The Globe and Mail reports in its Monday edition that in an uncertain world, Fortis has been a model of predictability. The Globe's John Heinzl writes that Fortis unveiled a new five-year capital spending plan last week. In his Yield Hog Dividend Growth Portfolio, Mr. Heinzl focuses on companies that consistently raise their payouts to shareholders. Fortis has excelled in that regard: Last week, it announced a 4.1-per-cent hike to $2.56 a share on an annualized basis, which will mark 52 consecutive years of increases. Including the latest dividend bump, the shares now yield about 3.5 per cent. That is good, but it gets better: Fortis also extended its dividend growth guidance of 4 per cent to 6 per cent annually by an additional year, through 2030. Dividend increases are not official until the board signs off, but Mr. Heinzl fully expects Fortis to deliver given its solid record and robust growth plan. Dividends must be supported by rising earnings; otherwise, the payout ratio can become unsustainable, leading to potential cuts. Fortis, however, has maintained a manageable payout ratio of 72 per cent over the past decade due to its earnings keeping pace with the dividend, even after more than 50 years of increases.