Topic: How To Invest

Hi Pat: What is your opinion on Shoppers Drug Mart? Thanks.

Article Excerpt

Shoppers Drug Mart, $42.10, symbol SC on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 204.5 million; Market cap: $8.6 billion; www.shoppersdrugmart.ca), operates 1,240 retail drug stores across Canada under the name Shoppers Drug Mart (Pharmaprix in Quebec). The company also owns and operates 62 Shoppers Home Health Care stores. Shoppers continues to upgrade its stores. It is also moving some outlets to larger locations and doing a good job of merchandising to bring in traffic and boost sales. In the three months ended October 16, 2012, Shoppers’ revenue rose 3.2%, to $3.21 billion from $3.11 billion a year earlier. Earnings per share rose 1.3%, to $0.81 from $0.80. Shoppers may benefit as aging baby boomers spend more on prescription drugs. However, the company faces a lot of competition from other expanding drugstore chains, such as Jean Coutu Group (symbol PJC on Toronto) in Quebec and Edmonton-based Katz Group. It also competes with food and department stores that operate pharmacies, including Loblaw, Safeway, Wal-Mart and Costco. That…