Loblaw Companies Limited (TSE:L) Receives Average Rating of "Moderate Buy" from Analysts

Shares of Loblaw Companies Limited (TSE:L - Get Free Report) have received an average rating of "Moderate Buy" from the seven brokerages that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price objective among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is C$199.38.

Several research analysts have weighed in on L shares. Scotiabank lowered shares of Loblaw Companies from an "outperform" rating to a "sector perform" rating and set a C$200.00 price objective on the stock. in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price objective on Loblaw Companies from C$205.00 to C$217.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Monday, December 9th. CIBC lifted their price objective on Loblaw Companies from C$206.00 to C$208.00 in a research report on Friday, February 21st. UBS Group dropped their target price on Loblaw Companies from C$225.00 to C$210.00 in a research report on Friday, February 21st. Finally, TD Securities reduced their price target on Loblaw Companies from C$202.00 to C$195.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 21st.

Loblaw Companies Stock Down 0.2 %

Shares of L stock traded down C$0.35 on Friday, reaching C$195.83. 309,941 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 413,907. The business's 50 day moving average price is C$183.98 and its two-hundred day moving average price is C$182.61. The company has a market capitalization of C$59.21 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.58, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.23 and a beta of 0.17. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 166.11, a quick ratio of 0.68 and a current ratio of 1.29. Loblaw Companies has a 12-month low of C$145.80 and a 12-month high of C$197.00.

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Loblaw Companies Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 1st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, April 1st will be paid a $0.513 dividend. This represents a $2.05 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.05%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 14th. Loblaw Companies's payout ratio is 27.83%.

Insider Activity at Loblaw Companies

In other news, Senior Officer Kieran Barry Columb sold 11,309 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of C$186.55, for a total transaction of C$2,109,706.39. Also, Director Richard Dufresne sold 25,783 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Monday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of C$186.55, for a total value of C$4,809,847.01. In the last three months, insiders have sold 141,456 shares of company stock worth $25,966,244. 53.77% of the stock is owned by insiders.

About Loblaw Companies

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.