Loblaw Companies Limited (TSX: L), the largest retailer in Canada, announced better-than-expected third-quarter earnings results on the morning of November 18, and its stock has responded by moving higher. Let’s take a closer look at the results and the fundamentals of the stock to determine if this could be the start of a sustained rally higher and if we should be long-term buyers today.
Surpassing analysts’ expectations with ease
Here’s a summary of Loblaw’s third-quarter earnings results compared with its results in the same period a year ago.
| Metric | Q3 2015 Actual | Q3 2015 Expected | Q3 2014 Actual |
| Adjusted Earnings Per Share | $0.99 | $0.97 | $0.90 |
| Revenue | $13.95 billion | $13.87 billion | $13.6 billion |
Source: Financial Times
Loblaw’s adjusted earnings per share increased 10% and its revenue increased 2.6% compared with the third quarter of fiscal 2014. The company’s very strong earnings-per-share growth can be attributed to its adjusted net income increasing 10% to $408 million, which it noted was driven by a strong operational performance in its Retail segment, the positive contribution of net synergies related to its acquisition of Shoppers Drug Mart in 2014 and reduced expenses.
Its slight revenue growth can be attributed to its revenues increasing in all three of its major segments, including 2.5% growth to $13.72 billion in its Retail segment, 1.9% growth to $211 million in its Financial Services segment, and 9.4% growth to $187 million in its Choice Properties segment.
Here’s a quick breakdown of eight other notable statistics from the report compared with the year-ago period:
- Excluding fuel sales and the negative impact of a change in distribution model by a tobacco supplier, food retail same-store sales increased 3.1%
- Drug retail same-store sales increased 4.9%
- Drug retail same-store pharmacy sales increased 3.5%
- Drug retail same-store front store sales increased 6.2%
- Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization increased 2.1% to $1.02 billion
- Adjusted operating income increased 6% to $709 million
- Cash flows from operating activities increased 51.7% to $1.07 billion
- Free cash flow increased 191.9% to $578 million
Loblaw also announced that it will be maintaining its quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share, and the next payment will come on December 30 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 15.
Could the stock continue higher and should you be a buyer?
It was a fantastic quarter overall for Loblaw, and the results surpassed analysts’ expectations, so I think its stock has responded correctly by moving higher. I also think this could be the start of a sustained rally higher and that the stock represents a great long-term investment opportunity today, because it still trades at inexpensive forward valuations and because it is a dividend-growth play.
First, Loblaw’s stock still trades at just 19.9 times fiscal 2015’s estimated earnings per share of $3.52 and only 17.2 times fiscal 2016’s estimated earnings per share of $4.08, both of which are inexpensive compared with its five-year average price-to-earnings multiple of 230.8 and the industry average multiple of 28.7.
With the multiples above and its 13.9% long-term growth rate in mind, I think Loblaw’s stock could consistently trade at a fair multiple of at least 20, which would place its shares upwards of $81 by the conclusion of fiscal 2016, representing upside of more than 15% from today’s levels.
Second, Loblaw pays a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share, or $1.00 per share annually, giving its stock a respectable 1.4% yield. This 1.4% yield may not peak your interest at first, but it is very important to note that the company has raised its dividend for four consecutive years, and its increased amount of free cash flow, including 143.7% year-over-year growth to $1.31 billion in the first nine months of fiscal 2015, could allow this streak to continue in 2016.
With all of the information provided above in mind, I think Loblaw Companies Limited represents one of the best long-term investment opportunities in the market today, and the best long-term investment opportunity in the retail industry. All Foolish investors should strongly consider beginning to scale in to positions over the next couple of weeks.
