Topic: Growth Stocks

LEON’S FURNITURE LTD. $14.25

LEON’S FURNITURE LTD. $14.25 (Toronto symbol LNF; TSINetwork Rating: Average) (416-243-7880; www.leons.ca; Shares outstanding: 71.5 million; Market cap: $1.0 billion; Dividend yield: 2.8%) has steadily increased its number of stores, from 27 in 2003 to 80 today.

The company more than quadrupled in size overnight with the $700 million purchase of its main rival, The Brick, in March 2013. That chain has 221 locations across Canada and continues to operate separately.

Leon’s plans to expand again: it’s taking over the leases on eight Sears Home stores, operated by money losing Sears Canada. It will convert those showrooms to Leon’s stores over the summer.

Four of the locations are in British Columbia and will be the first Leon’s stores in the province. (The company already has 27 Brick locations in B.C.) The other new retail centres will be in Brampton, Mississauga and Toronto; another one is in Moncton, New Brunswick.

In the three months ended December 31, 2015, the company’s sales rose 1.5%, to $560.2 million from $552.1 million a year earlier. On a same-store basis, sales gained 1.1%. The company was able to increase its sales with promotional prices, but that cut into its profit margins.

Earnings rose just slightly, to $30.2 million, or $0.42 a share, from $29.9 million, or $0.42.

Growth by acquisition can be risky, especially with a deal as big as the Brick purchase. However, the integration is going well, and the move enhances the company’s long-term prospects. The stock trades at 13.6 times this year’s forecast earnings of $1.05 a share. The shares yield 2.8%.

Leon’s is still a buy.

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