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

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)

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Neutral 68 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:68Neutral
Price Target:
C$52.00
â–²(16.91% Upside)
Empire Co Cl A NV's overall stock score is driven by strong financial performance and positive earnings call sentiment, highlighting growth in core business and strategic investments. However, technical indicators suggest a bearish trend, and valuation metrics are moderate, impacting the overall score.
Positive Factors
Core Business Growth
The significant growth in core business operations and same-store sales indicates strong market position and effective strategies, supporting long-term revenue stability.
Strategic Investments
Strategic investments in technology and stores position Empire for sustainable growth by enhancing operational efficiency and customer experience.
Expansion and Growth
The expansion of store formats and footprint is likely to increase market share and revenue potential, reinforcing Empire's competitive edge in the grocery sector.
Negative Factors
High Leverage
High leverage can limit financial flexibility and increase risk, potentially impacting the company's ability to invest in growth opportunities.
E-commerce Challenges
Ongoing challenges in e-commerce profitability may hinder growth in this segment, requiring strategic adjustments to improve financial performance.
SG&A Increase
Rising SG&A expenses can pressure margins and reduce profitability, necessitating effective cost management to maintain financial health.

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:Dec 11, 2025
(Q2-2026)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Mar 12, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call reflected a positive outlook on Empire's core business growth and strategic priorities, despite challenges in adjusted EPS and increased SG&A expenses. The company is actively working on improving profitability in its e-commerce segment and leveraging past investments for future growth.
Q2-2026 Updates
Positive Updates
Core Business Growth
Excluding other income and share of earnings from equity investments, the core business improved by 12.5% over last year. Same-store sales grew by 2.5%, and food sales increased by 3.4%.
Gross Margin Improvement
Gross margin improved by 14 basis points, driven by operational efficiencies and disciplined execution in stores. Excluding the impact of higher wholesale distribution sales, the improvement would have been more than 20 basis points.
Strategic Investments
Empire is focusing on capitalizing on past investments in stores, technology, and strategic projects, aiming to realize their full potential.
Expansion and Growth
Empire is planning to expand its store footprint, focusing on new store openings and leveraging its discount and full-service formats to capture market share.
Negative Updates
Adjusted EPS Decline
Adjusted EPS was $0.69, $0.04 lower than last year, mainly due to lower real estate-related earnings.
SG&A Increase
SG&A, excluding depreciation and amortization, grew by 4.6%, impacted by investments in stores, technology, projects, higher labor costs, and onetime expenses related to a lockout and retirements.
E-commerce Challenges
Empire's e-commerce business, particularly the Voilà segment, continues to face profitability challenges, prompting adjustments like ending exclusivity with Ocado and partnering with Instacart and Uber Eats.
Company Guidance
During the Empire Second Quarter 2026 conference call held on December 11, 2025, Pierre St. Laurent, the new President and CEO, and Constantine Pefanis, the CFO, provided detailed guidance on the company's financial performance and strategic priorities. Empire reported a 12.5% year-over-year improvement in core business operations, with food sales growing by 3.4% and same-store sales increasing by 2.5%. The company's gross margin improved by 14 basis points, excluding fuel, driven by operational efficiencies and enhanced inventory control. Excluding real estate-related earnings, Empire achieved a 12.5% growth in adjusted EPS. The company maintained its guidance for real estate-related income at the lower end of the $120 million to $140 million range. Empire plans to allocate approximately 50% of its fiscal 2026 capital expenditures of $850 million to store renovations and new store expansions. The company also highlighted its focus on cost control, customer value, and leveraging investments to realize growth opportunities. Additionally, Empire's wholesale business experienced growth due to new contracts, and the company plans to continue expanding its discount and full-service store formats across various regions.

