CANADIAN TIRE CORP. $53 - Toronto symbol CTC.A

CANADIAN TIRE CORP. $53 (Toronto symbol CTC.A; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 81.5 million; Market cap: $4.3 billion; SI Rating: Above average) aims to open its new 1.5 million square foot distribution centre near Montreal in early 2009. This new facility will supply 300 Canadian Tire stores throughout Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada. The $240 million cost of this facility is equal to 59% of the $410.1 million or $5.03 a share that Canadian Tire earned in 2007 before unusual items. But it should lower Canadian Tire’s costs, and help it compete with larger retailers such as Wal-Mart. Canadian Tire is a buy.

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