Leon’s is better for new buying

Article Excerpt

LEON’S FURNITURE LTD. $18.00 (Toronto symbol LNF; TSINetwork Rating: Average) (416-243-7880; www. leons.ca; Shares outstanding: 72.3 million; Market cap: $1.3 billion; Dividend yield: 2.7%) has steadily increased the number of stores under its Leon’s banner from 27 in 2003 to today’s 86. In March 2013, the company nearly quadrupled in size with its $700 million purchase of The Brick, its main rival. That chain now has 217 locations across Canada and still operates separately. In the three months ended June 30, 2017, Leon’s overall sales rose 4.1%, to $537.6 million from $516.2 million a year earlier. The gain came mostly from the addition of six new stores; on a same-store basis, sales gained 1.0%. Leon’s earned $20.0 million, or $0.28 a share. That’s an increase of 28.4% from $15.5 million, or $0.22, a year earlier. The growth reflects strong sales but also cost cuttting. The company took a risk with an acquisition as big as The Brick. But the integration went well, and the…