Hold Tim Hortons

Article Excerpt

TIM HORTONS $31.37 (Toronto symbol THI; SI Rating: Average) (905-845-6511; www.timshortons.com; Shares outstanding: 186.2 million; Market cap: $5.8 billion) continues to implement its management restructuring program. Some senior managers will take on additional responsibilities. Others will leave the company. Tim Hortons will take a $3.8 million charge for the restructuring, although it should result in cost savings of $1.5 million a year. The long-term outlook for Tim Hortons is positive. But the company faces a number of challenges, including weaker consumer spending and higher operating costs. High gas prices may well cut road traffic, a major source of customers for the company. The company also faces higher labor costs, particularly in Ontario, where it has about half of its 2,800 Canadian stores. Tim Hortons is a hold. hold…