
TSE:L
This summary was created by AI, based on 13 opinions in the last 12 months.
Loblaw Companies Ltd (L-T) is considered a dominant player in the Canadian grocery and pharmacy markets, with experts highlighting its defensive nature, strong private label offerings, and notable acquisition of Shoppers Drug Mart, which has bolstered its profitability and market share. Despite facing challenges such as food inflation and competitive pressure from major players like Walmart and Costco, the company is seen as having a solid growth trajectory driven by its strong same-store sales and innovative strategies. However, some analysts caution that the stock's recent performance may have led it to become overvalued, suggesting a potential trim for existing investors. While there are mixed views on its short-term appeal amidst a backdrop of rising grocery costs, the company is often recommended for its stability and long-term prospects.
(A Top Pick Jul 10/19, Up 6%) Relatively defensive with food and pharma. Nice defensive stock to own in this environment. Pantry loading with Covid, but they also have higher costs with protection equipment and higher labour costs. Leader in online grocery. The trading discount from Metro should narrow over time.
Are grocers safe? Yes, during this stay at home phase. Loblaw trades at 16x forward PE with a 7% growth rate. It's low beta at half the volatility of the TSX. Q2 will probably be good in terms of revenues. But he's concerned with their private label segment has required a lot of investment. Also, Loblaw is highly unionized and faces wage pressure. He prefers Metro a bit for its better valuation.
Food retailing is defensive. Unlike Empire, Loblaw owns Shoppers which gives it an edge. Loblaw is expanding their health business, entering digital health with a new acquisition. The locations of both Loblaw and SDM are great and boast a 30% market share. People are becoming comfortable using online medical services, a trend that will continue across North America long term. The growth rate in their click-and-collect and grocery delivery may not be that strong, but will continue to rise. Trades at 14x forward earnings, reasonable. The dividend is a moderate 2%. Even if we enter high volatility, this sector and stock will be fine. (Analysts’ price target is $80.82)