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Empire Co Cl A NV (TSE:EMP.A)
TSX:EMP.A
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Empire Co Cl A NV (EMP.A) AI Stock Analysis

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TSE:EMP.A

Empire Co Cl A NV

(TSX:EMP.A)

Rating:73Outperform
Price Target:
C$59.00
▲(11.89% Upside)
Empire Co Cl A NV's strong financial performance and positive earnings call results are the primary drivers of its score. However, the bearish technical indicators and moderate valuation metrics slightly temper the overall outlook. The company's strategic investments and dividend growth provide a positive long-term perspective.
Positive Factors
Earnings
Empire Co Cl A Nv is expected to report a fourth consecutive quarter of improving same-store sales.
Stock Performance
Empire has delivered a 13% return over the past three months, outperforming both Loblaw and Metro.
Strategic Initiatives
The company plans to open 24 new store locations, which is expected to contribute to sales growth.
Negative Factors
Financial Performance
There is a potential deceleration to same-store sales growth and upward SG&A pressures.
Financial Targets
There is a lack of sufficient visibility to assume Empire can achieve its financial target of 8-11% annual EPS growth.
Operational Costs
Empire could incur approximately $4 million in one-time employment contract expenses related to leadership succession.

Empire Co Cl A NV (EMP.A) vs. iShares MSCI Canada ETF (EWC)

Empire Co Cl A NV Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionEmpire Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the food retail and related real estate businesses in Canada. It operates through two segments, Food Retailing, and Investments and Other Operations. The company owns, affiliates, and franchises approximately 1,600 retail stores under various retail banners, including Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland, FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, Farm Boy, Longo's, and Lawtons Drugs; and approximately 350 retail fuel locations, as well as operates grocery e-commerce stores under the banners, such as Voilà, Grocery Gateway, IGA.net, and ThriftyFoods.com. It also owns interest in the Crombie Real Estate Investment Trust, an open-ended real estate investment trust to own, operate, and develop a portfolio of grocery and pharmacy-anchored shopping centers, freestanding stores, and mixed-use developments; and various equity accounted interests in Genstar partnerships that develop residential real estate properties in Ontario, Western Canada, and the United States. The company was founded in 1907 and is headquartered in Stellarton, Canada.
How the Company Makes MoneyEmpire Company Limited generates revenue primarily through its grocery retail operations. The company earns money by selling food, pharmacy, and other consumer products across its vast network of stores under multiple banners. Its key revenue streams include in-store sales, pharmacy services, and online grocery shopping platforms. Empire also benefits from its real estate investments, where it collects rental income from properties leased to various tenants, including its own retail stores. Strategic partnerships with suppliers, effective supply chain management, and a customer-centric approach contribute to Empire's ability to maintain competitive pricing and customer loyalty. Additionally, Empire has been investing in digital transformations and e-commerce to enhance its online presence and adapt to changing consumer buying habits, which further supports its revenue growth.

Empire Co Cl A NV Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Jun 19, 2025
(Q4-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Sep 11, 2025
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The earnings call presented a strong financial performance with significant EPS growth, market share gains, and gross margin improvements. The company also announced a dividend increase and plans for substantial new store growth. However, challenges included increased SG&A expenses due to stock price-related compensation costs and a volatile consumer environment in Canada.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong EPS Growth
Empire reported an EPS of $0.74 this quarter, translating to a 17.5% EPS growth year-over-year, supported by strong same-store sales growth of 3.8%.
Market Share Gains
Empire gained market share this quarter, with improvements in Full-Service and discount banners, and continued growth in fresh department sales.
Gross Margin Improvement
Gross margin improved by 32 basis points, exceeding medium-term expectations of 10 to 20 basis points, driven by operating efficiencies and in-store execution.
Dividend Increase
Empire announced a 10% increase in its quarterly dividend per share, marking the 30th consecutive year of dividend increases.
Capital Allocation and New Store Growth
Empire plans to invest $850 million in fiscal 2026, with a focus on opening 24 new stores compared to an average of 8 per year previously.
Negative Updates
Increased SG&A Expenses
SG&A expenses were elevated due to a noncash accounting increase in compensation expenses of $49 million, linked to a significant increase in Empire's stock price.
Volatile Canadian Consumer Environment
The Canadian consumer environment remains volatile and unpredictable, despite positive consumer behavior trends observed by Empire.
Company Guidance
During the Empire Fourth Quarter 2025 Conference Call, Empire reported strong financial results, demonstrating significant improvement across various key metrics. For Q4, the company achieved an EPS of $0.74, translating to a 17.5% growth year-over-year, supported by robust same-store sales growth of 3.8%. Empire also improved its gross margin by 32 basis points, surpassing medium-term expectations of 10 to 20 basis points per year. The annual growth of adjusted EPS was 8.8%, aligning with the company's long-term financial framework goal of 8% to 11% growth. The company plans to invest $850 million in fiscal 2026, with half allocated to expanding its store network, including the opening of 24 new stores. Additionally, Empire announced a 10% increase in its quarterly dividend per share and plans to repurchase up to $400 million of shares. Despite macroeconomic uncertainties, the company noted improved customer behavior and a shift towards Canadian products and retailers.

