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Topic: Growth Stocks

Aggressive portfolio: How to boost your profits in the Canadian retail sector

The Canadian consumer sector is highly competitive. Aside from other domestic retailers, Canadian retailers face rising competition from large U.S. discount retailers, like Wal-Mart and Costco. In addition, popular U.S. retailer Target is now expanding into Canada, and will begin opening its Canadian stores in early 2013.

As well, consumer stocks are more exposed to swings in the overall economy than companies in some other sectors, such as utilities.

Aggressive portfolio: Smaller retailers entail greater risk, but offer the potential for strong gains

Smaller retailers expose you to greater risk than larger firms, such as Canadian Tire, because smaller retailers tend to be less well-established. However, investing in smaller consumer firms also holds the potential for spectacular gains.

To cut your risk and earn higher profits when adding small retailers to your aggressive portfolio, it’s especially important to focus on chains that can adapt quickly and prosper in the fast-changing retail landscape.

Reitmans continues to adapt to the changing retail landscape

In the latest issue of Stock Pickers Digest, our newsletter that recommends stocks for your aggressive portfolio, we’ve updated our buy/sell advice on Reitmans (symbol RET.A on Toronto). The company has made a number of smart moves to deal with rising competition and a difficult economy.

For a rising portfolio

Learn everything you need to know in 'How to Find the Best Growth Stocks' for FREE from The Successful Investor.

Canadian Growth Stocks: CGI Group, CAE Inc., Fortis Inc. Stock and more.

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Reitmans owns 965 women’s clothing stores across Canada. The chain consists of 363 Reitmans, 160 Penningtons, 157 Smart Set, 122 Addition Elle, 73 Thyme Maternity, 67 RW & Co. and 23 Cassis stores. Reitmans continues to actively monitor its regional markets, and open and close stores as necessary.

Reitmans’ sales and earnings declined in its latest quarter, but that was mainly due to poor spring weather and the lateness of the Easter holiday, when customers normally buy more spring and summer clothing. As well, the company spent more on promotions due to rising competition.

However, Reitmans’ strong brands should help its earnings rebound as consumer spending continues to recover. Moreover, strong Canadian dollar continues to help the company, because it pays its Chinese suppliers in U.S. dollars.

The retailer’s balance sheet remains strong: it holds cash of $247.9 million, or $3.08 a share, and just $9.7 million of long-term debt. Its shares yield a high 5.9%.

Get our latest aggressive portfolio investing advice on Reitmans FREE

Like many stocks, Reitmans has declined in the recent market turmoil. In Stock Pickers Digest, we look to see if the company’s strengths, including its strong brand and its tight focus on cost controls, are enough to help it weather the current market volatility and shoot higher as the economy stabilizes.

We conclude our analysis with our clear advice on whether you should buy, sell or hold Reitmans shares in your aggressive portfolio.

You can get our full analysis and clear buy/sell/hold advice on Reitmans and 17 other stocks in the latest Stock Pickers Digest. What’s more, you can get this issue absolutely free. Click here to learn how.

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