Maple Leaf Foods Inc. (TSX:MFI) has rewarded investors with a special cash dividend of 60 cents per share, signaling confidence in its outlook following the completion of its pork operations spinoff earlier this year. The move comes as the stock heads into the final week of trading with a 44% gain for the year, supported by a strong financial position that has allowed the company to enhance shareholder returns beyond its regular distributions.
The special payment was paid on Dec. 19 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on Dec. 15. CEO Curtis Frank noted that the decision serves as a testament to the company’s financial stability and optimism regarding its future performance. This additional payout complements an already solid history of returns, as the company has raised its dividend for 10 consecutive years with a compound annual growth rate of 11.6%. Currently offering a forward yield of around 3.6%, the stock remains a consistent performer for income-focused portfolios.
Maple Leaf Foods is a leading packaged foods company whose brand is well known throughout the country, and it can make for a good option for long-term investors. The defensive stock has show resiliency in the past year and that trend could continue in 2026.
It trades at a reasonable 16 times its trailing earnings and makes a good value stock to hold into the new year. And by spinning off its pork business, that can help make Maple Leaf Foods leaner and better positioned to focus on accelerating its growth rate, as it is eyeing significant opportunities in protein consumption in the years ahead.
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