Two Leaders in Competitive Retail Markets

Article Excerpt

METRO INC. $37.17 (Toronto symbol MRU.A; SI Rating: Extra Risk) (514-643-1055; www.metro.ca; Shares outstanding: 114.5 million; Market cap: $4.3 billion) is a leader in the food distribution business in Quebec, operating Metro supermarkets, Super C discount supermarkets and Marche Richelieu neighbourhood stores. It also operates Loeb stores in northeastern Ontario. Metro expanded further into Ontario in 2005 with the acquisition of A&P Canada for $1.7 billion. A&P Canada operates 251 food stores throughout Ontario under the A&P, Dominion, Food Basics, The Barn and Ultra Food & Drug banners. Metro’s ongoing earnings in the three months ended December 23, 2006 rose 44.4%, to $71.6 million or $0.62 a share, from $49.6 million or $0.43 a share. This excludes one-time charges from acquisitions and other sources. Sales fell slightly, to $2.515 billion from $2.522 billion, but rose 2.8% (excluding wholesale interests divested one year earlier). Metro’s shares yield 1.2%. A significant growth area for Metro is the pharmaceutical sector. It operates 261 pharmacies in Quebec…