Forget Gold: This 1 Stock Is Better!

MTY Food Group Inc (TSX:MTY) is a major underdog in the restaurant industry. That’s why it is the perfect investment.

| More on:
Profit dial turned up to maximum

Image source: Getty Images

Imagine yourself sitting down at Baton Rouge about to cut into a perfectly cut steak. You’re taking a minute to appreciate life. Your stocks are doing well, you’re loving your job, and you’re dating the most amazing person in the world.

As you scroll through Apple Finance, you notice that one stock in particular is performing well. You double click MTY Food (TSX:MTY), and as you peruse the stock description, you realize that you are sitting in one of the chains it owns!

For those of you unfamiliar with MTY Food, it is the powerhouse behind many fast-casual, sit-down, and fast-food restaurants that include Baton Rouge, Thai Express, Manchu Wok, and Mr. Sub, just to name a few.

In the past five years, gold prices have increased 22.72%, while MTY Food has increased by 94%! That’s almost four times the increase of gold. MTY Food is a good investment due to increasing net income and its acquisition-centric growth strategy.

Increasing net income

MTY Food’s net income has increased every year since fiscal 2014 from $25 million to $99 million in fiscal 2018. The company’s accumulated net income is $234 million, which is amazing.

This is coupled with an increasing operating cash flow from $32 million in fiscal 2014 to $98 million in fiscal 2018. An increasing operating cash flow is a good sign, as it indicates the company is performing well in its main line of business.

Given current debt and lease obligations of $7 million, the company has plenty of cash from operations to cover this. As an investor, this is very important, as the ability of the company to meet current liabilities will determine if it will survive in the near future.

Acquisition-centric growth strategy

Although the company engages in acquisitions frequently, one of the largest acquisitions made by the company was $248 million for Imvescor in fiscal 2018.

Imvescor was the owner of Baton Rouge, Score’s Chicken & Ribs, and Pizza Delight. One of the main features that enticed MTY Food was its streamlining and modernizing of its operations, which MTY Food wants to take advantage of.

Upon the closing of the deal, MTY Food will have more than 5,700 locations across North America under 75 brands with annual store revenues of $2.9 billion.

This should excite investors, as a company engaged in an acquisition-centric growth strategy is focused on growing its business, which will ultimately deliver bottom-line profits to investors.

Bottom line

In the cutthroat restaurant industry, diversification is key. With MTY Food owning over 75 different brands in over 5,700 locations across North America, I think it’s safe to say the company is well diversified.

With net income that has increased each year since fiscal 2014, and the recent acquisition of Imvescor, the company is well positioned to deliver superior returns for investors in the near future.

For more risk-averse investors, I would recommend looking into how leveraged the company is, as acquisitions consume massive amounts of cash, and it is unlikely MTY Food is paying for it using its own cash, which means it is taking out loans. Interest payments can be a big drain on the company’s cash and puts it in a precarious position if it has cash flow problems.

If you liked this article, click the link below for exclusive insight.

This article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the “official” recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium service or advisor. We’re Motley! Questioning an investing thesis — even one of our own — helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer, so we sometimes publish articles that may not be in line with recommendations, rankings or other content.

Fool contributor Chen Liu has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of MTY Food Group. MTY Food Group is a recommendation of Stock Advisor Canada.

More on Investing

A cannabis plant grows.
Cannabis Stocks

Canopy Growth Stock Is Rising But I’m Worried About This One Thing

Canopy Growth stock is soaring as the legalization effort makes real progress in both Germany and the United States.

Read more »

young woman celebrating a victory while working with mobile phone in the office
Investing

3 Roaring Stocks to Hold for the Next 20 Years

These top TSX stocks are excellent long-term buys, given their multi-year growth potential and solid underlying businesses.

Read more »

Two seniors float in a pool.
Dividend Stocks

TFSA: How to Earn $1,890 in Annual Tax-Free Income

Plunk these investments into your TFSA to earn passive income and avoid the taxman.

Read more »

grow dividends
Investing

Here’s My Top 3 TSX Stocks to Buy Right Now

Even though the TSX has been rising, there are still some good bargains out there. Here are three top compounding…

Read more »

Target. Stand out from the crowd
Investing

Prediction: This Canadian Growth Stock Could Double by 2030

Alimentation Couche-Tard (TSX:ATD) is a top growth stock that could do well over the next six or so years.

Read more »

Businessman holding AI cloud
Tech Stocks

Could Investing $20,000 in Nvidia Make You a Millionaire?

Nvidia stock has made investors millionaires in the last 10 years. Is it too late to invest to become a…

Read more »

Engineers walk through a facility.
Dividend Stocks

1 TSX Stock I Wouldn’t Touch With a 10-Foot Pole

AtkinsRéalis (TSX:ATRL) is one TSX stock I'd never invest in.

Read more »

money cash dividends
Stocks for Beginners

Have $500? 3 Absurdly Cheap Stocks Long-Term Investors Should Buy Right Now

If you're looking for cheap stocks, these three have a huge future ahead of them, all while costing far less…

Read more »