Loblaw Companies Limited (TSE:L) Given Consensus Rating of "Moderate Buy" by Brokerages

Shares of Loblaw Companies Limited (TSE:L - Get Free Report) have been given a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" by the seven ratings firms that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and five have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is C$197.00.

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on L. TD Securities reduced their price target on Loblaw Companies from C$203.00 to C$202.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, November 14th. Desjardins boosted their price objective on shares of Loblaw Companies from C$172.00 to C$190.00 in a research note on Thursday, November 14th. UBS Group set a C$225.00 price target on Loblaw Companies and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday. National Bankshares raised their price objective on Loblaw Companies from C$188.00 to C$195.00 in a research report on Thursday, November 14th. Finally, CIBC lifted their target price on Loblaw Companies from C$189.00 to C$206.00 in a research note on Thursday, November 14th.

Loblaw Companies Price Performance

Shares of TSE L traded down C$0.43 during midday trading on Friday, reaching C$193.97. 316,489 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 356,287. The company's 50 day moving average is C$180.61 and its 200 day moving average is C$171.96. Loblaw Companies has a one year low of C$118.02 and a one year high of C$196.49. The stock has a market capitalization of C$59.24 billion, a PE ratio of 29.52, a P/E/G ratio of 3.23 and a beta of 0.17. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 163.32, a current ratio of 1.36 and a quick ratio of 0.68.

Loblaw Companies Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 30th will be given a dividend of $0.513 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 13th. This represents a $2.05 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.06%. Loblaw Companies's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 31.06%.

Loblaw Companies Company Profile

Loblaw is one of Canada's largest grocery, pharmacy, and general merchandise retailers, operating the most expansive store footprint in Ontario and maintaining sizable presences in provinces like Quebec and British Columbia. Key grocery banners include Loblaw, No Frills, and Maxi, while its pharmaceutical operations are the product of its 2014 acquisition of Shoppers Drug Mart.