Loblaw’s moves pay off

Article Excerpt

LOBLAW COMPANIES $35.45 (Toronto symbol L; Shares outstanding: 274.2 million; Market cap: $9.7 billion; SI Rating: Above Average) reports 2.9% higher revenue in the three months ended March 28, 2009. Earnings per share jumped 73.9%, to $0.40 from $0.23. The gain was largely due to the success of Loblaw’s restructuring plan, under which the company fixed its supply networks and installed new inventory-information systems. It’s also doing a good job of reducing spoiled, stolen or damaged merchandise. Sales rose 2.9% in the quarter, to $6.7 billion from $6.5 billion. Same-store sales rose 2.1%. The company paid more for food during the quarter, but managed to pass these costs on to shoppers. The recession is also prompting more people to eat at home instead of restaurants. At 16.5 times its likely 2009 earnings of $2.15 a share, Loblaw may seem expensive. But its earnings are rising. Loblaw is now a buy. buy…