With housing starts not expected to increase until late 2008 or early 2009, the bottom won't be reached for a while, said Pierre LacroixofDesjardins Securities.
If Couche-Tard keeps up the pace of acquisitions, says analyst Jessy Hayem of DesjardinsSecurities in Montreal, it can match--or beat--U.S. 7-Elevens in store count and revenues within five years.