The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday, June 27, edition that Stifel analyst Martin Landry has reaffirmed his "buy" recommendation of Alimentation Couche-Tard. The Globe's David Leeder writes that Mr. Landry cut his share target back to $81 from $84. Analysts on average target the shares at $81.80. Mr. Landry thinks Couche-Tard reported fourth quarter financial results that "look better than the headline number suggests." Mr. Landry says Couche-Tard needs "to generate a strong operational performance" in order to "recharge" the price of its shares. On Thursday, Couche-Tard announced quarterly earnings per share of 46 cents, down 4 per cent year-over-year and a penny below the estimates of both Mr. Landry and the Street. Merchandise same-store revenues rose in Canada and Europe and "remained depressed" in the U.S., declining 0.4 per cent year-over-year south of the border, in line with Mr. Landry's expectation of a decline of 0.5 per cent and consensus's expected 0.4-per-cent drop. Mr. Landry says, "Above ATD's operational performance, investors have symptoms of 'deal fatigue' in relation to the potential acquisition of Seven & I Holdings." Several investors do not expect a transaction will materialize.