Buy Leon’s, hold on to BMTC Group

Article Excerpt

LEON’S FURNITURE LTD. $17.80 (Toronto symbol LNF; TSINetwork Rating: Average) (416-243-7880; www. leons.ca; Shares outstanding: 71.8 million; Market cap: $1.3 billion; Dividend yield: 2.3%) steadily increased the number of stores under the Leon’s banner from 27 in 2003 to today’s 84. In March 2013, the company almost quadrupled in size with the $700 million purchase of its main rival, The Brick. That chain now has 221 locations across Canada and still operates separately. Leon’s continues to expand: in early 2016, the company took over the leases on eight Sears Home stores, in B.C., Ontario and Atlantic Canada. It has converted those showrooms to Leon’s stores and in the process has launched that brand in the important B.C. market. In the three months ended September 30, 2016, Leon’s sales rose 4.9%, to $575.7 million from $548.9 million a year earlier. On a same-store basis, sales gained 4.1%. More-effective promotions led to the increase. The company earned $31.3 million, or $0.44 a share, in the quarter…