price to sales ratio

These two leading food producers are currently restructuring their operations. Severance payments and other costs will hurt their short-term profits, but the long-term savings will give them more room for future dividend hikes.


SAPUTO INC. $47 (Toronto symbol SAP; High-Growth Dividend Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares o/s: 391.4 million; Mkt....

Dear client:


Algonquin Power expects to soon complete its biggest acquisition to date, the $3.4 billion purchase of Missouri-based Empire District Electric. Growth by acquisition adds risk. But Algonquin cuts that risk by buying profitable utililities that either sell their power under long-term contracts or under rates set by regulators to ensure a profit.


ALGONQUIN POWER & UTILITIES $12 (Toronto symbol AQN; High-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 274.0 million; Market cap: $3.3 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 3.0; Divd....

The dividend yields on these supermarket stocks are low compared to others we recommend. However, their long history of dividend hikes secures their Highest rating.


LOBLAW COMPANIES LTD. $71 (Toronto symbol L; Conservative Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Consum er sector; Shares outstanding: 403.5 million; Market cap: $28.6 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.6; Divd....

FORTIS INC. $41 (Toronto symbol FTS; Income-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares o/s: 399.8 million; Market cap: $16.4 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.5; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Highest; Dividend yield 3.9%; www.fortisinc.com) is the main power utility in Newfoundland and PEI....

GENERAL ELECTRIC CO. $32 (New York symbol GE; Income-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 8.9 billion; Market cap: $284.8 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.3; Dividend yield: 3.0%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.ge.com) is a leading maker of industrial machinery, including jet engines, power plant equipment and locomotives....

PFIZER INC. $32 (New York symbol PFE; IncomeGrowth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 6.1 billion; Market cap: $195.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 3.7; Divd. yield: 4.0%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Highest; www.pzifer....

ALLIED PROPERTIES REIT $35 (Toronto symbol AP.UN; Cyclical-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Units outstanding: 84.7 million; Market cap: $3.0 billion; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; Price-to-sales ratio: 7.8; Dividend yield: 4.4%; www.alliedreit.com) owns 148 office buildings in Canada....

IMPERIAL OIL LTD. $48 (Toronto symbol IMO; Cyclical-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio; Resources sector; Shares outstanding: 847.6 million; Market cap: $40.7 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.8; Dividend yield: 1.3%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.imperialoil.ca) is Canada’s second-largest integrated oil company, after Suncor Energy....

All of the Big Five banks hold our highest Dividend Sustainability Rating, but only two have announced payout increases for the first half of fiscal 2017.


BANK OF MONTREAL $97 (Toronto symbol BMO; Income-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Finance sector; Shares o/s: 645.8 million; Market cap: $63.5 billion; Priceto-sales ratio: 3.1; Dividend yield: 3.6%; www.bmo.com Dividend Sustainability Rating: Highest) will increase its quarterly dividend by 2.3%, to $0.88 a share from $0.86....

Dear client:


Owning a home is all the real estate exposure most Canadians need. However, real estate investment trusts (REITs) let investors profit from a wider variety of properties without the risk of finding tenants and collecting rent.


Our top pick among REITs is RioCan....