Shoppers purchase boosts Loblaw

Article Excerpt

Growing by acquisition can add risk, but Loblaw continues to successfully integrate its huge Shoppers Drug Mart purchase. By cutting overlapping functions, it now expects to save $300 million annually by the end of the third year. The acquisition also gives Loblaw a great opportunity to sell more food, including produce and prepared meals, in Shoppers’ 1,250 stores. LOBLAW COMPANIES $60.00 (Toronto symbol L; Shares outstanding: 412.7 million; Market cap: $25.2 billion; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; Dividend yield: 1.6%; www.loblaw.ca) is Canada’s largest food retailer, with about 1,200 stores. Its banners include Loblaws, Provigo, Fortinos, Real Canadian Superstore and No Frills. George Weston Ltd. owns 46% of the company. Loblaw completed its acquisition of the Shoppers Drug Mart chain in March 2014. It paid $12.3 billion: $6.6 billion in cash and $5.7 billion in Loblaw common shares. In the quarter ended October 4, 2014, Loblaw’s sales rose 35.9%, to $13.6 billion from $10.0 billion a year earlier. Without Shoppers’ contribution, sales…