canadian tire

CANADIAN TIRE CORP., $129.83, Toronto symbol CTC.A, saw weaker sales in the latest quarter, as warmer-than-usual weather hurt demand for winter goods such as snow shovels and tires. Lower gasoline prices also dampened revenue at its gas stations. The company’s overall sales fell 7.5%, to $3.4 billion from $3.7 billion. Cost controls and lower marketing costs boosted company earnings, despite the revenue fall. In the three months ended January 2, 2016, the company earned $225.2 million, up 8.1% from $208.3 million a year earlier. Earnings per share gained 13.6%, to $3.01 from $2.65, on fewer shares outstanding, easily beating the consensus estimate of $2.55....

Loblaw has set itself up for years of growth with its acquisition of Shoppers Drug Mart, a new inventory system, and a share buyback plan.

Canadian Tire, one of Canada’s most iconic retailers, aims to strengthen its hold on the market with a new growth plan

In addition to Loblaw (see first article), we think these three retail stocks have great long-term prospects. They all lead their markets and have strong brands and reputations that will help them grow. However, only aggressive investors should consider Metro and RioCan. CANADIAN TIRE CORP. $122 (Toronto symbol CTC.A; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 75.0 million; Market cap: $9.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.7; Dividend yield: 1.9%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.canadiantire.ca) has 495 Canadian Tire stores, which sell automotive, household and sporting goods. Franchisees run most of these outlets. Other operations include 297 gas stations and 91 PartSource auto parts stores....

CANADIAN TIRE CORP. $122 (Toronto symbol CTC.A; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 75.0 million; Market cap: $9.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.7; Dividend yield: 1.9%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.canadiantire.ca) has 495 Canadian Tire stores, which sell automotive, household and sporting goods. Franchisees run most of these outlets. Other operations include 297 gas stations and 91 PartSource auto parts stores. Canadian Tire also owns Mark’s, which sells casual and work clothing through 379 stores, and the Forzani Group, which offers sporting goods and athletic clothing at 428 outlets, mainly under the Sport Chek and Sports Experts banners. In the quarter ended October 3, 2015, Canadian Tire earned $199.7 million, up 15.9% from $172.2 million a year earlier. Earnings per share rose 20.5%, to $2.62 from $2.17, on fewer shares outstanding....

MOLSON COORS CANADA INC., Toronto symbols TPX.A $118.50 and TPX.B $124.50, has agreed to buy the 58% of the MillerCoors joint venture it doesn’t own.

MillerCoors was formed in 2008, when Molson Coors and SABMiller merged their U.S. brewing operations. Each company has a 50% voting interest in MillerCoors, but SABMiller gets 58% of the profits, while Molson Coors gets 42%.

This week, SABMiller agreed to merge with rival Anheuser-Busch InBev to form the world’s largest brewer. Competition regulators will likely require the new firm to sell certain operations, including its MillerCoors stake.

Molson Coors will pay $12 billion for SABMiller’s interest (all amounts except share price in U.S. dollars). The deal also includes Miller’s brands outside the U.S.

This a big purchase for Molson Coors, which has a $17.0-billion market cap (or the value of all outstanding shares).

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