Stockchase Opinions

Brian Madden Telus Corp T-T BUY Jun 25, 2025

Maybe tide is turning on competitive intensity in telecom sector, but not overwhelmingly obvious that's so. His preference in the space. Better business, better assets, and stronger balance sheet than competitors. Expects good dividend growth for his dividend growers mandate.

$21.750

Stock price when the opinion was issued

telephone utilities
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DON'T BUY

Whole telecom space has been challenged, partly because of increased competition. No outlets to grow outside Canada. Profitability will be flat for some time. People own these names for the income. Rogers' purchase of Shaw gives it an edge on cost-cutting. Telus is the best operator. Rogers has the lowest dividend yield of the group.

Steer clear of the space. Even with an income stock you do want some growth, as it helps offset valuation risk elsewhere in the business.

SELL

Right now, she has no exposure to the sector. Very competitive. Decrease in immigration takes away source of potential growth. They all provide a pretty attractive yield. Telus is an income stock, and perhaps they can increase it a bit each year, but the fundamentals of the sector aren't that attractive.

If you hold, sell, and look for a more attractive income stock in a sector with a better outlook.

BUY

Is the best among the telcos which all pay strong dividends. Likes the chart set-up with a reverse head-and-shoulders pattern. The necklines is around $23 with upside potential to $25-26. Likes it.

HOLD

Owns it just for the yield. As long as the stock doesn't go down, he doesn't expect that much from it. Should be able to clean up the business and the balance sheet, and that's happening. Seems that it can increase pricing on cell plans incrementally. Telco that's the most transparent on what's going on.

TRADE

Overvalued at $30, undervalued at $20 -- that's her trading range. Q1 revenue up, free cashflow up 22%. Yield projected to grow annually 3-8% through 2028. Doesn't see dividend being cut. Steady earnings, strong consumer retention. One you don't have to worry about.

HOLD

Dividend's safe, doesn't see any risk. All telecoms have been under tremendous pressure for the past couple of years. Did better than the others because of ancillary businesses. He's become positive on the sector. He owns all the telecoms, likes to play the laggard, this is his smallest position of the group.

TOP PICK

Best telecom in Canada. Yield of 7.4% is secure, but quite elevated relative to its 10-year average. Yield alone is not enough; feels it'll grow at a faster pace than peers, validated by company actions. All players should face easier earnings comparisons in wake of the detrimental price war. Financial strength and flexibility. 

Interesting, but growing, collection of faster-growing non-telecom businesses such as healthcare and benefits consulting. Surplus urban real estate (obsolete central switching stations) can be monetized through redevelopment (not to mention the $1B that could be realized by selling the copper for scrap).

(Analysts’ price target is $23.35)
BUY

It's time to step back into telcos. Dividends are sustainable. He owns all 3 Canadian telcos. Share prices have bottomed, and he expects margin improvement. Costs have been slashed. Is partially optimistic, because shares have been so beaten down, and yet the industry isn't going anywhere. There will be some growth going forward. Is bullish on telcos. BCE's strategy in the US (buying a US company) will generate reasonable value. Telus is the faster grower and has made good moves outside telecoms to create value. Rogers is more of a question mark, including their sports holding, but is worth a ton of money (the value of sports teams is huge).

HOLD

Mixed view. Cashflow has ticked up a bit. Pretty confident that dividend is safe. Doesn't love the valuation or the growth profile. Supposed to be low growth, but it's really low at about 2% (wants to see it go back to 5%). Yield is 7.2%, payout ratio of 43%.

Hold, don't buy more; collect dividend, and don't expect much more.