Lower costs give Molson an advantage

Article Excerpt

MOLSON COORS CANADA INC. (Toronto symbols TPX.A $44 and TPX.B $43; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 183.8 million; Market cap: $8.1 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.3; SI Rating: Average) is the world’s fifth-largest brewer by volume. Top brands include Coors Light, Molson Canadian and Carling. Molson Coors Canada took its present form in February 2005 when Molson Inc. and Adolph Coors Co. merged. Canadian shareholders received exchangeable shares of Molson Coors Canada for their Molson shares. These shares carry the same voting and dividend rights as the U.S.-based parent company’s common shares. Merger fueled big earnings growth The merger let Molson Coors close plants and combine distribution networks. Sales grew 12.4%, from $5.5 billion in 2005 to $6.2 billion in 2007 (all amounts except share price and market cap in U.S. dollars). However, earnings jumped 60.5%, from $316.1 million in 2005 to $507.4 million in 2007. Earnings per share rose 40.9%, from $1.98 to $2.79, on more shares outstanding. In July 2008, Molson…