Empire Co Cl A NV Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Empire Co Cl A NV displays a solid financial performance with consistent revenue and profit growth, stable margins, and strong cash flows. The company maintains a balanced capital structure, although leverage is slightly above optimal levels. Future focus on debt reduction could further enhance financial stability.
Income Statement
85
Very Positive
Empire Co Cl A NV has demonstrated consistent revenue growth over the years, with a revenue increase from $30.2 billion in 2022 to $31.3 billion in 2025, reflecting a solid growth trajectory. The gross profit margin and net profit margin are stable, with the gross margin at approximately 27% and net margin at around 2.2% for the latest year. EBIT and EBITDA margins have shown resilience, maintaining healthy levels above 4% and 7% respectively. These metrics indicate strong operational efficiency and profitability in a competitive industry.
Balance Sheet
75
Positive
The company's balance sheet shows a steady increase in stockholders' equity from $4.37 billion in 2021 to $5.41 billion in 2025, indicating strong equity growth. The debt-to-equity ratio remains relatively high at approximately 1.38 in the latest year, suggesting moderate leverage, which is typical in the grocery industry. Return on Equity (ROE) remains stable around 13%, suggesting efficient use of equity capital. The equity ratio is around 32%, indicating a balanced capital structure with room for improvement in reducing leverage.
Cash Flow
80
Positive
Empire Co Cl A NV maintains a strong cash flow position, with operating cash flow growing from $1.86 billion in 2021 to $2.13 billion in 2025. Free cash flow has shown positive growth, with a notable increase from $0.85 billion in 2023 to $1.35 billion in 2025, emphasizing efficient capital expenditure management. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is robust, reflecting healthy cash generation relative to earnings. The company demonstrates effective cash management practices, crucial for sustaining operations and growth.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue31.28B31.28B30.73B30.48B30.16B28.27B
Gross Profit8.38B8.38B8.07B7.79B7.66B7.20B
EBITDA2.44B2.44B2.40B2.28B2.35B2.17B
Net Income700.00M700.00M725.20M686.00M745.80M701.50M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets17.02B17.02B16.79B16.48B16.59B15.17B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments285.00M285.00M259.60M221.30M812.30M890.50M
Total Debt7.46B7.46B7.36B7.27B7.46B7.13B
Total Liabilities11.47B11.47B11.32B11.15B11.46B10.68B
Stockholders Equity5.41B5.41B5.34B5.20B4.99B4.37B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow1.35B1.35B1.28B847.60M1.33B1.20B
Operating Cash Flow2.13B2.13B2.07B1.61B2.11B1.86B
Investing Cash Flow-597.00M-597.00M-608.50M-684.70M-891.40M-502.30M
Financing Cash Flow-1.50B-1.50B-1.43B-1.51B-1.29B-1.48B

Empire Co Cl A NV Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price52.73
Price Trends
50DMA
55.45
Negative
100DMA
53.19
Negative
200DMA
48.32
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.69
Positive
RSI
35.09
Neutral
STOCH
16.82
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For TSE:EMP.A, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 52.73 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 55.14, below the 50-day MA of 55.45, and above the 200-day MA of 48.32, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.69 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 35.09 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 16.82 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for TSE:EMP.A.

Empire Co Cl A NV Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (63)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
73
Outperform
C$12.20B17.9113.02%1.56%1.77%0.77%
63
Neutral
$20.49B14.78-2.88%3.11%1.86%-5.76%
$48.79B28.2621.77%0.92%
69
Neutral
C$21.15B21.0914.60%1.49%2.26%12.56%
67
Neutral
C$2.38B17.3118.85%3.17%4.19%2.56%
63
Neutral
C$13.85B42.30-2.20%2.25%7.58%-155.93%
62
Neutral
C$33.82B33.6617.72%1.26%3.21%-12.20%
* Consumer Defensive Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
TSE:EMP.A
Empire Co Cl A NV
52.73
14.83
39.13%
LBLCF
Loblaw Companies
41.20
9.11
28.39%
TSE:MRU
Metro Inc.
96.77
13.06
15.60%
TSE:NWC
North West
50.90
3.51
7.41%
TSE:SAP
Saputo Inc.
34.27
5.51
19.16%
TSE:WN
George Weston
88.52
15.42
21.09%

Empire Co Cl A NV Corporate Events

Stock BuybackDividendsFinancial Disclosures
Empire Company Limited Reports Strong Fiscal 2025 Results and Announces Shareholder Returns
Positive
Jun 19, 2025

Empire Company Limited reported strong financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2025, with earnings per share increasing to $0.74 from $0.61 the previous year. The company saw a 3.0% increase in sales to $7,637 million and same-store sales growth of 3.8%. Empire also announced a 10% dividend increase, marking the 30th consecutive year of dividend growth, and plans to repurchase up to $400 million in shares in fiscal 2026. These actions reflect Empire’s robust financial health and commitment to returning value to shareholders, positioning the company well within the competitive retail market.

The most recent analyst rating on ($TSE:EMP.A) stock is a Buy with a C$40.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Empire Co Cl A NV stock, see the TSE:EMP.A Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Sep 04, 2025