This retailer is ready for Omicron

Article Excerpt

Canadian Tire’s share have dropped recently as investors fear the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 could lead to more lockdowns. However, the company’s experience with earlier shutdowns should help it cope with future disruptions. Many of its customers quickly embraced its online ordering and curbside pickup options. That helped the company’s non-voting A shares rebound from their pandemic low of $67.15 in March 2020. Despite the shutdowns, Canadian Tire maintained its dividend. In fact, it just raised the annual rate for the 12th straight year and re-started its share buyback program. The company’s improving efficiency will also help it compete with other retailers. CANADIAN TIRE CORP. (class A) is a buy. The retailer (Toronto symbols CTC $333 and CTC.A $180; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 60.8 million; Market cap: $10.9 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.7; Dividend yield: 2.9%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.canadiantire.ca) operates 504 Canadian Tire stores. They sell automotive parts and services, and household and sporting goods; franchisees run most…