Future shines for these 2 consumer stocks

Article Excerpt

LOBLAW COMPANIES $69.79 (Toronto symbol L; Shares outstanding: 403.8 million; Market cap: $28.2 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Dividend yield: 1.5%; www.loblaw.ca) operates over 1,090 supermarkets and 1,325 Shopper Drug Mart pharmacies across Canada. In the three months ended October 8, 2016, the company’s sales rose 1.4%, to $14.1 billion from $13.9 billion a year earlier. Excluding gasoline purchases, same-store sales at Loblaw’s supermarkets rose 1.4%. Same-store sales for Shoppers Drug Mart gained 2.8%. That reflects a 1.6% rise in the sale of prescription drugs and a 3.9% increase in the sale of other merchandise. If you disregard unusual items—including costs related to rebuilding fire-damaged stores in Fort McMurray, Alberta— Loblaw earned $512 million, or $1.26 a share, in the quarter. That’s a 25.5% rise from $408 million, or $0.98, a year earlier. The company’s improved computer systems, its closure of unprofitable stores and its better labour agreements have now paid off with stronger profit. As well, Loblaw has gained from investments in its…