Topic: How To Invest

What is Pat’s commentary for the week of March 26, 2024

Article Excerpt

Loblaw has come under fire in the past few months from politicians and consumer advocates complaining that it earned “excessive profits” during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the threats of new taxes and rules on how food sellers operate, the stock has gained an impressive 31% in the past year compared to the 13% rise for the S&P/TSX Composite Index. In fact, Loblaw hit a new all-time high of $154.70 on March 25, 2024. One driver of the share-price jump has been the November 2018 transfer of the company’s stake in Choice Properties REIT (Toronto symbol CHP.UN) to its parent company George Weston Ltd. (Toronto symbol WN). The plan left Loblaw to focus on its main retailing businesses. Inflation is now easing, which should let Loblaw stabilize its selling prices and protect its market share. The company is also offering more medical services through its drugstores and in-store clinics, which should attract even more shoppers and other customers. I asked our Successful…