TransAlta (TSE:TA) Raised to “Outperform” at National Bank Financial

TransAlta (TSE:TA) (NYSE:TAC) was upgraded by stock analysts at National Bank Financial from a “sector perform” rating to an “outperform” rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Tuesday,BayStreet.CA reports. The brokerage presently has a C$22.00 price objective on the stock. National Bank Financial’s target price points to a potential upside of 24.79% from the stock’s current price.

A number of other equities analysts have also commented on TA. Desjardins cut their price objective on shares of TransAlta from C$19.00 to C$18.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, February 10th. ATB Cormark Capital Markets upped their target price on shares of TransAlta from C$27.00 to C$28.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce increased their target price on shares of TransAlta from C$25.00 to C$26.00 in a research note on Wednesday, December 17th. Jefferies Financial Group cut their price target on shares of TransAlta from C$27.00 to C$22.00 in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Finally, TD Securities boosted their price target on shares of TransAlta from C$26.00 to C$27.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 10th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of C$24.25.

TransAlta Stock Performance

Shares of TSE:TA traded up C$1.12 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching C$17.63. 1,425,582 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,249,732. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is C$17.70 and its two-hundred day moving average price is C$19.15. The firm has a market capitalization of C$5.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -27.55, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of -0.07 and a beta of 0.49. The company has a quick ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 0.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 320.51. TransAlta has a 12 month low of C$11.16 and a 12 month high of C$25.03.

TransAlta (TSE:TA) (NYSE:TAC) last issued its earnings results on Friday, February 27th. The company reported C($0.06) EPS for the quarter. The company had revenue of C$712.00 million during the quarter. TransAlta had a negative return on equity of 8.84% and a negative net margin of 5.74%.

Insider Buying and Selling at TransAlta

In other news, insider Jane Nyla Fedoretz sold 5,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$17.46, for a total transaction of C$87,300.00. Following the sale, the insider owned 113,953 shares in the company, valued at approximately C$1,989,619.38. This trade represents a 4.20% decrease in their position. Company insiders own 0.21% of the company’s stock.

TransAlta Company Profile

TransAlta owns, operates and develops a diverse fleet of electrical power generation assets in Canada, the United States and Australia with a focus on long-term shareholder value. TransAlta provides municipalities, medium and large industries, businesses and utility customers with affordable, energy efficient and reliable power. Today, TransAlta is one of Canada’s largest producers of wind power and Alberta’s largest producer of thermal generation and hydro-electric power. For over 114 years, TransAlta has been a responsible operator and a proud member of the communities where we operate and where our employees work and live.