Enbridge raises its dividend again

Article Excerpt

Rising interest rates boost the appeal of bonds and so can hurt the share prices of competing high-yield utility stocks like Enbridge. It’s important to note, however, that bond investors must treat interest payments they receive as regular income. As a result, they pay higher taxes on that income compared to dividend income qualifying for the Canadian dividend tax credit. Moreover, Enbridge gets most of its cash flow from regulated businesses, which lets it continually adapt for future growth. ENBRIDGE, $46.67, is a buy. The firm (Toronto symbol ENB; Shares o/s: 2.1 billion; Market cap: $99.2 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Yield: 7.8%; www.enbridge.com) operates pipelines that pump oil and natural gas from Western Canada to eastern Canada and the U.S. It also distributes gas to 3.8 million consumers in Ontario and Quebec. Thanks to acquisitions and higher oil pipeline volumes, Enbridge’s distributable cash flow (DCF) in the quarter ended December 31, 2023, rose 2.6%, to $2.73 billion from $2.66 billion a year earlier. Due…