Revenue Growth
Q2 sales reached $5.1 billion, up 4.1% year‑over‑year, driven by new store openings, same‑store sales growth and a timing shift of a pre‑Christmas shopping day into the quarter.
Pharmacy Momentum
Pharmacy same‑store sales grew 5.1% in the quarter; prescription sales rose 6.1% and front‑store pharmacy sales increased 2.8%. Management noted continued contribution from specialty medications and GLP‑1s.
Profitability Expansion (EBITDA & EPS)
Reported EBITDA was $508.6 million, up 10.3% year‑over‑year (9.9% of sales). Adjusted EBITDA was $488.5 million, up 6.0% YoY and 9.6% of sales (a 16 bps improvement vs Q2 2025). Adjusted diluted EPS rose 8.8% to $1.11 from $1.02.
Gross Margin and Cost Discipline
Gross margin improved slightly to $1.03 billion or 20.1% of sales (20.0% in prior year). Operating expenses increased 3.4% to $538.9 million but fell as a percentage of sales to 10.5% from 10.6%, reflecting continued cost discipline.
Strong E‑commerce and Digital Engagement
Online sales grew 19.8% in the quarter, driven by third‑party marketplaces, ramping click & collect and delivery services; private label penetration and promotional execution supported gross margin performance.
Capital Allocation and Balance Sheet Actions
Capital expenditures were $85.3 million (in line with prior year). The company issued a $350 million 5‑year bond at 3.469% and used proceeds to repay revolver debt; debt/EBITDA approx. 2.2x. Under NCIB, 2.9 million shares repurchased for $279.8 million (avg $96.47).
Retail Network Expansion
After 24 weeks, Metro opened/converted 6 stores and completed 4 major renovations, expanding food retail network by 141,000 sq ft (+0.6% quarter‑to‑date; +1.9% over 12 months), with discount banners performing strongly.