TD feels it can maintain its dividend

Article Excerpt

TORONTO-DOMINION BANK $46 (Toronto symbol TD; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Finance sector; Shares outstanding: 850 million; Market cap: $39.1 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.6; SI Rating: Above Average) will probably report lower 2009 earnings. The recession has increased the bank’s loan losses, particularly at its U.S. operations. In 2008, TD earned $3.8 billion, or $4.88 a share, before unusual items. Despite the likelihood of lower earnings, TD feels it can keep paying quarterly dividends of $0.61 a share, for an annualized yield of 5.3%. The current payout rate is equal to 45% of TD’s earnings, which is at the top of its target range of 35% to 45%. Still, TD has enough capital to maintain the dividend even if its earnings fall more than it expects. TD Bank is a buy. buy…