Topic: How To Invest

Hi, Pat: I am wondering what your thoughts are on Cott Corp. Thank you very much.

Article Excerpt

Cott Corp., $13.87, symbol BCB on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 109.7 million; Market cap: $1.5 billion; www.cott.com), is a leading maker of beverages for retailers and distributors. It also makes drinks for companies that sell them under their own labels. Cott makes a range of products in a variety of packaging and sizes, including carbonated soft drinks, juice and juice-based beverages, flavoured water, tea and energy drinks, as well as alcoholic beverages. The company has over 60 plants and 180 warehouses in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Mexico. North America supplies 80% of its revenue and 65% of its earnings. Around 26% of its beverage sales come from Wal-Mart. Soft-drink sales have suffered in the past few years as consumers switch to healthier alternatives, like bottled water. To cut its reliance on soft drinks, Cott paid $87.6 million for U.K.-based Aimia Foods, a maker of coffee, hot chocolate and cereal, in May 2014 (all amounts except share price and market cap in U.S….