Retail-focus Stocks With Long-term Appeal

Article Excerpt

It’s easy to enter the retail industry, and easy to go broke in it if your business concept fails to build and maintain a loyal clientele. However, the industry provides highly rewarding investment opportunities if you stick as we do with well-established companies that have strong brands and other hidden or little appreciated assets. Canadian Tire is a good example. Its famous “Canadian Tire Money” and big new stores continue to encourage repeat visits. Loblaw has stumbled lately, but its recent setback follows a dozen years of huge gains. Investments in new inventory systems and unique food products should help it thrive again. RioCan is a real estate investment trust, but many of its tenants are among Canada’s top retailers. Its low-rise power malls have huge expansion potential, particularly since higher population densities help cities cut traffic congestion and pollution. CANADIAN TIRE CORP. $79 (Toronto symbol CTC.A; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 81.5 million; Market cap: $6.4 billion; SI Rating: Above average)…