Weston’s cash adds appeal

Article Excerpt

GEORGE WESTON LTD. $104.69 (Toronto symbol WN; Shares outstanding: 128.0 million; Market cap: $13.4 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Dividend yield: 1.9%) makes a number of products through Weston Foods. They include fresh and frozen bakery goods in Canada and biscuits, cookies, cones and wafers in the U.S. Weston also owns 48.5% of Loblaw (Toronto symbol L) and 5.6% of Choice Properties REIT (Toronto symbol CHP.UN). In the three months ended March 24, 2018, the company’s overall revenue slipped, to $10.74 billion from $10.80 billion a year earlier. Earnings per share fell 3.5%, to $1.38 from $1.43. The decreases were due to the weaker operating performance of both Weston Foods and Loblaw. The company now holds cash of $2.5 billion. It could use that to boost growth by increasing its Loblaw stake or by making other investments. Weston shares trade at 14.5 times the forecast 2018 earnings of $7.24 a share. They yield 1.9%. George Weston is a buy. buy…