Dividend Paying Stocks – Expansion of Premium Wines Pays Off

Article Excerpt

ANDREW PELLER LTD. $10 (Toronto symbol ADW.A; Income Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 14.6 million; Market cap: $146.0 million; SI Rating: Above average) is Canada’s second-largest producer of wines (after Vincor Canada), with about 12% of the market. Other products include premium beers (under the Granville Island brand) and home winemaking kits. The company sells its products mainly through provincial liquor agencies, as well as more than 100 company-owned retail stores in Ontario. The company continues to expand its premium wine operations, which generate higher profits than its regular brands. This includes new investments in vineyards, which has increased the supply and quality of grapes. Thanks to strong demand for Peller’s premium brands, sales in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008 rose 3.9%, to $237.1 million from $228.1 million in the prior year. Earnings grew 20.0%, to $0.78 a share (total $11.4 million) from $0.65 a share ($9.5 million). If you exclude all unusual items, Peller’s earnings in fiscal 2008…