New Stores & Services Should Fuel Growth

Article Excerpt

CANADIAN TIRE CORP. $78 (Toronto symbol CTC.A; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 81.5 million; Market cap: $6.4 billion; SI Rating: Above average) plans to expand its selling space in 2007 by 10%. Most of these new stores will use the company’s unique Concept 20/20 format, which makes it easier to stock faster-selling merchandise. Central customer service counters, wider doors and better signage also help encourage repeat visits. Canadian Tire aims to have over 40% of its stores operating under the Concept 20/20 format in 2007, up from 27% in 2006. The company should also profit from its entry into the banking business. It now offers a variety of financial services, including mortgage loans, credit cards and savings accounts. Like other retailers with banking subsidiaries, Canadian Tire will probably focus on Internet-based services, which cost less to administer than traditional branches. That should let the company offer more competitive interest rates than regular banks. The stock has gained 25% in the…