The hosts dive into recent Q3 earnings from notable Canadian stocks, unpacking the impacts of economic trends on company performance. They explore the challenges of corporate acquisitions, particularly focusing on WSP and the dynamics within the Canadian market. Key investment insights reveal transformations, such as Shopify's shift to recurring revenue. Additionally, they discuss how tough economic times are reshaping consumer behavior and the resilience of companies like MDA Space. Stay tuned for a Black Friday promotion and portfolio updates!
WSP's impressive growth, driven by a strong backlog and acquisition, positions it well for future expansion in the competitive market.
Deep dives
Kushtar's Earnings Miss
Kushtar reported a disappointing quarter, experiencing declines in earnings despite a slight increase in revenue. The company's same-store sales fell across various regions, indicating challenges faced by convenience stores as consumer spending tightened. While the revenue climbed by 6%, expenses outpaced growth, with selling, general, and administrative costs increasing by 12.5%. Although the earnings performance was weak, the company raised its dividend by 11.4%, marking the smallest growth since early pandemic times.
WSP's Strong Growth and Acquisitions
WSP has demonstrated impressive growth, with net revenues increasing by 10% year-over-year, primarily driven by significant organic growth in the infrastructure sector. The company achieved a remarkable adjusted EBITDA growth of 12% and raised its guidance following the acquisition of Power Engineers, anticipating over $2 billion in EBITDA for the next year. Strong operational margins, coupled with a record backlog nearing $15 billion, reflect WSP's capacity to continue thriving in a competitive market. Shareholders have benefitted from the company's robust performance, which has positioned it well for future growth.
Loblaw's Solid Yet Weaker Quarter
Loblaw posted relatively solid results despite reporting one of the weaker quarters in recent years. While same-store sales growth was only 0.5% for food and 2.9% for pharmacy, this slowdown can be attributed to last year's performance, which included a significant holiday sales boost. However, the company continues to expand its profits at a double-digit pace, evidenced by a 10.6% increase in earnings year-over-year. The strategic focus on capital expenditures and significant share buybacks has contributed to Loblaw's sustained growth and operational efficiency.
Shopify's Earnings Performance
Shopify reported a notable quarter, showcasing a 26% year-over-year revenue increase and a rise in free cash flow margins from 16% to 19%. The growth in gross merchandise volume, reaching nearly $70 billion, signals robust activity on the platform, driven by an increase in transactions processed through Shopify Payments. Monthly recurring revenue also saw a healthy uptick of 27.7%, reinforcing Shopify's resilience and commitment to capturing market share in the e-commerce sector. Following the positive results, the stock experienced a significant jump, highlighting the market's confidence in the company's future prospects amidst challenges and corrections from previous highs.