Retirees: Buy This Top Dividend Stock to Earn Steady Income

Earnings strength and a dominant market position make Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX:RCI.B)(NYSE:RCI) is a top dividend stock for retirees to buy.

| More on:

If you’re building your savings to use in your golden years, one of the best strategies to achieve this goal is to buy stocks that pay regular income.

In this space, Canada’s telecom utilities top the list as these companies have been successful in generating a steady flow of income for their investors for decades.

Among Canada’s top three telecom players, Rogers Communications (TSX:RCI.B)(NYSE:RCI) is the best bet to make in the current operating environment. Here are the two main reasons that make Rogers stock attractive for retirees.

Market dominance

Rogers is Canada’s second-largest telecom company, but it has the largest market share of the country’s growing wireless segment, dominating about a third of the market’s revenue and subscribers.

The Canadian telecom market is very different from what we have south of the border. Here, the market is mainly controlled by three top players who serve a growing population with strong demand for wireless services.

Rogers drives about 57% of its revenue from the wireless segment of its business. This segment has been under pressure ever since Shaw acquired Wind Mobile, challenging the dominance of the big three players. But Rogers has been successful in protecting its turf and continues to grow its wireless business.

Earnings momentum

What makes Rogers different from other players is the company’s earnings growth, despite a tough competitive environment in which margins are being hit.

The latest evidence in this regard came on October 19 when Rogers reported its third-quarter earnings that, again, surpassed analysts’ expectations and allowed the company to improve its full-year profit forecast.

Toronto-based Rogers, which also runs a media unit, reported adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) of $1.62 billion in the quarter, up 8% and ahead of analyst estimates of $1.57 billion, helped by the company’s cost-cutting efforts and strength in its wireless division.

With profit beating expectations, Rogers increased its financial guidance for 2018, with adjusted EBITDA growth of between 7% and 9%, up from a previous range of 5-7%.  

The bottom line

Trading at $67.43, Rogers stock has beat BCE and Telus, the two other top players. The company’s earnings strength and its dominant market position show that it’s the best telecom stock to own for retirees who want regular dividend income.

With an annual dividend yield of 2.84%, the company pays $1.92 a share annual payout. Rogers hasn’t increased its dividend since the first quarter of 2015, when it boosted its quarterly payout by 5% to $0.48 a share. But if its growth continues, I believe the next good news will be a hike in its payout.

This article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the “official” recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium service or advisor. We’re Motley! Questioning an investing thesis — even one of our own — helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer, so we sometimes publish articles that may not be in line with recommendations, rankings or other content.

Fool contributor Haris Anwar has no position in any stocks mentioned.

More on Investing

young people stare at smartphones
Dividend Stocks

GST/HST “Vacation”: Everything Canadians Need to Know

The GST/HST "vacation" is a little treat for the holidays, along with a $250 payment. What should you do with…

Read more »

oil pump jack under night sky
Energy Stocks

Where Will CNQ Stock Be in 3 Years?

Here’s why CNQ stock could continue to outperform the broader market by a huge margin over the next three years.

Read more »

BCE stock
Tech Stocks

10% Yield: Is BCE Stock a Good Buy?

The yield is bigger than it's ever been in the company's history. That might not be a good thing.

Read more »

3 colorful arrows racing straight up on a black background.
Investing

1 Canadian Stock Ready to Surge Into 2025

Canadian Natural Resources (TSX:CNQ) stock is a sleeping dividend giant that may be about to wake up.

Read more »

Tractor spraying a field of wheat
Investing

Is Nutrien Stock a Buy for its 4.7% Dividend Yield?

Nutrien (TSX:NTR) is a well-known defensive commodities play. But is this stock worth buying for its dividend yield alone?

Read more »

Happy shoppers look at a cellphone.
Tech Stocks

So You Own Shopify Stock: Is it Still a Good Investment?

Shopify (TSX:SHOP) stock has had a run, but there's still room to the upside.

Read more »

Paper Canadian currency of various denominations
Investing

The Best Stocks to Invest $2,000 in Right Now

Do you have some extra cash to spare? Here are three Canadian stocks to add to your watch list today.

Read more »

tsx today
Stock Market

TSX Today: What to Watch for in Stocks on Friday, November 22

Continued gains in gold, oil, and natural gas prices could give the commodity-focused TSX benchmark a boost at the opening…

Read more »