Loblaw adds another niche

Article Excerpt

LOBLAW COMPANIES $61.05 (Toronto symbol L; Shares o/s: 375.2 million; Market cap: $22.9 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Dividend yield: 1.9%; www.loblaw.ca) shares are up over 21% since mid-October 2018. In contrast, the S&P/TSX Composite Index is down 8%. The company continues to successfully introduce new products and services. That, in turn, continues to expand its profits and helps to push up its stock price. Most recently, Loblaw announced that its Shoppers Drug Mart stores plan to open skin-treatment clinics inside two Toronto- area locations. They will offer a range of services such as Botox injections to reduce wrinkles and laser treatments. Nurse practitioners—advanced-practice registered nurses, who are licensed to work without a doctor’s supervision—will diagnose customers and administer treatments. The clinics have the potential to expose the company to lawsuits if practitioners make mistakes. However, it will work with medical associations to ensure its procedures are safe. As well, demand for cosmetic skin treatments could double in the next few years. Loblaw is a buy. Coming…