The Brick lifts Leon’s

Article Excerpt

LEON’S FURNITURE LTD. $13.30 (Toronto symbol LNF; TSINetwork Rating: Average) (416-243- 7880; www.leons.ca; Shares outstanding: 70.6 million; Market cap: $930.0 million; Dividend yield: 3.0%) reports that its sales jumped to $480.6 million in the three months ended June 30, 2013, from $162.1 million a year earlier. Earnings rose 60.4%, to $14.4 million, or $0.20 a share, from $9.0 million, or $0.13. The latest three months was the first full quarter in which the furniture chain owned former rival The Brick. Its $700-million purchase of The Brick closed on March 28, 2013. The Brick operates 234 stores across Canada, while Leon’s has 76 outlets in every province except B.C. Leon’s and The Brick will continue to operate as separate chains. Leon’s long-term debt of $452.6 million is a somewhat high 49% of its market cap. The shares yield 3.0%. Growth by acquisition can be risky, especially with a deal this big. Leon’s will now need to successfully integrate The Brick and…