Two grocery leaders with bright outlooks

Article Excerpt

Both Loblaw and Metro successfully weathered the pandemic. In fact, the shares of both are now trading at all-time highs for our subscribers! Meanwhile, we think both stocks still have gains ahead. Indeed, both remain buys. LOBLAW COMPANIES, $175.92, is a buy. The retailer (Toronto symbol L; Shares o/s: 305.1 million; Market cap: $53.7 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Dividend yield: 1.2%; www.loblaw.ca) operates 1,106 supermarkets under several banners, including Loblaws, Zehrs, Provigo, Real Canadian Superstore and No Frills. It also operates 1,351 Shoppers Drug Mart drugstores across Canada. Loblaw continues to benefit from higher selling prices, which helps it offset rising costs for food, fuel and other inputs. It’s also seeing higher customer traffic at its discount outlets. In the quarter ended June 15, 2024, overall sales rose 1.5%, to $13.95 billion from $13.74 billion a year earlier. Loblaw’s earnings before unusual items gained 6.1%, to $664 million from $626 million. Due to fewer shares outstanding, per-share earnings rose 10.8%, to $2.15 from $1.94. For all of…