Intact, Manitoba Tel Amongst the Non-Resource Companies Trading Near 52-Week Lows

Some tempting yields amongst these beaten down stocks.

| More on:
The Motley Fool

Though a number of the headlines over the past few months might have you thinking otherwise, outside of the Canadian market’s resource space, a good number of stocks on the TSX are doing pretty well of late.

So well in fact that just 4 names showed up when I screened for non-resource stocks trading within 5% of their 52-week low in the S&P/TSX Composite.  Slim pickings for those of who tend to favour out-of-favour names as potential investment opportunities.

Summarized below are the 4 names that popped up and their year-to-date performance:

Company Name

YTD Performance

Chorus Aviation   (TSX:CHR.B)

-37.9%

Wajax Corp. (TSX:WJX)

-20.5%

Intact Financial (TSX:IFC)

-9.4%

Manitoba Tel (TSX:MBT)

-1.6%

Source: Capital IQ

The one thing that these names all have in common is that they currently offer attractive dividend yields.

Leading the yield charge is Chorus, even though the company just halved its quarterly payout.  At a quarterly rate of $0.075 or $0.30 per year, Chorus currently yields a whopping 12.6%.  The stock has been in a free fall since the dividend cut occurred on May 10th.  However, if investors are able to gain some level of comfort that the current payout is sustainable, this stock won’t remain at the current level for long.  Given today’s 11% slide, investors appear to be having some trouble coming to this conclusion.

Wajax shares have been soft all year and the most recent round of quarterly results didn’t help matters.  On the back of these soft results, Wajax cut its monthly dividend by 26% to $0.20 per month.  The stock sported a yield north of 9% going into last week’s release, indicating the market suspected this cut would occur.  Now, with a seemingly more sustainable 7.4% yield, Wajax might be worth a look for income oriented investors.

What about the other two?

Intact and Manitoba Tel have taken a less dramatic route to their currently depressed stock prices.  Both carry attractive yields of 3.0% and 5.3% respectively, however, with payout ratios of 40.5% for Intact and 64.3% for Manitoba Tel, neither dividend is at risk.

Of the two, Intact would be this Fool’s bet to come out as the long-term winner.  The company experienced an earnings miss in the most recent quarter and has suffered from rumblings of uncertainty in the Ontario automobile insurance industry.  Both issues seem transient and this dominant market player is set to continue to rack up industry leading profits for years to come.

If you’re an investor who would love to own the world’s greatest businesses, you need to click here to receive our special FREE report “3 U.S. Stocks Every Canadian Should Own”.  Your portfolio will thank you!

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for the latest in Foolish investing.

Fool contributor Iain Butler does not own shares of any of the companies mentioned at this time.  The Motley Fool has no positions in the stocks mentioned above.

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.

More on Investing

FREIGHT TRAIN
Investing

CNR Stock: Should You Buy Today?

Canadian National Railway has been hit in recent quarters, as economic growth has slowed, with CNR stock declining 10% in…

Read more »

Family relationship with bond and care
Dividend Stocks

TFSA Investors: 3 Cheap Canadian Stocks for Retirees

These three Canadian stocks are super cheap for retirees looking for a great buy that will last the test of…

Read more »

calculate and analyze stock
Dividend Stocks

CPP Disability Benefits: Here’s How Much You Could Get

Not everybody can get CPP disability benefits. If you want some passive income, consider investing in Royal Bank of Canada…

Read more »

growing plant shoots on stacked coins
Dividend Stocks

Boosting Your Monthly Income: TSX Stocks That Deliver

Dividend investing can boost regular or active incomes, especially select TSX stocks that pay monthly dividends.

Read more »

consider the options
Tech Stocks

Better Buy (2024 Edition): Shopify or Nvidia Stock?

Shopify (TSX:SHOP) isn't the only red-hot tech stock in town that could add to recent gains.

Read more »

Bad apple with good apples
Investing

5 Stocks You Can Confidently Invest $500 in Right Now

These stocks could significantly grow your investment over the next decade.

Read more »

Illustration of bull and bear
Tech Stocks

A Bull Market Is Coming: 3 Growth Stocks That Could Thrive

Given their high growth prospects and cheaper valuation, these three growth stocks would be an excellent buy as the market…

Read more »

Golden crown on a red velvet background
Energy Stocks

Enbridge Stock: This Dividend Aristocrat Could Gain in 2024

Enbridge (TSX:ENB) stock is looking like a great buy as management expects it to grow in 2024.

Read more »