Updating Our High-Growth Payers: Leon’s Furniture Ltd.

Article Excerpt

LEON’S FURNITURE LTD. $16 (Toronto symbol LNF; High-Growth Payer Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 77.6 million; Market cap: $1.2 billion; Dividend yield: 3.5%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.leons.ca) has steadily increased the number of furniture stores under its Leon’s banner from 27 in 2003 to today’s 86. In 2013, the company nearly quadrupled with its $700 million purchase of rival The Brick. That chain now has 217 locations across Canada and still operates separately. Starting with the October 2018 payment, the company raised its quarterly payment by 16.7%. Investor now receive $0.14 a share, up from $0.12. The new annual rate of $0.56 yields 3.5%. In the quarter ended June 30, 2019, Leon’s overall sales rose 2.6%, to a record $560.9 million from $546.7 million a year earlier. On a same-store basis, sales rose 1.9%. Excluding one-time items, the company earned $28.7 million in the latest quarter, up 27.1% from $22.6 million. Earnings per share rose 21.4%, to a record $0.34 from $0.28, on more shares…