Telus can handle new competitors

Article Excerpt

Telus faces rising competition in the most profitable parts of its business, including wireless. Even so, the company is thriving by upgrading its network; offering bundles of local phone, TV and wireless services; and expanding its retail-store network and more. TELUS CORP. $38.90 (Toronto symbol T.A; Shares outstanding: 335.6 million; Market cap: $13.1 billion; SI Rating: Above Average; Dividend yield: 5.1%) provides telephone services in B.C., Alberta and eastern Quebec. It also sells wireless services across Canada. In the three months ended March 31, 2010, Telus’s earnings rose 2.5%, to $0.83 a share from $0.81. Revenue was unchanged, at $2.4 billion. That’s because lower local and long-distance revenue offset higher sales of wireless and Internet services. Telus also raised its dividend by 5.3%. The new annual rate of $2.00 yields 5.1%. Telus bought the 113-store Black’s Photo chain in 2010. That gives it about 1,000 stores through which to sell its wireless phones, and adds to its presence in Ontario. As well, it…