New stores are set to bolster your returns

Article Excerpt

Despite the problems that most brick-and-mortar retailers face, Canadian Tire continues to thrive for its investors. That’s partly because the company has successfully diversified beyond its main stores. What’s more, a new plan to improve its efficiency will free up cash for new investments in its online operations—and your dividends. CANADIAN TIRE CORP. (class A non-voting) is a buy. This Canadian stock (Toronto symbols CTC $181 and CTC.A $114; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 61.5 million; Market cap: $7.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.5; Dividend yield: 4.0%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.canadiantire.ca) gives you exposure to the country’s 504 Canadian Tire stores. They sell automotive parts and services, and household and sporting goods. Franchisees run most locations. The company’s other operations include 297 gas stations and 82 PartSource (auto parts) outlets. To better compete with big U.S. chains such as Walmart and Costco, Canadian Tire has steadily acquired other retailers in the past few years. As a result, it now owns 380 Mark’s stores (casual clothing) and…