Resilient retailer adapts to COVID-19

Article Excerpt

Canadian Tire’s class A shares have rebounded strongly after falling to $67.15 in March with the first wave of COVID-19. That’s mainly because the pandemic has spurred strong demand for home improvement products and exercise equipment. The stock is poised to go even higher, particularly as the company expands its e-commerce businesses. That will let it tap into the ongoing shift to online shopping. Canadian Tire is also enhancing its credit cards and loyalty programs. They provide greater insight into customers’ shopping habits. The company then uses that data to drive more traffic to its stores and websites. CANADIAN TIRE CORP. (class A non-voting) is a buy. This Canadian stock (Toronto symbols CTC $213 and CTC.A $165; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 60.8 million; Market cap: $10.0 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.8; Dividend yield: 2.8%; 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…