Faster networks set to speed up profits

Article Excerpt

BCE INC. $55 (Toronto symbol BCE; Conservative Growth and Income Portfolios, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 898.0 million; Market cap: $49.4 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.2; Dividend yield: 5.5%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.bce.ca) is Canada’s largest traditional telephone service provider, with 3.2 million customers in Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba and the Atlantic provinces. It also has 3.8 million high-speed Internet users and 2.8 million TV subscribers. In addition, the company sells wireless services to 9.2 million users across Canada, and owns TV and radio stations. Thanks to strong demand for its wireless and Fibe TV services, BCE’s revenue rose 25.5%, from $18.1 billion in 2013 to $22.7 billion in 2017. Revenue also benefited from the March 2017 acquisition of Manitoba Telecom. That utility has 1.3 million telephone and wireless customers in the province. BCE paid $3.9 billion in cash and shares. Earnings growth outpaces revenue Overall earnings jumped 30.9%, from $2.32 billion in 2013 to $3.03 billion in 2017. Earnings per share gained 15.7%, from $2.99 in…