Empire (TSE:EMP.A) Price Target Increased to C$42.00 by Analysts at National Bankshares

Empire (TSE:EMP.A - Get Free Report) had its price objective upped by analysts at National Bankshares from C$41.00 to C$42.00 in a research note issued on Thursday, BayStreet.CA reports. National Bankshares' price objective would indicate a potential upside of 10.82% from the company's previous close.

A number of other equities analysts have also recently issued reports on the stock. TD Securities upped their price objective on shares of Empire from C$36.00 to C$38.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research report on Monday, June 24th. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price target on shares of Empire from C$42.00 to C$41.00 and set a "sector perform" rating for the company in a report on Friday, June 21st. Finally, Desjardins raised their price objective on Empire from C$38.00 to C$40.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, June 24th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of C$38.86.

Empire Stock Performance

Shares of TSE EMP.A remained flat at C$37.90 during trading hours on Thursday. 399,171 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 406,971. The firm has a fifty day moving average of C$36.14 and a two-hundred day moving average of C$34.15. The firm has a market cap of C$5.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.98, a PEG ratio of 16.20 and a beta of 0.47. The company has a current ratio of 0.80, a quick ratio of 0.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 134.59. Empire has a twelve month low of C$31.45 and a twelve month high of C$40.69.

Insider Activity at Empire

In related news, Director William Linton sold 7,058 shares of Empire stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of C$34.39, for a total transaction of C$242,690.74. Following the transaction, the director now owns 875 shares of the company's stock, valued at C$30,087.05. In other Empire news, Senior Officer Pierre St-Laurent sold 3,000 shares of Empire stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, July 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of C$36.32, for a total transaction of C$108,960.00. Also, Director William Linton sold 7,058 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, June 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of C$34.39, for a total value of C$242,690.74. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 875 shares of the company's stock, valued at C$30,087.05. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 14,294 shares of company stock valued at $504,880. 2.13% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Empire Company Profile

Empire Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the food retail and related real estate businesses in Canada. It operates through two segments, Food Retailing, and Investments and Other Operations. The company owns, affiliates, and franchises approximately 1,500 retail stores under various retail banners, including Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland, FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, and Lawtons Drugs; and approximately 350 retail fuel locations.