Leon’s has the more-promising outlook

Article Excerpt

LEON’S FURNITURE LTD. $14.30 (Toronto symbol LNF; TSINetwork Rating: Average) (416-243-7880; www.leons.ca; Shares outstanding: 77.5 million; Market cap: $1.1 billion; Dividend yield: 3.9%) has steadily increased the number of stores under its Leon’s banner from 27 in 2003 to today’s 86. In 2013, the company nearly quadrupled in size with its $700 million purchase of The Brick, its main rival. That chain now has 217 locations across Canada and still operates separately. In the quarter ended December 31, 2018, Leon’s overall sales rose 0.8%, to $601.7 million from $596.9 million a year earlier. On a same-store basis, sales fell 0.1%. The company earned $38.3 million in the latest quarter, up 6.0% from $36.1 million. Earnings per share rose 4.4%, to $0.47 from $0.45, on fewer shares outstanding. The jump in profits was partly due to higher sales of more-profitable merchandise. Meanwhile, Leon’s has migrated all of its online stores to a Shopify (symbol SHOP on Toronto, and a Stock Pickers Digest recommendation) platform. That’s already generating additional e-commerce revenue. Growth…