Gardens supermarket to open in 2011

Article Excerpt

LOBLAW COMPANIES LTD. $33 (Toronto symbol L; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 276.6 million; Market cap: $9.1 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.3; Dividend yield: 2.5%; SI Rating: Above Average) bought Toronto’s old Maple Leaf Gardens hockey arena for $13 million in 2004. The company had hoped to convert it into a supermarket by now, but held off because of rising construction costs. The building is also an historical landmark, which limits Loblaw’s ability to make changes. The company now aims to reopen the facility in 2011 under a new deal with nearby Ryerson University. Loblaw will build a new supermarket and a Joe Fresh clothing store on the ground floor. Ryerson will build a full-sized ice rink and other recreational facilities on the upper floors. Loblaw and Ryerson will each contribute $20 million to the project. Ottawa will also provide $20 million under its economic stimulus plan. To put these figures in context, Loblaw earned $189 million, or $0.69 a share,…