Rising earnings make Loblaw the better pick

Article Excerpt

These two Consumer sector leaders continue to do a good job coping with rising operating costs. However, Loblaw is in a better position than Molson Coors to pass along those higher costs to customers. LOBLAW COMPANIES LTD. $128 is a buy. The company (Toronto symbol L; Conservative-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 322.8 million; Market cap: $41.3 billion; Dividend yield: 1.3%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Highest; www.loblaw.ca) operates 1,098 supermarkets under several banners, including Loblaws, Zehrs, Provigo, Real Canadian Superstore and No Frills. It also operates 1,346 associate-owned Shoppers Drug Mart locations. Loblaw last raised its quarterly dividend with the July 2022 payment. Investors now receive $0.405 a share, up 11.0% from $0.365. The annual rate of $1.62 yields 1.3%. The company has increased the annual rate each year for the past 11 years. In 2023, Loblaw plans to open or relocate 38 of its stores. It will also convert or renovate a further 600 outlets. In all, these projects will cost roughly $2 billion. To put…