1 Super Dividend Stock to Hold for Decades

Fortis Inc. (TSX:FTS)(NYSE:FTS) stock has dipped after its third-quarter results, but it is still geared up for tasty dividend growth into the next decade.

| More on:
Female hand holding piggy bank. Save money and financial investment

Image source: Getty Images

Last month, I’d discussed a few Dividend Aristocrats that looked like good fits for a retiree portfolio. Dividend-growth investing is attractive, especially for those already in retirement, as it provides a dependable stream of steadily increasing tax-efficient income. This is not just a good strategy for retirees, but for all investors. Today, I want to look at a dividend stock that stands tall on the TSX.

Fortis (TSX:FTS)(NYSE:FTS) is a St. John’s-based electric utility holding company. Utility stocks have performed very well in 2019 and continue to look like good bets, as economic growth slows into the next decade. The Bank of Canada (BoC) has held off on dropping rates so far this year, but pressure is mounting to make a downward move after three rate cuts by the United States Federal Reserve in 2019. Odds are, we will see the BoC cut rates in the new year.

Shares of Fortis have climbed 19.4% in 2019 as of late-morning trading on November 8. The stock has dropped 6.6% over the past month. Let’s look at Fortis’s most recent quarterly report to see why its price has moved down.

Q3 earnings

The company released its third-quarter 2019 results on November 1. Adjusted net earnings came in at $287 million, or $0.66 per share, compared to $277 million, or $0.65 per share, in the prior year. Fortis reported rate-base growth at its regulated utilities, but earnings were weighed down by weather with lower rainfall in Belize and “the unfavourable impact of market-to-market accounting of natural gas derivatives at the Aitken Creek natural gas storage facility.”

Fortis has bumped up its five-year capital plan by $1 billion from the prior year to $18.3 billion. It aims to increase its rate base from $28 billion in 2019 to $38.4 billion in 2024. This translates to a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.5%. The company’s aggressive capital-investment plan is one of the reasons it looks so attractive for dividend investors as we look ahead to the 2020s.

Elite dividend growth

The stock last paid out a quarterly dividend of $0.45 per share, representing a 3.6% yield. Fortis hiked its fourth-quarter 2019 dividend to $0.4775 per share. This 6.1% dividend increase marked 46 consecutive years of dividend growth at Fortis. Only Canadian Utilities has more consecutive years of dividend increases.

Canada does not currently boast a dividend king — a stock that has achieved at least 50 consecutive years of dividend growth — but Fortis is well on its way. Fortis expects its five-year capital plan and rate-base growth to support annual dividend growth of 6% through 2024.

Fortis stock in November

Fortis stock possesses a price-to-earnings ratio of 21 and a price-to-book value of 1.4 at the time of this writing. This means investors are paying a premium after its big jump in 2019, but they are acquiring an established dividend payer with a very proven track record.

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 Ambrose O'Callaghan has no position in any of the stocks mentioned.

More on Dividend Stocks

Two seniors float in a pool.
Dividend Stocks

TFSA: How to Earn $1,890 in Annual Tax-Free Income

Plunk these investments into your TFSA to earn passive income and avoid the taxman.

Read more »

Engineers walk through a facility.
Dividend Stocks

1 TSX Stock I Wouldn’t Touch With a 10-Foot Pole

AtkinsRéalis (TSX:ATRL) is one TSX stock I'd never invest in.

Read more »

edit Woman in skates works on laptop
Dividend Stocks

3 No-Brainer Stocks to Buy Under $30

These three stocks all offer a huge deal for investors looking for dividends, as well as growth that will last.

Read more »

You Should Know This
Dividend Stocks

How to Convert a $300 Monthly Investment Into $338 in Monthly Income

If you want a certain amount in monthly passive income, invest a similar amount today and leave the rest to…

Read more »

Increasing yield
Dividend Stocks

3 Income Stocks With Big Yields to Consider in April 2024

If you haven’t yet made your March investments, here are three income stocks to buy the dip and lock in…

Read more »

Senior Man Sitting On Sofa At Home With Pet Labrador Dog
Dividend Stocks

RRSP Investors: Don’t Miss Out on This Contribution Hack!

This hack has so many benefits for you -- not just when you put it in your RRSP but for…

Read more »

A red umbrella stands higher than a crowd of black umbrellas.
Dividend Stocks

Passive Income: 2 Safe Dividend Stocks to Own for the Next 10 Years

Dividend stocks such as Manulife and Fortis can help you generate a stable and recurring passive-income stream.

Read more »

Young woman sat at laptop by a window
Dividend Stocks

3 Dividend Stocks Everyone Should Own for the Long Haul

For investors looking for top-tier dividend stocks to buy and hold for the long term, here are three of my…

Read more »