Manitoba Telecom Services (MBT.TO)

Expects the 5% dividend is secure on this.

A defensive pick. Believes Fed will taper. One of overhangs on stock is pension plan and rising yields will benefit it. They could get taken out, also.

Solid and boring. Think it got rid of its Australian assets. One day you will get a takeout. In the meantime, you earn a good dividend of almost 5%.

Big holding of his. Now that they are divested of AllStream will make a great target for T-T or BCE-T.

(A Top Pick June 28/12. Up 13.06%.)

The Allstream acquisition was big news. It put a lot of dough in the coffers of Manitoba. Still has a great dividend of 4.7%. There are rumours that somebody somewhere will be taking this company out. This is a yield play with a great yield.

(Top Pick Jun 29/12 Up 0.26%) Sold at beginning of year. Thought they were going to sell Allstream. He made a couple percent.

Uses this as a sort of a base. Has a nice yield. Has performed reasonably well over the last couple of years. Good steady business. Their fibre optics business has sort of turned the corner. Not exciting, but he likes the 5.3% yield.

Out of favour right now because it is a utility. Relative trend against market is a little weak. It is in a trading range. Prefers BBD.B-T. MBT is holding support around $31.50. That could be your stop. Not the best play from a seasonal perspective (summer time). Could potentially go to its 52 week highs.

Sees them as a solid producer. Their fibre side has certainly improved. Good dividend paying stock and he has no concerns about the dividend. Good long-term hold.

Most analysts have given up on this being a takeover. Has very little in the way of growth prospects. Dividend is probably just about sustainable but he doesn’t see it growing very much. Relatively conservative, relatively safe play.

More of a defensive play. Added based on geographic positioning and insulation from competition. Out performed the group. Potential divestiture of Allstream, which has been a lousy part of their business. On a take-out there is still some upside. Market is starting to price some of that in.

(Market Call Minute.) Recovery. Allstream has done better.