Telus Corp (T.TO)

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.

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.

Become differentiated when you drill into the metrics. Both suffering from credit downgrades. Took on a lot of debt for 5G buildout, but weren't able to increase pricing. Number of immigrants has slowed. Lots of price competition, just as elsewhere in the world.

In last quarter, increased dividend. Less risky than BCE right now. Debt/equity ~150%, so not as much onus on debt repayment as for BCE. Has the potential of other operations like TIXT and Telus Health, so it's doing other things outside of just telecom; appears to be promising growth, but we'll see.

In last quarter, BCE cut dividend. Debt/equity is at 200%.

Tough environment. Trades at 20x PE for 2027, with 13% growth. So PEG isn't bad. Trying to make balance sheet better. Protected market share with Public Mobile brand, making it more price competitive. More resilient than BCE or RCI.B. Very well run. 13 analysts have upgraded in last 30 days, 0 downgrades.

Quiet place to put capital and collect the nice dividend. Not an "if", but a "when" thesis. The bottom probably isn't far off.

Look at this instead of BCE. Better shareholder total return prognosis with similar risk. Dividend will likely grow, yield is similar to BCE's.

Payout ratio is almost 100%. Dividend is not at risk; in fact, company said that it would be raised this year. Capex will be coming down, way ahead of peers on the capex spend on fibre to the home. As capex comes off, cashflows will go up, payout ratio will come down. 

Trades at premium, but it is the premium telco right now due to better financial condition. Stock will be range bound for now, but could be some growth longer term. Will pick up as macro environment improves.

Dividends are not in doubt, but there has to be some way to pay down debt while growing the business. Right now, all you're getting is the dividend but very little growth.

Below 200-day MA; also moving below 200-week MA, which is trending lower. Need interest rates to come down for this sector to do well. Yield is 7.64%, and that dividend could ease going forward. Tough space.

Still believes in it as a long-term investment. Tailwinds include decommissioning their copper infrastructure, selling some of their real estate and they are past the fiber-inflexible point in their investment. Cash flow growth looks good for years to come and should support the dividend. 

Everyone who wants a cellphone already has one. The market is not increasing. Not expensive. Trying to sell towers in the States, which makes sense. Core business is not growing the way it used to.

He invests in Telus bonds instead of the shares. Credit is very good, still investment-grade. Marketable assets. No issue with default in any of the big 3 telcos.

For the equity side: not a lot of growth, price competition, CRTC always making new rules. Big dividend is enticing, but not for him.

Buy at this level or definitely hold on. He owns Quebecor and this. Like this. Well-managed. They were early investing in their infrastructure, and that capex cycle is coming down. This generate lots of free cash flow to increase their dividend each year (unlike BCE or Rogers). Telus has undervalued assets including in the health space, tech and real estate; can monetize these. Pays a great yield.

It remains his favourite telco. Very well-managed. Have increased their dividend 27 times. Selling some of their infrastructure will be good to reduce debt. Still likes it.

All telcos are challenged: balance sheet, capital intensive, higher interest rates, competition, less immigration, need to pursue asset sales.

Great dividend name. Best of the bunch. Is this the very best stock to buy right now? No; there are others with more visibility and less hair on them. But this is a good one for the Canadian dividend tax credit. You never know what you don't know, and things can change for the better quickly.

Challenged sector for several years, mainly since interest rates started rising. Bond proxies that are pretty compelling when there's financial repression as we had from 2008-2022. You have to pick your spots. Likes Telus, but not the rest.

Telus dividend is more secure, yielding ~7.5%. Continues its cadence of dividend growth by 3% twice a year. Price war is abating. Selling non-core real estate and monetizing old copper.