Nov 20 (Reuters) - George Weston Ltd WN.TO :
* GEORGE WESTON LIMITED ANNOUNCES A 5.1% INCREASE TO QUARTERLY COMMON SHARE DIVIDEND RELATED TO THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF SPIN-OUT OF CHOICE PROPERTIES, AND REPORTS THIRD QUARTER 2018 RESULTS
* Q3 ADJUSTED EARNINGS PER SHARE C$2.25
* Q3 EARNINGS PER SHARE C$0.40
* Q3 EARNINGS PER SHARE VIEW C$2.19 -- THOMSON REUTERS I/B/E/S
* FOR FULL YEAR 2018, WESTON FOODS EXPECTS SALES WILL TREND IN A SIMILAR FASHION TO FIRST HALF OF 2018
* GEORGE WESTON - 2018 SALES EXPECTED BE NEGATIVELY IMPACTED BY VOLUME DECLINES, INCLUDING LOSS OF SALES FROM KEY CUSTOMERS AND PRODUCT RATIONALIZATION
* 2018 ADJUSTED EBITDA WILL TREND IN SIMILAR FASHION TO FIRST HALF OF 2018, WHEN COMPARED TO LAST YEAR
* INVESTMENT IN CAPITAL EXPENDITURES TO DECREASE TO APPROXIMATELY $215 MILLION FOR 2018, COMPARED TO $230 MILLION AS PREVIOUSLY STATED
* QTRLY LOBLAW SALES WERE $14,453 MILLION, UP 1.8%
* HEADWINDS FROM MINIMUM WAGE INCREASES AND HEALTHCARE REFORM WILL CONTINUE TO IMPACT LOBLAW'S FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE IN 2018
* IN SECOND HALF, LOBLAW IS EXPERIENCING INCREASED COST PRESSURES, INCLUDING FROM NEWLY IMPOSED SURTAX ON CERTAIN U.S. IMPORTS
* QTRLY WESTON FOODS SALES WERE $630 MILLION, DOWN 5.7%
* FOR 2018, COMPANY EXPECTS ADJUSTED NET EARNINGS TO BE LOWER WHEN COMPARED TO PRIOR YEAR
* BOARD OF DIRECTORS RAISED THE QUARTERLY COMMON SHARE DIVIDEND BY $0.025 PER COMMON SHARE TO $0.515 PER COMMON SHARE
* QTRLY SALES $14,862 MILLION, UP 1.5 PERCENT
* Q3 REVENUE VIEW C$14.87 BILLION -- THOMSON REUTERS I/B/E/S