Analysts Set Loblaw Companies Limited (TSE:L) PT at C$178.29

Loblaw Companies Limited (TSE:L - Get Free Report) has been assigned a consensus recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from the six ratings firms that are covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and four have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is C$178.29.

Several research firms have recently commented on L. CIBC lifted their price objective on Loblaw Companies from C$171.00 to C$189.00 in a report on Friday, July 26th. BMO Capital Markets raised their target price on Loblaw Companies from C$160.00 to C$180.00 in a research note on Friday, July 26th. National Bankshares raised their target price on Loblaw Companies from C$175.00 to C$188.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, October 17th. Desjardins raised their target price on Loblaw Companies from C$157.00 to C$172.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 23rd. Finally, TD Securities raised their target price on Loblaw Companies from C$172.00 to C$186.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, July 22nd.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Willard Galen Garfield Weston sold 296 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, August 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$165.15, for a total value of C$48,884.02. In other Loblaw Companies news, Director Willard Galen Garfield Weston sold 296 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$165.15, for a total transaction of C$48,884.02. Also, Senior Officer Nicholas Henn sold 164 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$165.15, for a total transaction of C$27,084.39. 53.77% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Loblaw Companies Trading Down 0.0 %

Shares of L stock opened at C$174.08 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 163.32, a quick ratio of 0.68 and a current ratio of 1.36. Loblaw Companies has a 52-week low of C$110.52 and a 52-week high of C$182.19. The company has a market capitalization of C$53.16 billion, a PE ratio of 26.38, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.23 and a beta of 0.17. The business's fifty day moving average is C$175.35 and its 200 day moving average is C$164.59.

Loblaw Companies (TSE:L - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 25th. The company reported C$2.15 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of C$2.14 by C$0.01. Loblaw Companies had a return on equity of 19.22% and a net margin of 3.46%. The business had revenue of C$13.95 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of C$14.07 billion. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Loblaw Companies will post 9.1225541 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Loblaw Companies Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, October 1st. Investors of record on Tuesday, October 1st were issued a $0.513 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, September 13th. This represents a $2.05 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.18%. Loblaw Companies's payout ratio is currently 31.06%.

Loblaw Companies Company Profile

Loblaw Companies Limited, a food and pharmacy company, provides grocery, pharmacy and healthcare services, health and beauty products, apparels, general merchandise, financial services, and wireless mobile products and services in Canada. It operates in two segments, Retail and Financial Services. The Retail segment operates corporate and franchise-owned retail food, and associate-owned drug stores.