Telus’s dividend looks sustainable

Article Excerpt

High-yielding utility stocks like Telus have suffered in the past few months as investors shift to bonds. High interest rates are also adding to their debt servicing costs. However, rates will probably come down in the next few months. As well, Telus’s improving cash flow will support its plan to keep raising your dividend. TELUS CORP. $22 a buy. The company (Toronto symbol T; Income-Growth Portfolio, Utilities sector; Shares outstanding: 1.5 billion; Market cap: $33.0 billion; Dividend yield: 6.8%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Highest; www.telus.com) is Canada’s second-largest wireless carrier (after BCE) with 13.2 million subscribers. It also sells landline phone, Internet, TV, and security services in B.C., Alberta and eastern Quebec. The company also owns 85.4% of Telus International (Cda) Inc. (Toronto symbol TIXT), which operates call centres on behalf of over 650 corporate clients in 32 countries. It also helps them manage their computer systems and mobile apps. With the January 2024 payment, Telus increased your quarterly dividend by 3.4%. Investors now receive $0.3761 a share…