Strong gains for Couche-Tard

Article Excerpt

ALIMENTATION COUCHE-TARD $28.34 (Toronto symbol ATD.B: TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (1-800-361-2612; www.couche-tard.com; Shares outstanding: 242.4 million; Market cap: $6.9 billion; Yield: 0.9%) is the largest convenience-store operator in Canada, with over 2,000 outlets. It also has nearly 3,700 U.S. stores. In the three months ended July 17, 2011, Couche-Tard’s earnings rose 9.9% to $139.5 million, or $0.76 a share. A year earlier, it earned $126.9 million, or $0.68 a share (all figures except share prices in U.S. dollars). Sales rose 23.9%, to $5.2 billion from $4.2 billion. The gains came from higher fuel prices, the stronger Canadian dollar and higher merchandise sales. Couche-Tard continues to introduce new products with higher profit margins, including new drinks and improved fresh and take-out food. Couche-Tard trades at 14.0 times its forecast 2011 earnings of $2.02 a share. Alimentation Couche-Tard is still a buy. buy…