Topic: How To Invest

Q: Good day, Pat. Would you give me your opinion of Liquor Stores N.A. Ltd. (TSE: LIQ)? Thanks.

Article Excerpt

A: Liquor Stores N.A. Ltd., $12.03, symbol LIQ on Toronto (Shares outstanding: 27.8 million; Market cap: $331.3 million; www.liquorstoresgp.ca), is North America’s largest publicly traded liquor store operator, with 231 outlets. Of that total, 200 are in Canada—168 in Alberta and 32 in B.C. In the U.S., the company has 22 stores in Alaska, and one in Connecticut. Liquor Stores’ banners include Liquor Depot, Liquor Barn, Brown Jug, Wine and Beyond, and Wine Cellars. The company’s sales increased 4.9% from $630.1 million in 2012 to $661.0 million in 2013, and then 5.0% in 2014, to $694.2 million. Sales rose 7.5% to $746.4 million in 2015 and 9.6% to $817.7 million in 2016. Most of this growth was achieved through acquisitions in the U.S. Earnings fell from $0.82 a share (or a total of $18.8 million) in 2012 to $0.49 a share (or $11.3 million) in 2013. They then improved to $0.54 a share (or $12.7 million) in 2014. Excluding one-time items, the company…