Topic: How To Invest

Q: Hi, Pat. I was just in Vietnam and am happy to say I figured out how to cross the road safely in Saigon before my holiday ended. Could you tell me if we’re able to buy shares in Jollibee Foods Corp. from Canada, and whether it would be a good idea?

Article Excerpt

A: Jollibee Foods Corporation, $6.20, symbol JBFCF on the Nasdaq over-the-counter market (Shares outstanding: 1.1 billion; Market cap: $6.8 billion; www.jollibee.com.ph), is a multinational operator of fast-food restaurants based in the Philippines. The company’s main listing is on the Philippine Stock Exchange. Jollibee began as a chain of 7 “Jollibee Yumburger” restaurants in Manila. Forty years later, Jollibee has a total network of 4,353 restaurants worldwide. Of this total, 3,003 of these restaurants are located in the Philippines where Jollibee holds a market share larger than all other multinational brands combined. The company operates in the Philippines under the Jollibee (1,110), Chowking (551), Greenwich Pizza (279), Red Ribbon Bakery (446), Mang Inasal (518), and Burger King (98) brands. It also has one PHO24 restaurant. From its secure earnings base in the Philippines, Jollibee has undertaken a strategy of aggressive international expansion through developing and opening its own locations but also through licensing arrangements and acquisitions. Much of Jollibee’s expansion has been growth of its…