Topic: How To Invest

The Successful Investor Hotline – Friday, November 18, 2016

Article Excerpt

LOBLAW COMPANIES LTD., $68.48, Toronto symbol L, operates over 1,090 supermarkets across Canada. It also owns the Shoppers Drug Mart chain of 1,325 drugstores. In response to strong competition, Loblaw has cut its selling prices to attract more shoppers. As a result, its overall sales in the three months ended October 8, 2016, rose 1.4%, to $14.14 billion from $13.95 billion a year earlier. That beat the consensus estimate of $14.12 billion. Excluding gasoline purchases, same-store sales at Loblaw’s supermarkets rose 0.8%. Same-store sales for Shoppers Drug Mart gained 2.8%. That reflects a 1.6% rise in prescription drug sales and a 3.9% increase in the sale of other merchandise. If you disregard unusual items—including costs related to rebuilding fire-damaged stores in Fort McMurray, Alberta—Loblaw’s earnings in the quarter rose 25.5%, to $512 million from $408 million a year earlier. Earnings per share gained 28.6%, to $1.26 from $0.98, on fewer shares outstanding. That beat the consensus forecast of $1.12. Loblaw will probably earn $3.97 a..