BCE is our other top telecom pick

Article Excerpt

In addition to Telus (see page 81), the outlook for BCE is positive: the company continues to attract new wireless and TV customers; and its upcoming acquisition of Manitoba Telecom (see box) will expand its geographic reach and earnings, as well as its wireless business. BCE INC. $63 (Toronto symbol BCE; Conservative Growth and Income Portfolios, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 868.6 million; Market cap: $54.7 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.6; Dividend yield: 4.3%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.bce.ca) is Canada’s largest telephone service provider, with 6.5 million customers in Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces. It also has 3.4 million highspeed Internet users and 2.75 million TV subscribers. In all, these operations supply 55% of BCE’s revenue. The company also sells wireless services (32% of revenue) to 8.3 million cellphone users across Canada. The remaining 13% of BCE’s revenue comes from its Bell Media division, which owns CTV Television, specialty channels and radio stations. The company recently agreed to buy Manitoba…