Pot offers growth

Article Excerpt

ALIMENTATION COUCHE-TARD $74.54 (Toronto symbol ATD.B: TSINetwork Rating: Average) (1-800-361-2612; www.couchetard.com; Shares o/s: 567.4 million; Market cap: $42.7 billion; Yield: 0.5%), together with Canopy Growth (symbol WEED on Toronto), has entered into a trademark licensing agreement with one winner of the Ontario Alcohol and Gaming Commission’s 25 cannabis retailer licences. That lottery winner will operate a “Tweed” branded retail store in London, Ontario, starting on April 1. The licensee will have full ownership and control over the store. However, it will sell Canopy Growth cannabis, using Couche-Tard’s retailing expertise in selling other age-restricted products such as tobacco and alcohol. Longer term, the experience gained from this initial store should position Couche-Tard and Canopy Growth to expand elsewhere in Ontario when the provincial government allows more stores. It will also set them up to expand across Canada as well as the U.S. and internationally. Alimentation Couche-Tard is a top pick for 2019. 2019. …