These resilient retailers offer rising income: North West Company and Leon’s

Article Excerpt

Profits at the two retailers we cover here continue to rise as more regions relax their COVID-19 lockdowns. That should let them keep raising dividends for investors. NORTH WEST COMPANY $35 is a buy. The retailer (Toronto symbol NWC; High-Growth Payer Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares o/s: 48.8 million; Market cap: $1.7 billion; Divd. yield: 4.1%; Dividend Sustainability Rating: Above Average; www.northwest.ca) sells food and everyday products and services at 211 stores. Its outlets are mainly in northern communities across Canada and Alaska. North West raised its quarterly dividend by 9.1%, to $0.36 a share from $0.33, with the October 2020 payment. The shares yield a high 4.1%. On July 5, 2020, the company completed the sale of 36 of its 46 Giant Tiger retail stores for $45 million. It held on to 10 Giant Tiger stores, five of which it continues to operate in their northern markets. North West will operate another of the ten as a Valu-Lots clearance centre, and it opted to close the four…