A Yield to Caution

Article Excerpt

TEN PEAKS COFFEE $5.98 (Toronto symbol TPK; Shares outstanding: 9.0 million; Market cap: $53.8 million; Dividend yield: 4.2%; www.tenpeakscoffee.ca) owns the Swiss Water Decaffeinated Coffee Company, a Burnaby, B.C.-based firm that removes caffeine from coffee beans. Ten Peaks pays a $0.0625 quarterly dividend, for a high 4.2% annualized yield. The company’s exclusive Swiss Water Process is a chemical-free way to remove caffeine from green (unroasted) coffee beans. That’s in contrast to most other methods, which use methylene chloride and ethyl acetate. For a fee, Swiss Water decaffeinates the coffee beans of its customers—coffee retailers, importers and commercial roasters. The company requires considerable marketing to maintain its profile. It is also vulnerable to new competitors or any downturn in demand for its higher-priced products. As well, three major customers account for about 40% of its sales, and that adds risk. Moreover, other caffeine-free beverages, such as juices and sports drinks, are increasingly popular; that could hurt Ten Peaks’ sales. Strong demand for energy drinks also suggests…