ROBUST DEMAND BUOYS LOBLAW

Loblaw Cos Ltd surpassed market estimates for quarterly revenue and profit on Wednesday, as consumer demand for groceries and other essentials stayed robust during the pandemic. Companies like Loblaw have benefited from rising demand for groceries as consumers preferred to eat at home during the crisis. The retailer said it expects this strong demand to continue due to the pandemic's impact. Its revenue increased to $12.49 billion in the second quarter from $11.96 billion a year earlier, topping analysts' estimates of $12.16 billion, according to IBES data from Refinitiv. Its net earnings available to common shareholders rose to $375 million, or $1.09 per share, for the quarter ended June 19 from $169 million, or 47 cents per share, a year earlier. Excluding one-time items, Loblaw earned $1.35 per share, beating the average analyst estimate of $1.21 per share.