Buying rivals fuels Cort's consolidation.(Business Times)(Stock View)

0 Comments | Washington Times, The, December, 1998 | by Hyman, Julie

Cort Business Services Corp. has retained high ratings from analysts despite the furniture company's recently slowed earnings growth. Its consistent past record has a lot to do with the confidence Cort still inspires. Cort, based in Fairfax, operates through its subsidiary, Cort Furniture Rental Corp., with rental and clearance centers in 32 states.

Cort has been consolidating furniture rental businesses, and is the market leader in rental furniture and accessories. Its most recent acquisition was the purchase of certain assets of the trade show furnishings business of Aaron Rents Inc. A larger acquisition in August was that of Instant Interiors Corp., a furniture rental business with showrooms in the Midwest. "The company's growth strategy has...