The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday, Jan. 23, edition that RBC Dominion Securities analyst Irene Nattel, ahead of fourth quarter 2025 earnings season for Canadian grocers, maintained her "stronger for longer" view on the sector, pointing to the macroeconomic backdrop and long-term trends. The Globe's David Leeder writes in the Eye On Equities column that Ms. Nattel says in a note: "We reiterate our expectation that secular winners continue trading at the high-end of long-term ranges as investors continue to pay a premium for sustainable, defensive, ratable growth Loblaw is earning its place in that group, with a disciplined operating model and commitment to its financial framework, notably bookended by sustainable top-line growth and return of capital to shareholders." Ahead of Loblaw's quarterly release on Feb. 25, Ms. Nattel raised her share target for Loblaw to $72 from $68, reiterating an "outperform" recommendation. Analysts on average target the shares at $66.14. Ms. Nattel adds, "In our view Loblaw is best positioned against current consumer backdrop of greater value-seeking consumer behaviour, with solid underlying momentum augmented by 2-per-cent unit growth in food and drug."