Loblaw and Weston set to thrive after COVID

Article Excerpt

Loblaw is in a strong position to thrive in a post-COVID-19 environment. Many of its customers who opted for home delivery (or in-store pickup) during the lockdowns will likely stick with that value-added service. The company’s improvements to its loyalty programs should also drive additional spending per visit both in-store and online. The stock lets you tap this growth and the company’s other successful retailing strategies. Note: George Weston—with its 46% interest in Loblaw—provides you with another way to gain from that retail giant’s continuing success. LOBLAW COMPANIES, $69.73, is a buy. With their shares (Toronto symbol L; Shares o/s: 356.9 million; Market cap: $25.1 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Divd. yield: 1.8%; www.loblaw.ca) investors tap 1,088 food stores and 1,343 Shoppers Drug Mart outlets in Canada. Thanks to strong demand for food and other basics as a result of COVID-19 lockdowns, overall sales in the quarter ended June 13, 2020, rose 7.4%, to $11.96 billion from $11.13 billion a year earlier. Same-store sales for the supermarkets…