BCE Inc. (BCE.TO)

Favours Telus for the long run. More consistent performer for dividend growth. Share price over 10 years has been steadier. (He's based in Western Canada, so he may have a bit of a home-team bias ;)

But if he had to buy one today, he'd go with BCE. Trading at a 10-year low, appears oversold. Yield is about 8.5%, and looks secure -- reducing capex, and it could introduce a discount to its DRIP program (which would give it a healthier payout ratio).

Holds it for client income, attractive yield over 8%. Going to wait it out. Thinks dividend safe. Not generating sufficient cashflow to pay for dividend, but company hasn't kept that a secret. Aware of shareholder base, adamant that dividend would be maintained. Eventually capex will go down, and will grow into payout ratio. Selling some assets. Rate cuts would be a tailwind.

Wireless competition has ramped up, but not cutthroat price wars. Immigration increases demand.

He sold. Stuck in the mud. High debt, high payout ratio. Still in capital expenditure cycle. Divestitures, not sure if it's enough to move the needle. Should be able to maintain dividend and muddle through, but needs to cut costs significantly. Negative growth guidance last quarter. Jury's out.

Much prefers Telus and QBR.B. 

It has an 8 1/2 to 9% yield. Although not a growth company you could hold it forever. Its Capex in building fiber to homes should come down - after a few more years of higher Capex, debt can be reduced. It is a good defensive stock.

Has been buying shares lately. Weakness in share price a good time to buy. Believes company has a path to growth. Narrative that company is borrowing to pay dividend is false. Fiber optic build is going well - very long term asset. Doesn't think capital projects are unreasonable. 

Disaster. It was in his income platform, so he forgave the pullback. But then it took a dive. Could bounce back to $50-51. He wouldn't be a long-term buyer. Look to get out. 

Earnings expected to be flat. No growth in business. Dividend appears to be safe - but no growth. Would not recommend investing in this business. Better names available for investors in the market. CNQ offers much better dividend for investors. 

ALA trades at 12x earnings, growing at 12%. On PEG ratio, it's cheaper. Yield is 4%, growing comfortably at 5-8%.

BCE is paying a wonderful dividend. PE is more expensive. No growth right now, perhaps will see 3% in a couple of years. At $47, still a bit of upside from today's levels. Regulatory announcements have to go well for BCE, still pricing issues, still a bit of wood to chop.

For fresh money, ideally split it between both. If he had to choose one, it would be ALA. 

Getting rained on, along with the rest of the telcos. Yields between 8.5-9%, secure. Probably have seen the worst in the sector. Still has growth. Cord-cutting, but internet usage is rising. Cell phone use will continue to grow. Buy here, collect dividend, interest will return when rates come down and share price will bump.

He'd favour stopping dividend increases, and putting more money toward paying down debt.

Technical chart's been tough, as for many telcos. Trading below a falling 200-day MA. Perhaps a basing pattern around $42-44, flatness over the past month, but too early to tell. Fantastic yield. Analysis shows dividend is secure and should grow by a few percentage points over next several years. 

Hold, collect the yield, watch for any technical breakdowns and then make a decision. 200-day MA is $52. Secular issues in Canada, but there's still growth including from wireless.

Even though the dividend is at 9% he doesn't think they will cut it even though earnings are barely covering it. The problem with BCE is free cash flow generation but it has a great yield and is at a low valuation. In the telecom sector in general, people are worried about wireless with the new fourth player and are also underestimating the growth in this sector.

Another contrarian pick. Has a place in a diversified equity portfolio. Strong brand, blue chip. Conservative investment. Long-life, high-quality assets. Very attractive multiple is at 10-year low, cheaper than stock market and of higher quality. Yield is close to 9%.

Higher rates have pressured the share price of this interest-sensitive stock. High yield competes with higher bond returns. Increased competition has impacted share price. Regulatory environment has been challenging, with calls to share its network.

They've suffered higher interest rates, but rates will come down maybe as soon as June and will continue for a few years. This should help stocks like BCE.

Doesn't think dividend will be cut, company has always been firm on this. Don't get in right now, dividend yield has risen dramatically to 9% as stock's come down. Intensified competition, financial performance of all telcos will get worse. More bad news to come in subsequent quarters.

Siren song of the high dividend lures many investors. Dividend investing is not just looking for the highest yield. He sold about 2 months ago, as Canadian telecoms are in a brutal price war. At some point, it will be buyable, but not today. Cadence of dividend growth won't keep up to expectations.