New strategy will benefit investors

Article Excerpt

CANADIAN TIRE CORP. (class A non-voting) is a buy. The retailer (Toronto symbols CTC [voting] $223 and CTC.A [non-voting] $147; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares o/s: 55.6 million; Market cap: $8.2 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.8; Dividend yield: 4.8%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.canadiantire.ca) will spend $2 billion over the next four years on a new growth plan called True North, which includes new stores, better integration of its various chains and the closure of less-profitable outlets. As well, merging redundant back-office systems and better using new computer analytics technologies should cut $100 million from annual costs, starting in 2026. Canadian Tire will use some of those savings to reward investors by doubling its 2025 share buyback target to $400 million. It’s also raising your quarterly dividend by 1.4% with the March 2025 payment. The new annual rate of $7.10 yields a high 4.8% for the class A shares. Canadian Tire (class A non-voting) is a buy. buy…