High market shares support their dividends

Article Excerpt

Russel Metals recently increased its dividend for the first time in nine years, while Calian has held its dividend steady for the past 11 years. Despite the lack of regular increases, both remain quality picks for income-seekers due to their high share of niche markets. RUSSEL METALS INC. $40 is a buy. The company (Toronto symbol RUS; Cyclical-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 61.3 million; Market cap: $2.5 billion; Dividend yield: 4.0%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.russelmetals.com) is a leading metals distributor in North America with more than 30,000 end customers. Russel has paid regular quarterly dividends of $0.38 a share since the third quarter of 2014. However, with the June 2023 payment, the dividend rose 5.3% to $0.40. The new annual rate of $1.60 yields 4.0%. The company’s revenue in the three months ended June 30, 2023, fell 12.5%, to $1.19 billion from $1.36 billion a year earlier. Revenues were lower on moderating steel prices since shooting up in 2021. The…