ones.
Bell Aliant earned $0.75 a share in the three months ended September 30, 2011. A year earlier, it earned just $0.21 a share.
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The company faces strong competition from cable providers. In addition, many of its phone customers are switching to wireless devices. However, Bell Aliant’s wireless agreement with BCE and recent upgrades to its high-speed Internet network are helping it hold on to clients and attract new ones.
Bell Aliant earned $0.75 a share in the three months ended September 30, 2011. A year earlier, it earned just $0.21 a share.
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BCE INC. $42.28 (Toronto symbol BCE; Shares outstanding: 778.2 million; Market cap: $32.9 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Dividend yield: 5.1%; www.bce.ca) is teaming up with Rogers Communications to buy 75% of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE).
This is the private company that owns the Toronto Maple Leafs (hockey), Toronto Raptors (basketball) and Toronto FC (soccer). MLSE also owns the Air Canada Centre arena in Toronto.
BCE will pay a total of $533 million for 37.5% of MLSE.
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This is the private company that owns the Toronto Maple Leafs (hockey), Toronto Raptors (basketball) and Toronto FC (soccer). MLSE also owns the Air Canada Centre arena in Toronto.
BCE will pay a total of $533 million for 37.5% of MLSE.
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Successful investors know that there is more to good stock investing than simply picking stocks whose share prices will rise. You add a great deal of value to your portfolio when you also select stocks that are prepared to distribute their profits to the shareholders. A company can share the wealth in two main ways—it can buy back its own shares, or it can pay dividends. Both pay off for investors, especially in BCE’s case....
MANITOBA TELECOM SERVICES INC. (Toronto symbol MBT; www.mts.ca) has over 1.3 million telephone and wireless customers in Manitoba. This business now accounts for 54% of the company’s revenue. The remaining 46% comes from its Allstream division, which provides integrated telephone, Internet and other communication services to businesses across Canada....
BCE INC. $42.28 (Toronto symbol BCE; Shares outstanding: 778.2 million; Market cap: $32.9 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Dividend yield: 5.1%; www.bce.ca) is teaming up with Rogers Communications to buy 75% of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE). This is the private company that owns the Toronto Maple Leafs (hockey), Toronto Raptors (basketball) and Toronto FC (soccer). MLSE also owns the Air Canada Centre arena in Toronto. BCE will pay a total of $533 million for 37.5% of MLSE....
BELL ALIANT INC. $28.65 (Toronto symbol BA: Shares outstanding: 227.8 million; Market cap: $6.5 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Yield: 6.6%; www.aliant.ca) sells telephone and Internet services to 2.8 million customers in Atlantic Canada, as well as rural parts of Ontario and Quebec. The company also sells wireless services through an alliance with BCE, which owns 43.8% of Bell Aliant. The company faces strong competition from cable providers. In addition, many of its phone customers are switching to wireless devices. However, Bell Aliant’s wireless agreement with BCE and recent upgrades to its high-speed Internet network are helping it hold on to clients and attract new ones. Bell Aliant earned $0.75 a share in the three months ended September 30, 2011. A year earlier, it earned just $0.21 a share....
BCE INC., $40.74, Toronto symbol BCE, is teaming up with Rogers Communications Inc. (Toronto symbol RCI.B) to buy 75% of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE). This is the private company that owns several professional sports teams, including the Toronto Maple Leafs (hockey), Toronto Raptors (basketball) and Toronto FC (soccer). MLSE also owns the Air Canada Centre arena in downtown Toronto, as well as specialty TV channels such as Leafs TV. BCE, in combination with the trust fund that manages its employees’ pension plan, will pay a total of $533 million for 37.5% of MLSE. Rogers will also acquire 37.5%. A private investor will own the remaining 25%. The deal should close in mid-2012. Unlike most sports teams, MLSE is profitable. This investment will also guarantee BCE access to live games and other high-demand content for its TV channels, radio stations and web sites....
BCE INC. $39 (www.bce.ca) earned $0.93 a share in the quarter ended September 30, 2011, up 14.8% from $0.81 a year earlier. That’s partly due to BCE’s April 2011 purchase of CTVglobemedia, the private company that owns CTV Television and other media properties. Strong demand for wireless services and its new Internet-based TV service also spurred results. Best Buy. BELL ALIANT INC. $28 (www.aliant.ca) continues to benefit from its investments in its high-speed Internet networks in Atlantic Canada. As a result, earnings per share in the third quarter of 2011 improved to $0.41 from a loss of $0.01 a year earlier. Buy. FORTIS INC. $33 (www.fortisinc.com) earned $0.31 a share in the third quarter of 2011. However, if you exclude a break-up fee that Fortis received only because a Vermont electricity distributor accepted a competing takeover offer, per-share earnings would have fallen by 3.8%, to $0.25 from $0.26 a year earlier. Hold.