Maple Leaf Foods (TSE:MFI) Reaches New 52-Week Low - Here's Why

Shares of Maple Leaf Foods Inc. (TSE:MFI - Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as C$21.01 and last traded at C$21.01, with a volume of 39350 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at C$21.27.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on MFI shares. TD Securities cut their price target on Maple Leaf Foods from C$35.00 to C$34.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, November 14th. National Bankshares dropped their price objective on Maple Leaf Foods from C$28.00 to C$26.00 in a report on Thursday, November 14th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, Maple Leaf Foods presently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of C$29.93.

Maple Leaf Foods Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 132.03, a quick ratio of 0.54 and a current ratio of 1.32. The stock has a market capitalization of C$2.57 billion, a PE ratio of 231.67, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 18.07 and a beta of 0.47. The stock's 50 day moving average is C$22.30 and its two-hundred day moving average is C$22.82.

Maple Leaf Foods Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 31st. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 31st will be given a dividend of $0.22 per share. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.22%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 6th. Maple Leaf Foods's payout ratio is 977.78%.

Insider Activity at Maple Leaf Foods

In related news, Director Linda Mantia bought 4,498 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 15th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of C$22.23 per share, for a total transaction of C$99,990.54. 39.87% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Maple Leaf Foods Company Profile

Maple Leaf Foods Inc produces food products in the United States, Canada, Japan, China, and internationally. The company operates through Meat Protein Group and Plant Protein Group segments. It produces various food products, including prepared meats, ready-to-cook and ready-to-serve meals, fresh pork and poultry, and plant protein products; bacon, hams, wieners, and meat snacks; a variety of delicatessen products; and processed chicken products, such as fully cooked chicken breasts and wings, processed turkey products, specialty sausages, cooked meats, sliced meats, cooked sausage products, lunch kits, and canned meats.