Tough markets squeeze these two

Article Excerpt

REITMANS (CANADA) LTD. $6.43 (Toronto symbol RET.A; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (514-384- 1140; www.reitmans.com; Shares outstanding: 64.6 million; Market cap: $410.2 million; Dividend yield: 3.1%) owns 843 women’s clothing stores across Canada. The chain consists of 343 Reitmans, 141 Penningtons, 107 Smart Set, 105 Addition Elle, 79 RW & Co. and 68 Thyme Maternity stores. It also has 21 Thyme Maternity boutiques in some Canadian Babies “R” Us locations. In the three months ended November 1, 2014, Reitmans’ sales fell 4.5%, to $238.3 million from $249.4 million a year earlier. Same-store sales increased 0.2%. Sales fell because the company closed 52 underperforming stores. Reitmans earned $12.9 million, or $0.20 a share, up from $5.8 million, or $0.09. The improvement resulted from the closure of less-profitable stores. Earnings also benefited from cost-cutting measures, including layoffs at the company’s head office. The retailer’s balance sheet remains strong: it holds cash of $169.4 million, or $2.63 a share, and its longterm debt is…