Topic: Growth Stocks

The Stock Pickers Digest Hotline – Friday, February 6, 2009

Article Excerpt

ALIMENTATION COUCHE-TARD, $13.20, symbol ATD.B on Toronto, is the largest convenience store operator in Canada, with over 2,000 outlets. The company has agreed to buy 13 convenience stores/gas stations in central Quebec from privately held Group Therrien for an undisclosed price. All 13 stores sell gas under either the Petro-T or Esso brands. Four of the stores have fast-food outlets (two A&W and two Subway), and three have car washes. Couche-Tard will lease the land and buildings at market value for 40 years and buy the stores’ equipment and inventory. The stores will continue to sell Esso and Petro-T gas, but will operate under the Alimentation Couche-Tard banner. Aside from its extensive network of stores in Canada, Alimentation Couche-Tard has more than 3,000 U.S. stores in 28 states. The Canadian stores operate under the Couche-Tard and Mac’s banners, while the U.S. stores mainly use the Circle K banner. The company sells fuel at 66% of its stores. The Petro-T purchase is a..