Reitmans turns a profit

Article Excerpt

REITMANS (CANADA) LTD. $6.10 (Toronto symbol RET.A; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (514-384-1140; www.reitmans.com; Shares outstanding: 64.6 million; Market cap: $388.7 million; Dividend yield: 3.3%) owns 694 women’s clothing stores across Canada. In the quarter ended October 29, 2016, sales rose 2.2%, to $245.6 million from $240.3 million a year earlier. The retailer earned $7.6 million, or $0.12 a share, compared to its loss of $269,000, or nil per share, a year earlier. Several factors, including store closures and staff layoffs, contributed to the profit turnaround. Reitmans’ willingness to close money-losing stores should help its long-term success. However, competition in the clothing market makes its sales outlook uncertain. Reitmans is still a hold. hold…