Empire Co Cl A NV Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Empire Co Cl A NV demonstrates strong revenue growth and profitability metrics, supported by efficient operations. The balance sheet is stable, though high leverage poses a risk. Cash flow generation is generally strong, but recent declines in free cash flow growth warrant attention.
Income Statement
85
Very Positive
Empire Co Cl A NV shows strong revenue growth with a TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) increase of 5.79%. The gross profit margin is healthy at 27.24%, and the net profit margin is stable at 2.24%. EBIT and EBITDA margins are consistent, indicating efficient operations. However, the slight decline in net income in the latest TTM period suggests some pressure on profitability.
Balance Sheet
78
Positive
The company maintains a high debt-to-equity ratio of 1.39, indicating significant leverage, which is typical for the grocery industry. Return on equity is strong at 13.01%, reflecting effective use of equity. The equity ratio is moderate, suggesting a balanced asset structure. Overall, the balance sheet shows stability but with potential risk from high leverage.
Cash Flow
72
Positive
Operating cash flow is robust, but the free cash flow growth rate has declined by 3.23% in the TTM period, indicating potential cash flow challenges. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is 0.51, and the free cash flow to net income ratio is 0.65, showing decent cash conversion. While cash flow generation is solid, the recent decline in free cash flow growth is a concern.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue31.36B30.80B30.58B30.27B28.34B
Gross Profit8.46B8.14B7.90B7.77B7.27B
EBITDA2.29B2.12B1.66B1.77B1.65B
Net Income700.00M725.20M686.00M745.80M701.50M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets17.02B16.79B16.48B16.59B15.17B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments285.00M260.00M221.30M812.30M890.50M
Total Debt7.46B7.36B7.20B7.46B7.13B
Total Liabilities11.47B11.32B11.15B11.46B10.68B
Stockholders Equity5.41B5.34B5.20B4.99B4.37B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow1.35B1.28B847.60M1.33B1.20B
Operating Cash Flow2.13B2.07B1.61B2.11B1.86B
Investing Cash Flow-597.00M-608.50M-684.70M-891.40M-502.30M
Financing Cash Flow-1.50B-1.43B-1.51B-1.29B-1.48B

Empire Co Cl A NV Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price44.48
Price Trends
50DMA
47.93
Negative
100DMA
48.42
Negative
200DMA
50.61
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.92
Positive
RSI
37.41
Neutral
STOCH
18.42
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 44.48 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 45.85, below the 50-day MA of 47.93, and below the 200-day MA of 50.61, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -0.92 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 37.41 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 18.42 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 (62)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
76
Outperform
C$72.37B29.5921.51%1.52%4.21%14.03%
70
Outperform
C$36.04B24.8326.36%1.23%4.15%149.50%
68
Neutral
C$10.14B15.0412.66%1.78%2.58%7.85%
66
Neutral
C$19.28B19.9814.48%1.50%3.71%12.40%
66
Neutral
C$16.72B-206.22-1.32%1.89%5.37%-135.85%
64
Neutral
C$50.24B38.88102.01%0.20%14.02%20.11%
62
Neutral
$20.33B14.63-3.31%3.23%1.93%-12.26%
* Consumer Defensive Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
TSE:EMP.A
Empire Co Cl A NV
44.48
2.80
6.73%
TSE:L
Loblaw Companies
61.27
16.64
37.27%
TSE:DOL
Dollarama
183.50
46.15
33.60%
TSE:MRU
Metro Inc.
90.39
0.76
0.85%
TSE:SAP
Saputo Inc.
41.08
18.53
82.13%
TSE:WN
George Weston
94.97
21.34
28.98%

Empire Co Cl A NV Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Empire Company Limited Reports Fiscal 2026 Q2 Results with Strategic Focus on Growth
Neutral
Dec 11, 2025

Empire Company Limited reported its fiscal 2026 second-quarter results, highlighting a 2.8% increase in sales to $7,995 million and a slight decrease in earnings per share from $0.73 to $0.69 compared to the previous year. The company continues to focus on enhancing its store network, digital capabilities, and cost efficiency, aiming to improve sales and margins through strategic investments in renovations, technology, and sustainability initiatives.

The most recent analyst rating on ($TSE:EMP.A) stock is a Buy with a C$58.00 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.

Business Operations and StrategyExecutive/Board Changes
Empire Company Limited Appoints Pierre St-Laurent as New CEO
Positive
Nov 5, 2025

Empire Company Limited has appointed Pierre St-Laurent as the new President and CEO, succeeding Michael Medline who is retiring. St-Laurent, a 34-year veteran of the company, has been instrumental in Empire’s success and is expected to continue its growth trajectory, emphasizing the company’s commitment to internal talent development and long-term value creation for stakeholders.

The most recent analyst rating on ($TSE:EMP.A) stock is a Hold with a C$61.00 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.

Private Placements and Financing
Sobeys Inc. Announces $300 Million Note Offering
Neutral
Oct 29, 2025

Sobeys Inc., a subsidiary of Empire Company Limited, has announced a $300 million note offering with a 3.10% interest rate due in 2028. The proceeds from this offering will be used to repay existing debt and for general corporate purposes. The notes have received provisional ratings of ‘BBB’ from Morningstar DBRS and ‘BBB-‘ from S&P Global Ratings. This move marks Sobeys’ re-entry into the debt capital market, potentially strengthening its financial position and providing flexibility for future operations.

The most recent analyst rating on ($TSE:EMP.A) stock is a Buy with a C$55.00 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: Dec 18, 2025