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METRO Reports 2021 Third Quarter Results MONTRÉAL , Aug. 11 , 2021 / CNW Telbec / - METRO INC . ( TSX : MRU ) today announced its results for the third quarter of fiscal 2021 ended July 3 , 2021 . 2021 THIRD QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS • Sales of $ 5,719.8 million , down 2.0 % , and up 9.4 % vs 2019 • Food same - store sales down 3.6 % , and up 11.4 % vs 2019 • Pharmacy same - store sales up 7.6 % , and up 8.6 % vs 2019 • Net earnings of $ 252.4 million , down 4.2 % and adjusted net earnings ( 1 ) of $ 261.2 million , • • down 4.1 % Fully diluted net earnings per share of $ 1.03 , down 1.0 % , and adjusted fully diluted net earnings per share ( 1 ) of $ 1.06 , down 1.9 % Expenses related to COVID - 19 totalling $ 38 million , including $ 8 million of gift cards to front - line employees • Transition to new Ontario fresh distribution center completed , adding $ 8 million of non- recurring costs 16 weeks / Fiscal Year ( Millions of dollars , except for net earnings per share ) 2021 % 2020 % Change ( % ) Sales 5,719.8 100.0 5,835.2 100.0 ( 2.0 ) Operating income before depreciation and amortization 533.6 9.3 542.9 93 9.3 ( 1.7 ) Adjusted operating income before depreciation and amortization ( 2 ) 533.6 9.3 542.9 9.3 ( 1.7 ) Net earnings 252.4 4.4 263.5 4.5 ( 4.2 ) Fully diluted net earnings per share 1.03 - 1.04 ( 1.0 ) Adjusted net earnings ( 1 ) 261.2 4.6 272.3 4.7 ( 4.1 ) Adjusted fully diluted net earnings per share ( 1 ) 1.06 1.08 ( 1.9 ) 40 weeks / Fiscal Year ( Millions of dollars , except for net earnings per share ) 2021 % Sales 14,191.0 100.0 2020 % 13,853.9 Change ( % ) 100.0 2.4 Operating income before depreciation and amortization 1,328.9 9.4 1,280.1 9.2 3.8 Adjusted operating income before depreciation and amortization ( 2 ) 1,328.9 9.4 1,287.6 9.3 3.2 Net earnings 631.7 4.5 609.9 4.4 3.6 Fully diluted net earnings per share 2.54 2.40 - 5.8 Adjusted net earnings ( 1 ) 653.6 4.6 636.0 4.6 46 2.8 Adjusted fully diluted net earnings per share ( 1 ) 2.63 2.50 5.2 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE " We are pleased with the solid results of our third quarter considering we cycled exceptionally strong sales and earnings last year at the height of the pandemic . Our sales and earnings growth over 2019 levels is strong . Despite the challenging operating environment caused by the pandemic , our teams successfully completed three key strategic initiatives during the quarter : the transition to our new automated Fresh distribution center in Toronto ; the integration of our pharmacy distribution operations into the Jean Coutu distribution center in Varennes ; and the opening of our dedicated store for online grocery in Montréal . These achievements position us well to meet our growth objectives going forward " , declared Eric La Flèche , President and Chief Executive Officer . OPERATING RESULTS SALES