LOBLAW COS. $47.97 (Toronto symbol L; Shares outstanding: 283.0 million; Market cap: $13.6 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Dividend yield: 2.0%; www.loblaw.ca) is buying Shoppers Drug Mart (Toronto symbol SC), which operates 1,240 drugstores across Canada.
Assuming regulators and Shoppers shareholders approve, Loblaw aims to complete the $12.5-billion purchase in six to seven months.