Cloudy outlook for BMTC

Article Excerpt

BMTC GROUP $13.70 (Toronto symbol GBT.A; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (514- 648-5757; No website; Shares outstanding: 47.5 million; Market cap: $650.8 million; Dividend yield: 1.8%) is one of Quebec’s largest retailers of furniture, electronics and household appliances. In the three months ended December 31, 2012, the company’s sales fell 6.9%, to $180.7 million from $194.2 million a year earlier. Earnings per share fell 15.6%, to $0.27 from $0.32. The company’s near-term outlook is uncertain, and the shares trade at 14.6 times BMTC’s latest 12 months of earnings. That’s on the high side for a retailer with limited near-term growth prospects. BMTC Group is a hold. hold…