Topic: Growth Stocks

REITMANS (CANADA) LTD. $3.63 – Toronto symbol RET.A

REITMANS (CANADA) LTD. $3.63 (Toronto symbol RET.A; TSINetwork Rating: Extra Risk) (514- 384-1140; www.reitmans.com; Shares outstanding: 64.6 million; Market cap: $230.3 million; Dividend yield: 5.5%) owns 773 women’s clothing stores across Canada.

The chain consists of 332 Reitmans, 135 Penningtons, 107 Addition Elle, 83 RW & Co., 68 Thyme Maternity, 17 Hyba (yoga clothing) and 31 Smart Set outlets. It also has 21 Thyme Maternity boutiques in Canadian Babies “R” Us stores.

In December 2015, the company’s sales fell 2.5% from December 2014. That’s mainly because it closed 65 stores in the past year. Sales rose 4.8% on a samestore basis, while online sales jumped 40.0%.

Reitmans continues to make progress with its plan to close the Smart Set chain. It has already converted 76 Smart Set stores to other banners and will shut down the remaining 31 locations this year.

Closing underperforming stores enhances Reitmans’ long-term prospects. However, the company continues to face strong competition in the increasingly fickle clothing market.

Reitmans is a hold.

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