Eight high yielders to start the New Year

Often overlooked, but steady payouts make them attractive

For income investors, 2020 was a stressful year. Central banks cut interest rates to near zero (or in some overseas cases, below). Bond yields plunged. Returns on guaranteed investment certificates followed suit.

Real estate investment trusts (REITs), which had sparkled in 2019, took a vicious hit as investors worried landlords would not be able to collect rents. Those that specialize in shopping malls, office space, and hotels were especially hard hit. Some were forced to cut their distributions, including H&R REIT and, recently, RioCan.

We also saw dividend cuts in other sectors, particularly oil and gas companies. The banks were ordered by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions to freeze their payouts.

But many income stocks escaped the carnage, and some even increased their payout despite the pandemic. These included some of the most widely held recommendations in my Income Investor newsletter, like the Brookfield partnerships, Fortis, and BCE. But a number of smaller companies also fared well in this difficult year.

Here is a list of eight often-overlooked high-yielding stocks. Prices are as of the close on Dec. 18.

Fiera Capital Corp. (TSX: FSZ). Most people are not familiar with Fiera, but it is the third-largest wealth management firm in Canada. The shares tumbled last March but recovered during the summer as the stock markets rebounded from the spring setback. The company reported net earnings of $5 million in the third quarter ($0.05 a share) compared with a loss of $14.7 million ($0.14 a share) in the same period of 2019. That was well below the quarterly dividend of $0.21 per share. But chief financial officer Lucas Pontillo said that the company’s results have remained strong throughout the pandemic and noted that Fiera had repurchased $800,000 worth of shares. At the current price of $10.54, the yield is just under 8%.

Firm Capital Mortgage Investment Corp. (TSX: FC). Firm Capital is a boutique mortgage company, and there were concerns about its financial stability as pandemic fears rose. The stock dropped as low as $7.73 in mid-March as investors worried that borrowers would not be able to repay their loans. Management issued a series of calming statements and by June the stock was back in the $12 range. Meanwhile, the company maintained its monthly dividend of $0.078 per share ($0.936 a year). At the recent price of $12.49, the yield is 7.5%. That’s on the high side, but Firm has been a solid performer for many years. I have owned the stock for more than a decade.

B&G Foods Inc. (NYSE: BGS). This company is a New Jersey-based manufacturer and distributor of a wide range of food products. Its brands include Green Giant, Cream of Wheat, Maple Grove Farms, and the company recently acquired the Crisco line of oils and shortening. As with most food companies, B&G has done well this year. The company reported third-quarter sales of US$495.8 million, up 22% from last year. Adjusted net income was US$47.9 million (US$0.74 a share, fully diluted). On a per share basis, that was a gain of 37%. The stock pays a quarterly dividend of US$0.475 (US$1.90 per year) to yield 6.4%.

Capital Power Corp. (TSX: CPX). It’s very encouraging when a company is able to increase its dividend in the midst of a pandemic. Edmonton-based Capital Power did just that in July, announcing a 6.8% increase, to $0.5125 per quarter ($2.05 annually), effective with the September payment. Third-quarter results showed normalized earnings attributable to common shareholders of $69 million ($0.66 a share), up from $64 million ($0.60 a share) the year before. The stock is currently trading at $34.86 to yield 5.9%.

Corby Spirit and Wine Ltd. (TSX: CSW.B). One thing the pandemic did not stop was alcohol consumption. Liquor stores were declared an essential service, and Corby’s business continued to prosper, albeit with some adjustments to the distribution channels. The company recently reported first-quarter 2021 results (to Sept. 30), and they were impressive. Net earnings were $10.8 million ($0.38 per share, fully diluted), compared with $6.5 million ($0.23 a share) in the year-ago period. The board of directors approved an increase of 10% in the quarterly dividend, to $0.22 a share ($0.88 a year). At a price of $14.97, the yield is 5.9%.

TransAlta Renewables Inc. (TSX: RNW). Green energy companies did well in 2020 as traditional oil and gas firms struggled to cope with falling demand and lower prices. Most renewable companies have guaranteed contracts with customers and governments, which partially insulates some revenue from fluctuations in market prices. TransAlta owns 23 wind facilities, 13 hydroelectric facilities, seven natural gas generation facilities, one solar facility, one natural gas pipeline, and one battery storage project. Third-quarter adjusted funds from operations were up 10% year-over-year to $76 million. Cash available for distribution was ahead 8%, to $73 million ($0.27 per share). The stock pays a monthly dividend of $0.07833 ($0.94 per year) to yield 4.9%.

Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure plc (NSD: AY). Atlantica is a London-based sustainable company that owns a diversified portfolio of renewable energy, efficient natural gas, electric transmission, and water assets in North and South America, and certain markets in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Like other renewable energy businesses, it has done well this year.

Third-quarter results showed net profit for the nine months to Sept. 30 was $61.2 million, compared with $60.8 million in the same period of 2019 (figures in U.S. dollars). Cash available for distribution increased by 13.6%, to $52 million in the quarter compared with the third quarter of 2019 and by 6.4%, to $149.2 million in the first nine months of 2020, compared with the first nine months of 2019. In mid-year, the company raised its dividend by a penny, to $0.42 a quarter ($1.68 a year), for a yield of 4.5%.

Leon’s Furniture Ltd. (TSX: LNF). You would hardly expect a furniture conglomerate (Leon’s also owns The Brick, among other brands) to be reporting record financial results with many of its stores subject to Covid lockdowns. But that’s what’s happening here. Sales increased by 7% year-over-year in the third quarter, to $762.8 million, compared with $712.6 million in the same period of 2019. Net income increased by 47.9%, to $49.1 million, while diluted earnings per share grew by 50%, to $0.60.

CEO Edward Leon credited the company’s investment in upgrading its e-commerce platform with the strong results. The directors approved a 14.3% increase in the regular quarterly dividend, to $0.16 a share, plus a $0.30 a share special dividend, payable in January to shareholders of record as of Dec. 7. With the share price at $21.05, the 2021 yield will be 3%, not counting any special dividend that might be declared during the year.

Gordon Pape is one of Canada’s best-known personal finance commentators and investment experts. He is the publisher of The Internet Wealth Builder and The Income Investor newsletters, which are available through the Building Wealth website.

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© 2021 by The Fund Library. All rights reserved. The foregoing is for general information purposes only and is the opinion of the writer. Securities mentioned carry risk of loss, and no guarantee of performance is made or implied. This information is not intended to provide specific personalized advice including, without limitation, investment, financial, legal, accounting, or tax advice. Always seek advice from your own financial advisor before making investment decisions.