Canada Bread is Still a Worthwhile Hold

Article Excerpt

CANADA BREAD CO. LTD. $50 (Toronto symbol CBY; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 25.4 million; Market cap: $1.3 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.8; SI Rating: Above average) is Canada’s second largest maker of fresh and frozen breads, rolls and bagels, behind Weston Bakery. It also makes specialty pastas and sauces. Main brands include Dempster, Tenderflake and Olivieri. Canada Bread continues to profit from its plan to expand its overseas operations, which now supply 25% of its total sales. It’s now one of the largest producers of bagels and specialty bakery products in the UK. Canada Bread also owns three bakery facilities in the United States. It also aims to fuel earnings with innovative new products, such as breads that help improve digestion. Premium products like this generate higher profit margins than its regular products. However, Maple Leaf’s high level of control hurts Canada Bread’s liquidity. A full takeover seems unlikely, at least in the near term. That’s because Maple Leaf will probably…