Loblaw set for post-pandemic growth

Article Excerpt

Loblaw’s shares have jumped over 20% since the start of 2021 that’s because consumers continue to stock up on food and other essential products as a COVID-19 precaution. Even as governments ease pandemic restrictions, the company’s new investments in online shopping, home delivery and other services should continue to spur the stock higher. LOBLAW COMPANIES LTD. $78 is a buy. Canada’s largest supermarket operator (Toronto symbol L; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 342.1 million; Market cap: $26.7 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.5; Dividend yield: 1.7%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.loblaw.ca) accelerated the rollout of its new home delivery and click-and-collect services during the pandemic. In 2020, online sales totalled $2.8 billion, or 5% of the company’s total revenue of $52.7 billion. Loblaw had to hire more workers to support its online business, which has added to its costs. However, it continues to make progress on a multi-year plan to improve profitability. For example, the company plans to close two older…