Ontario Drug Legislation Puts Shoppers Drug Mart on Hold

TD Newcrest analysts Michael Van Aelst and Derek. J Lessard did not change their Hold rating on Shoppers Drug Mart Corp

. Shoppers is the largest pharmacy chain in Canada. The Government of Ontario made only minor changes to its prescription drug reforms proposed in April. The TD analysts think that "any investors who were expecting the Ontario government to provide material concessions will be disappointed with the details of final regulations." Some modest benefits of the minor changes were to keep the mark-up at 8% (instead of 5%) and to peg prices of non-solid generics at 35% (instead of 25%) of branded. The focus will now shift to other provinces in Canada who have been watching the Ontario fight. TD Newcrest is still unsure which other provinces will follow and to what degree. The price target is $39.00 while Shoppers remains on Hold. Talk to other investors at