Updating AT&T

AT&T INC. $30 (New York symbol T; Income-Growth Dividend Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 7.3 billion; Market cap: $219.0 billion; Dividend yield: 6.7%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Highest; www.att.com) is the largest wireless carrier in the U.S. It also offers traditional phone and satellite TV services.
The company last raised… Read More

U.S. consumer stocks: 1 buy & 1 hold

MCDONALD’S CORP. $163 (New York symbol MCD; Income-Growth Dividend Portfolio, Consumer sector, Shares outstanding: 775.8 million; Market cap: $126.5 billion; Dividend yield: 2.5%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Highest; www.mcdonalds.com) is the world’s largest operator of fast-food restaurants, with 37,406 outlets in 120 countries. It serves a wide variety of… Read More

Better networks set to fuel Verizon’s dividend

VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC. $51 (New York symbol VZ; Income-Growth Dividend Portfolio, Utilities sector, Shares outstanding: 4.1 billion; Market cap: $209.1 billion; Dividend yield: 4.6%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Highest; www.verizon.com) has 116.5 million wireless users, 12.3 million phone customers and 15.4 million Internet and TV subscribers.
With the November 2017… Read More

New markets position their dividends for growth

CAE INC. $27 (Toronto symbol CAE; Conservative Growth Payer Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares o/s: 267.7 million; Market cap: $7.2 billion; Dividend Yield: 1.3%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.cae.com) is a leading maker of flight simulators for commercial and military aircraft. It also operates pilot-training schools… Read More

Updating General Electric Co., Leon’s Furniture Ltd. and WestJet Airlines Ltd.

GENERAL ELECTRIC CO. $14 (New York symbol GE; Income-Growth Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 8.7 billion; Market cap: $121.8 billion; Dividend yield: 3.4%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Average; www.ge.com) is a leading maker of industrial machinery, including jet engines, power plant equipment and locomotives.
To conserve cash as… Read More

Two U.S. stocks that deserve our ‘Highest’ rating

Verizon and McDonald’s—two U.S. companies that carry our “Highest” Dividend Sustainability Rating. That scoring reflects not only their long-term commitment to regular dividend increases, but their improving profitability.
VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC. $47 (New York symbol VZ; Income-Growth Dividend Portfolio, Utilities sector, Shares outstanding: 4.1 billion; Market cap:… Read More