Leon’s is the better retail buy right now

Article Excerpt

LEON’S FURNITURE LTD. $16.98 (Toronto symbol LNF; TSINetwork Rating: Average) (416-243-7880; www.leons.ca; Shares outstanding: 72.1 million; Market cap: $1.2 billion; Dividend yield: 2.8%) 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 almost quadrupled in size with the $700 million purchase of its main rival, The Brick. That chain now has 217 locations across Canada and still operates separately. In the three months ended March 31, 2017, Leon’s overall sales rose 4.5%, to $484.2 million from $463.4 million a year earlier. On a same-store basis, sales gained 1.2%. More-effective promotions led to the increase. The company earned $8.5 million, or $0.12 a share, in the quarter. That’s an increase of 65.2% from $5.2 million, or $0.07, a year earlier. The growth came mostly from the strong sales, but also from cost cutting. Leon’s took a risk with an acquisition as big as The Brick. But the integration has gone well,…