Fortis (TSX:FTS) is one of Canada’s best dividend-growth stocks. Retirees seeking reliable passive income and other investors focused more on long-term total returns are wondering if FTS stock is undervalued today and good to buy for a self-directed Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) or Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) portfolio.
Fortis share price
Fortis trades near $54 per share at the time of writing. The stock was as low as $50 last fall and is still way off the $65 the share price reached in 2022 before rate hikes in Canada and the United States started to put pressure on utility stocks.
Fortis uses debt to fund part of its growth program. As interest rates increase, the jump in borrowing costs can cut into profits while reducing cash that could be used for dividends. This is largely why the market soured on the stock in the second half of 2022 and through much of 2023.
The Bank of Canada recently cut its interest rate by 0.25%. The U.S. Federal Reserve is expected to start cutting rates later this year or in early 2025. Fortis operates $68 billion in assets spread out across Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean. Rate reductions should help put a new tailwind behind the stock.
Growth
Fortis is working on a $25 billion capital program that is expected to boost the rate base from $37 billion in 2023 to more than $49 billion in 2028. As new assets go into service, the jump in revenue should support ongoing dividend increases of 4-6%. Fortis has additional projects under consideration and isn’t afraid to make strategic acquisitions to drive extra growth.
Dividends
Fortis has increased the dividend in each of the past 50 years. The current yield is 4.4%. This is lower than the yield investors can currently get from many other TSX dividend stocks. However, the solid outlook for distribution growth will gradually raise the yield on the initial investment and should support a higher share price over time.
Should you buy the dips?
Buying Fortis on a pullback has historically proven to be a savvy move for patient investors. The stock isn’t as cheap today as it was at the 12-month low, but Fortis is still considerably below the 2022 high and falling interest rates should start to bring investor interest back into the stock.
If you have some cash to put to work in a portfolio focused on reliable dividend-growth stocks, Fortis deserves to be on your radar.
