Updating our Income stocks: Canadian Utilities, ATCO and Toronto-Dominion Bank

Article Excerpt

CANADIAN UTILITIES LTD. $33 (www.canadianutilities.com) is a buy. The firm distributes electricity and natural gas in Alberta and Australia. It also owns or invests in 5 power plants—1 in Canada, 2 in Australia and 2 in Mexico. ATCO (see below) owns 52.2% of the company. Revenue in the second quarter of 2020 fell 18.0%, to $740 million from $902 million, due to asset sales. Unfavourable regulatory decisions also worked to cut earnings 26.1%, to $0.34 from $0.46. However, the $1.74 dividend remains secure, yielding a high 5.3%. Canadian Utilities is a buy. ATCO LTD. $41 (www.atco.com) is also a buy. The company gets most of its earnings from Canadian Utilities. Due to a lower contribution from that business, ATCO’s overall revenue in the second quarter fell 15.0%, to $938 million from $1.10 billion. Earnings per share also declined 10.3%, to $0.61 from $0.68. Still, its $1.74 dividend yields a high and sustainable 4.2%. ATCO is a buy. TORONTO-DOMINION BANK $64 (www.td.com) is a buy. The bank owns 43% of U.S. brokerage firm TD…