Updating ATCO LTD., CANADIAN UTILITIES LTD. and MOLSON COORS CANADA INC.

Article Excerpt

ATCO LTD. $45 has increased its quarterly dividend by 6.0%, to $0.265 a share from $0.25. The new annual rate of $1.06 yields 2.4%. Buy. CANADIAN UTILITIES LTD. $42 is 52% owned by ATCO, and is ATCO’s main subsidiary. Like its parent, Canadian Utilities is raising its dividend. The new quarterly payment is $0.3775 a share. That’s up 7.1% from $0.3525. The new annual rate of $1.51 yields 3.6%. Buy. MOLSON COORS CANADA INC. $42 earned $3.81 a share in 2009, up 40.6% from $2.71 in 2008 (all amounts except share price in U.S. dollars). Savings from the July 2008 merger of its U.S. brewing operations with those of SABMiller were the main reason for the gain. Revenue fell 36.5%, to $3.0 billion from $4.8 billion. That’s because accounting rules force Molson Coors to recognize only its proportionate share of the U.S. joint venture. Best Buy. Buy…