Loblaw is now a pure-play retailer

Loblaw recently transferred its majority stake in Choice Properties REIT to its parent company, George Weston. As a result of that reorganization, Loblaw can now focus exclusively on expanding profits for its main retailing operations.
For example, the company recently launched a new enhanced delivery program… Read More

Updating Calian Group Ltd.

CALIAN GROUP LTD. $28 (Toronto symbol CGY; High-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding; 7.8 million; Market cap: $218.4 million; Dividend yield: 4.0%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.calian.com) has two main operations: Business and Technology Services (70% of revenue) provides clients with engineers, health-care… Read More

U.S. push helps spur Fortis dividend

FORTIS INC. $47 (Toronto symbol FTS; Income-Growth Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 426.6 million; Market cap: $20.1 billion; Dividend yield 3.8%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Highest; www.fortisinc.com) began supplying electricity to St. John’s, Newfoundland, in 1885. The company is now the main power utility in that province as well… Read More

Asset sales improve its outlook

DREAM OFFICE REIT $24 (Toronto symbol D.UN; Cyclical-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio; Manufacturing sector; Units outstanding: 59.8 million; Market cap: $1.4 billion; Dividend yield: 4.2%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Average; www.dream.ca) launched a three-year strategic plan in 2016. That strategy includes selling non-essential properties in order to realize their full… Read More

New businesses enhance their prospects

METRO INC. $48 (Toronto symbol MRU; High-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding 227.4 million; Market cap: $10.9 billion; Dividend yield: 1.5%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Highest; www.metro.ca) operates 600 grocery stores and 700 drugstores, in Quebec and Ontario.
With the March 2018 payment, Metro raised its quarterly dividend… Read More

Russel can handle U.S. tariffs

RUSSEL METALS INC. $21 (Toronto symbol RUS; Cyclical-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares o/s: 62.1 million; Market cap: $1.3 billion; Dividend yield: 7.2%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.russelmetals.com) is one of North America’s largest metal distributors.
Russel continues to pay quarterly dividends of $0.38 a.. Read More

Buy these auto-related stocks for income

FORD MOTOR CO. $9 (New York symbol F, Cyclical-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 4.0 billion; Market cap: $36.0 billion; Dividend yield: 6.7%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.ford.com) holds 14.4% of the U.S. market, which means it’s only second to General Motors (with… Read More

Look beyond the banks for reliable dividends

GREAT-WEST LIFECO INC. $28 (Toronto symbol GWO; Conservative Growth Payer Portfolio, Finance sector; shares outstanding: 988.4 million; Market cap: $27.7 billion; Dividend yield: 5.6%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.greatwestlifeco.com) is Canada’s second-largest insurance company, after Manulife Financial. It also offers mutual funds and wealth management services. Power… Read More

Dividend increase: Enbridge

ENBRIDGE INC. $42 (Toronto symbol ENB; Income-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 1.8 billion; Market cap: $75.6 billion; Dividend yield: 7.0%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Highest; www.enbridge.com) continues to sell some of its less-important assets to help pay down the $22 billion of debt it assumed as… Read More