Tim’s Expands In The U.S.

Article Excerpt

TIM HORTONS $27.90 (Toronto symbol THI; SI Rating: Average) (905-845-6511; www.timshortons.com; Shares outstanding: 185.1 million; Market cap: $5.2 billion) continues to focus its U.S. expansion on areas near the Canadian border. That helps it profit from travelling Canadian tourists, as well as from Americans who are already familiar with its brand. Consequently, the company has formed a new alliance with Tops Markets, which operates supermarkets in New York State and Western Pennsylvania. Tim Hortons will open up to 20 full-service restaurants and 62 self-serve kiosks inside Tops stores. This deal will give Tim Hortons 488 outlets in the U.S. It has over 2,850 restaurants in Canada. Tim Hortons trades at 17.3 times its likely 2008 earnings of $1.61 a share. That’s high given it faces rising costs for food and labor. Tim Hortons is still a hold. hold…