ALIMENTATION COUCHE-TARD $63.38 - Toronto symbol ATD.B

ALIMENTATION COUCHE-TARD $63.38 (Toronto symbol ATD.B: TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (1-800-361-2612; www.couche-tard.com; Shares outstanding: 179.4 million; Market cap: $11.6 billion; Dividend yield: 0.5%) reports 44.9% higher sales in the three months ended April 28, 2013, up to $8.8 billion from $6.1 billion a year earlier. The gain mostly came from Norway’s Statoil Fuel & Retail ASA, which it bought for $2.7 billion in June 2012 (all figures except share price in U.S. dollars).

Excluding one-time items, earnings per share rose 7.0%, to $0.61 from $0.57. The latest earnings missed the consensus estimate of $0.77 a share, but that was because the latest quarter included upfront costs related to Statoil’s new computer systems and reporting software.

The company’s outlook is positive. But while high gasoline prices are pushing up the company’s sales, they’re also causing motorists to cut back on driving. That’s hurting its fuel sales volumes, which is cutting its profit margins on the fuel it does sell. As well, fewer customers at the pumps means less traffic through the company’s stores.

Alimentation Couche-Tard was our #1 buy for 2012. It’s up over 107% for us since the start of that year. We now see it as a hold.

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