Loblaw Companies (TSE:L) Insider Sells C$321,590.40 in Stock

Loblaw Companies Limited (TSE:L) insider Melanie Singh sold 4,820 shares of Loblaw Companies stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$66.72, for a total transaction of C$321,590.40.

Loblaw Companies Stock Up 0.4%

L opened at C$64.88 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 153.41, a quick ratio of 0.68 and a current ratio of 1.09. Loblaw Companies Limited has a fifty-two week low of C$52.92 and a fifty-two week high of C$69.59. The firm’s fifty day moving average is C$62.42 and its 200 day moving average is C$62.95. The stock has a market cap of C$75.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.23 and a beta of 0.15.

Loblaw Companies (TSE:L) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 6th. The company reported C$0.52 EPS for the quarter. The business had revenue of C$14.48 billion for the quarter. Loblaw Companies had a net margin of 4.29% and a return on equity of 24.88%. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Loblaw Companies Limited will post 9.1225541 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Loblaw Companies Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 1st. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, July 1st will be given a dividend of $0.1552 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, June 15th. This represents a $0.62 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.0%. This is a positive change from Loblaw Companies’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.14. Loblaw Companies’s dividend payout ratio is currently 24.53%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

L has been the topic of several analyst reports. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on shares of Loblaw Companies from C$63.00 to C$68.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a report on Monday, February 23rd. Scotia cut their price target on shares of Loblaw Companies from C$70.00 to C$64.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, May 7th. Desjardins upped their price target on shares of Loblaw Companies from C$67.00 to C$70.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 26th. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce cut their price target on shares of Loblaw Companies from C$75.00 to C$69.00 in a report on Thursday, May 7th. Finally, TD Securities upped their price target on shares of Loblaw Companies from C$65.00 to C$75.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, February 23rd. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of C$69.25.

Loblaw Companies Company Profile

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. The firm carries a robust private-label assortment, with top sellers like President’s Choice and No Name. In addition to its retail operations, Loblaw oversees a financial-services business, which provides credit card services and guaranteed investment certificates, and also operates its PC Optimum loyalty program.