These grocers are working to lift your income: Loblaw Companies Ltd. and Metro Inc.

Article Excerpt

To protect value for investors, these two leading supermarket chains continue to adapt to a hugely competitive retail environment with smart acquisitions and cost controls. That puts them in a strong position to keep enhancing your returns with rising stock prices and dividends. LOBLAW COMPANIES LTD. $69 is a buy. Your shares (Toronto symbol L; Conservative-Growth Dividend Payer Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 362.3 million; Market cap: $25.0 billion; Dividend yield: 1.8%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Highest; www.loblaw.ca) give you a stake in Canada’s largest food seller. It operates 1,085 supermarkets under several banners, including Loblaws, Provigo, Real Canadian Superstore and No Frills. In March 2014, it purchased the Shoppers Drug Mart chain, which now has 1,341 stores. With the June 2019 payment, Loblaw raised your quarterly dividend by 6.8%. The annual rate of $1.26 yields a sound 1.8%. The company earned $458 million from ongoing operations in the three months ended October 5, 2019. That’s 1.7% lower than a year earlier. Still, due to fewer shares outstanding,…