Acquisitions spur growth and dividend

Article Excerpt

STANTEC INC. $32 (Toronto symbol STN; Cyclical-Growth Payer Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 114.2 million; Market cap: $3.7 billion; Dividend yield: 1.6%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.stantec.com) sells a range of consulting, design and technology services to clients in the oil and gas, transportation and construction industries. With the April 2017 payment, Stantec raised its quarterly dividend by 11.1%, to $0.125 from $0.1125. The new annual rate of $0.50 yield 1.6%. The company continues to grow through acquisitions. Its biggest purchase to date was the May 2016 purchase of water infrastructure company MWH Global for $795 million U.S. Stantec has now made over 25 acquisitions in the past four years, which adds risk. That includes the risk of writedowns. Stantec is a hold. hold…