Yield looks safe for now

Article Excerpt

MANITOBA TELECOM SERVICES $32.93 (Toronto symbol MBT; Shares outstanding: 64.7 million; Market cap: $2.1 billion; SI Rating: Average) is the main provider of telecommunication services in Manitoba. Customers are buying fewer long-distance and traditional phone services from Manitoba Tel due to the weak economy and growing competition. However, demand remains strong for wireless and high-speed Internet services. Manitoba Tel is building a new high-speed wireless network in Manitoba with Rogers. The company’s share of the cost is $70 million (it earned $43.3 million, or $0.67 a share, in the latest quarter). It’s also spending $40 million to upgrade its billing systems. Both investments will improve its service. Restructuring measures, including layoffs at its Allstream business-services division, cost $42.2 million in the first nine months of 2009. These moves should cut its annual costs by $50 million to $60 million. It faces a pension shortfall of up to $100 million, but payments will begin years in the future, if ever. Manitoba Telecom offers a high…