Higher interest rates have generally increased the cost of capital, thereby reducing the growth outlook of many companies. Simultaneously, certain stocks have been depressed, providing a potential opportunity to buy on weakness to invest for the long term. Here are a couple of dividend stocks that look interesting with underlying businesses that appear to be adapting well to higher interest rates.
RBC stock is defensive against higher rates
The Bank of Canada raised the policy interest rate through 2022. Since last year, Royal Bank of Canada (TSX:RY) stock has held up better than its big Canadian bank peers. This suggests it has been adapting to higher rates better.
Below is a graph comparing the price action of RBC stock to the BMO Equal Weight Banks Index ETF since the beginning of 2022. The ZEB exchange-traded fund (ETF) maintains a roughly equal-weight holding of the Big Six Canadian bank stocks. Currently, RBC is its smallest holding at a weight of about 16%.
RY and ZEB data by YCharts
One reason for the bank stock’s resilience and defence is its diversified business. Its operations are diversified, in terms of revenue generated in fiscal 2022, as follows: personal and commercial banking (40%), wealth management (30%), capital markets (18%), insurance (7%), and investor and treasury services (4%).
At $126.52 per share at writing, RBC stock is fairly valued at about 11.3 times earnings. It offers a decent dividend yield of almost 4.3%. Its dividend is sustainable, and investors can expect dividend increases in the long run. Though, in recessions, the regulator may request the bank and its peers halt dividend increases, which has occurred in the past.
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Brookfield Infrastructure Partners fares well in a higher-rate market
Utilities are innately debt-heavy businesses. Similar to Royal Bank, Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. (TSX:BIP.UN) stock has held up better than its peers in a period of higher interest rates. Below is a chart comparing the price action of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. stock to the iShares S&P/TSX Capped Utilities Index ETF since the start of 2022. The XUT ETF consists of 10 utilities. Currently, Brookfield Infrastructure Partners is its second-largest holding, weighing roughly 17.2% of the fund.
BIP.UN and XUT data by YCharts
Brookfield Infrastructure Partners is a very well run utility that is comprised of a diversified portfolio of long-life, quality infrastructure assets around the world. It owns and operates utilities, transport, midstream, and data assets. Its assets are primarily funded by non-recourse debt. So, in the worst-case scenario, if an asset turns out to be bad, it can be handed over to the creditor, while the rest of the portfolio will stay intact.
The utility is a steady-eddie business. With a combined strategy of acquiring quality assets on a value basis, enhancing assets through operational expertise, and selling mature assets to reinvest, management targets funds-from-operations-per-unit (FFOPU) growth of north of 10% per year, which would drive cash distribution growth of 5-9%. BIP also maintains a sustainable FFO payout ratio of 60-70%.
At $48.42 per unit at writing, BIP offers a cash distribution yield of about 4.2%. The stock also trades at a discount of about 14%. So, interested investors could pick up some units.
