BCE offers growth—and a high yield

Article Excerpt

BCE has largely completed a multi-year plan to upgrade its wireless and fibre-optic networks. Those improvements are already attracting new customers and lifting its cash flow. The completion of those projects also means BCE can lower its capital spending. That frees up cash for future dividend hikes. BCE INC., $52.62, is a buy. The company (Toronto symbol BCE; Shares outstanding: 912.3 million; Market cap: $47.9 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Dividend yield: 7.4%) is Canada’s largest traditional telephone service provider. It has 2.10 million residential customers in Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba and the Atlantic provinces. It also has 4.34 million high-speed Internet users and 2.72 million TV subscribers. In addition, BCE provides wireless services to 12.6 million users. The company continues to benefit from strong demand for mobile phone service due to the launch of new smartphones and the expansion of its ultrafast 5G wireless networks. In the quarter ended September 30, 2023, overall revenue rose 0.9%, to $6.08 billion from $6.02 billion a year earlier. However,…