Stay-at-home trend boosts Loblaw

Article Excerpt

LOBLAW COMPANIES LTD. $71 is a buy. The company (Toronto symbol L; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 352.9 million; Market cap: $25.1 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.5; Dividend yield: 1.9%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.loblaw.ca) operates 1,098 supermarkets under several banners, including Loblaws, Zehrs, Provigo, Real Canadian Superstore and No Frills. It also operates 1,345 Shoppers Drug Mart stores. The company continues to benefit as COVID-19 lockdowns prompt people to eat more of their meals at home. The pandemic has also fuelled strong demand for Loblaw’s home delivery service. In the quarter ended March 27, 2021, Loblaw’s overall sales rose 0.6%, to $11.87 billion from $11.80 billion a year earlier. Same-store sales for its supermarkets rose 0.1% from a year earlier as higher prices offset a drop in higher customer purchases per visit. As well, online sales jumped 113%. Shoppers Drug Mart’s overall same-store sales fell 1.7% in the quarter. Pharmacy same-store sales growth was 3.5%, as higher prices offset a decline…