Reitmans is still a buy

Article Excerpt

REITMANS (CANADA) LTD. $14.25 (Toronto symbol RET.A; SI Rating: Extra Risk) (514-384-1140; www.reitmans.com; Shares outstanding: 70.8 million; Market cap: $1 billion) reports that its earnings fell 57.4% in the three months ended May 2, 2009, to $7.8 million, or $0.11 a share. The retailer earned $18.4 million, or $0.26 a share, a year earlier. Sales rose 1.5%, to $231.7 million from $228.3 million. Same-store sales fell 0.8%. The recession continued to hurt Reitmans’ sales and profits in the latest quarter. The weaker Canadian dollar was also a factor: Reitmans buys as much as 80% of its clothing from China, but it pays these suppliers in U.S. dollars. It also buys its inventory in advance, so its lower selling prices significantly lowered its profit margins. Reitmans holds cash of $182.6 million, or $2.60 a share. It pays an $0.18 quarterly dividend, which gives it a high 5.1% yield. Reitmans is still a buy. buy…