Smart acquisitions fuel Algonquin’s dividend

Article Excerpt

ALGONQUIN POWER & UTILITIES CORP. $15 (Toronto symbol AQN; High-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 490.5 million; Market cap: $7.4 billion; Dividend yield: 4.6%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.algonquinpower.com) operates through two main businesses: The Liberty Power Group produces and sells electricity from 39 clean energy facilities across North America; and the Liberty Utilities Group provides regulated electricity, natural gas, water distribution and wastewater collection services. The company last increased its quarterly dividend with the July 2018 payment. Investors now receive $0.1282 U.S. a share, up 10.0% from $0.1165 U.S. The new annual rate of $0.5128 U.S. yields a high 4.6%. The company has now increased its dividend each year for the past eight years. Algonquin tends to fuel its growth with acquisitions, which adds risk. However, the company cuts that risk by buying profitable utilities. It also sells its power under long-term government-guaranteed contracts. For example, in 2017 Algonquin acquired Missouri-based Empire District Electric for $3.4 billion. The firm…