In the first table, we show the price to cash flow ratio for all the food retail companies in the MSCI World index. At 8.5x, the industry as a whole is selling at a 20% discount to the overall index. In the second table, we show price to sales ratio for all the food retail companies. At .2x sales, Safeway is among the cheapest companies, along with Kroger and Casino (a French grocer).
In both displays, it is easy to see the high regard in which investors hold Whole Foods. At 19.5x cash flow and 1.5x sales, it is far and away the most expensive large food retail company in the world.
Price to Cash Flow - World Food Retail Companies, 10 Year
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Price to Sales - World Food Retail Companies, 10 Year
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