Their dividends look solid despite COVID

Article Excerpt

These two leading industrial firms have maintained their dividends—despite the economic shocks caused by COVID-19. Their balance sheets also remain strong. We expect both will continue to recover along with the economy. FINNING INTERNATIONAL INC. $26 is a buy. The company (Toronto symbol FTT; Cyclical-Growth Payer Portfolio, Manufacturing & Industry sector; Shares outstanding: 162.1 million; Market cap: $4.2 billion; Dividend yield: 3.2%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.finning.com) sells and services Caterpillar-brand heavy equipment in Western Canada, South America and the U.K. It is the largest Caterpillar dealer in the world. Its main customers are in the oil and gas industry but also mining, forestry-products and construction. Finning has paid dividends since 1970. It last raised that quarterly payment in June 2019 by 2.5%. The new annual rate of $0.82 yields a solid 3.2%. The company’s revenue in the three months ended September 30, 2020, fell 20.7%, to $1.44 billion from $1.82 billion a year earlier. Sales were lower due to COVID-19 and reduced demand from oil…