Two Niche Retailers With Growth Ahead

Article Excerpt

BMTC GROUP $18.08 (Toronto symbol GBT.A; SI Rating: Extra Risk) (514-648-5757; No web site; Shares outstanding: 26.8 million; Market cap: $484.5 million) is one of the largest retailers of furniture, electronic goods and household appliances in Quebec through its affiliates Brault & Martineau Inc. and Ameublements Tanguay. BMTC has a network of 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 of Quebec. It also has seven liquidation centres, six Sleep Gallery stores and two distribution centres. Sales in the three months ended September 30, 2008 rose 3.9%, to $232.1 million from $223.4 million. Earnings per share excluding one-time items rose 17.9%, to $0.66 from $0.56. The higher earnings came partly from cost cuts. BMTC bought back 13.5% of its shares in 2008, including 3.1 million during a buyback offer in September of that year for $62.7 million. The company plans to buy back more shares. Buying back shares reduces the…