These cash-rich retailers offer good value

Article Excerpt

BMTC GROUP $23.75 (Toronto symbol GBT.A; SI Rating: Extra Risk) (514-648-5757; No web site; Shares outstanding: 50.9 million; Market cap: $1.2 billion; Dividend yield: 1.0%) is one of Quebec’s largest retailers of furniture, electronics and household appliances. It sells these products through its two affiliates: Brault & Martineau Inc. and Ameublements Tanguay. The company has 20 large stores in the Montreal, Quebec City, Repentigny, Laval, Saint-George, Sainte-Therese, Chicoutimi, Trois-Rivieres, Sherbrooke, Rimouski, Riviere-du-Loup and Gatineau areas. It also has six liquidation centres, six Sleep Gallery stores and two distribution and administration centres in Montreal and Quebec City. In the three months ended June 30, 2010, BMTC’s sales rose 1.4%, to $207.8 million from $205 million. Earnings per share were unchanged at $0.36. BMTC holds cash of $51.4 million, plus $87.3 million of investments. These holdings total $2.72 a share. It has no long-term debt. The shares yield 1.0%. The company’s earnings outlook is uncertain, but the stock trades at just 14.9 times BMTC’s latest 12-month…