Dividend increase: Emera

Article Excerpt

EMERA INC. $49 (Toronto symbol EMA; Income-Growth Payer Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 212.1 million; Market cap: $10.4 billion; Dividend yield: 4.6%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Highest; www.emera.com) owns 100% of Nova Scotia Power, that province’s main electricity supplier. It also holds interests in several power plants and natural gas pipelines in the U.S. and the Caribbean. In July 2016, Emera purchased Teco Energy for $13.9 billion. That firm supplies electricity and natural gas to 1.05 million customers in Tampa Bay, Florida, as well as natural gas to 510,000 customers in New Mexico. Thanks to the additional cash flow from Teco, Emera will raise its quarterly dividend by 8.1%. Starting with the November 2017 payment, investors will receive $0.565 a share, up from $0.5225. The new annual rate of $2.26 yields a high 4.6%. The company still plans to increase its dividend by 8% each year through 2020. Emera is a buy. buy…