BCE Inc. (BCE-T)

Dividend cut was the right thing to do and stabilized the stock. Business model facing lots of challenges right now. Lots of competition on satellites and mobile. Revenues aren't growing. Looking for alternatives to break into broadband in the US, doesn't seem a smart decision. Wants to see asset sales and debt paid down. Hard to see a catalyst. He owns no telcos now.

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, Telus increased dividend. Less risky than BCE right now. Debt/equity ~150%, so not as much onus on debt repayment as for BCE. Has 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%.

Hasn't liked some of the decisions. Hasn't sold or added. Historically once you get a material dividend cut, that ekes out the last bit of selling. Probably close to a bottom right now. Still, you need a catalyst to take it over the top and start the recovery.

Nibble or accumulate. Doesn't see a catalyst for this to take off to the upside. There was a bump after the cut, but then it dropped right back down. Tells you that a catalyst is lacking. Be cautious.

He was very disappointed when they bought Ziply. They should have bought back shares. Makes sense to slash their dividend. They should focus on what they do well, including media assets. Expectations among investors are now very low. Things could change, but we're now at maximum pessimism.

When making investment decisions, discard the idea of what your cost base is. It doesn't matter, it's water under the bridge. It's behaviourally and psychologically difficult to rip off the Band-Aid and admit that the initial decision was an error and to realize the loss. But remember that the loss is real already. What matters is where it's going in the future, regardless of what your cost is.

Stock sold off heavily in the last 2-3 years because it was anticipating the dividend cut, which finally came. Dividend is now sustainable. Total return expectations are likely confined to more or less what the dividend yield is. Doesn't expect shares to bounce back sharply in the short term. Look at Telus instead.

Yield is now 5.8%, so still a decent yield. Won't be any dividend growth. Now more transparency on payout ratio, and partnership with PSP on Ziply eases financial burden. Could be a valuation gap up. A buy today is not for a short-term pop in the stock, it would have to be a long-term buy and hold.

All telcos are facing slowing immigration, competitive pressures, regulatory pressure. Over the very long term will be OK, as they supply critical infrastructure. If recession, nice place to be for stability and defensiveness.

Price competition, so pricing power has disappeared. Profitability flat. Building out 5G network increased debt. Immigration has slowed. All that had a huge impact on FCF and ability to pay dividend. Latest acquisition doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Wouldn't touch. He owns Telus and CCA.

For a class action lawsuit, you have to get investors together and prove that there was intention to mislead.

It has cut the dividend but the yield is still attractive. It is probably fairly priced and needs interest rates to come down. You can hold but could also take a look at Rogers.

Sold MLSE sports, bought a cable provider in the US. As late as Christmas, management was adamant that dividend would not be cut. The business is very difficult as a legacy communications company. Have to rely on mobile subscriptions. Competition's not getting easier. Stock's moved up, perhaps buyers are excited about it again. Yield is 6%.

The expectation is for a dividend cut of nearly 50% starting this month. We'll see if that happens. Technically, shares are having a rough go below both the 200-day and 200-week MAs. Earnings growth is sub-standard, even negative.

So, no, he wouldn't add at this stage. At some point, things could turn around a little bit.  Yield is 13.3% (would still be attractive even with a 50% cut). If you own, you can hold.

7% in one stock is way too overweight. Expects to see a haircut on the dividend. Management hasn't been making the best decisions over the last year or two. He's been in this name since mid-$40s, not happy, but hasn't exited.

Instead, use ZWU.

Cashflow does not cover dividend, and that's why there's talk of cutting it. Personally, he feels they'll never cut it, since most people who own it are looking for dividends. Better opportunities elsewhere.