Loblaw Companies (TSE:L) Insider David Markwell Sells 56,240 Shares

Loblaw Companies Limited (TSE:L) insider David Markwell sold 56,240 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$62.07, for a total value of C$3,490,816.80.

Loblaw Companies Stock Up 0.9%

Shares of L traded up C$0.54 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting C$62.34. 538,076 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,339,555. The company has a market cap of C$72.04 billion, a PE ratio of 26.42, a P/E/G ratio of 3.23 and a beta of 0.06. Loblaw Companies Limited has a 52 week low of C$52.92 and a 52 week high of C$69.59. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of C$62.97 and a 200 day simple moving average of C$62.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 151.15, a current ratio of 1.06 and a quick ratio of 0.68.

Loblaw Companies (TSE:L) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 30th. The company reported C$0.66 EPS for the quarter. Loblaw Companies had a net margin of 4.32% and a return on equity of 25.25%. The business had revenue of C$15.05 billion for the quarter. On average, research analysts forecast that Loblaw Companies Limited will post 9.1225541 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Loblaw Companies Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 1st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, October 1st will be issued a $0.1552 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 15th. This represents a $0.62 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.0%. Loblaw Companies’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 24.51%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have weighed in on L shares. BMO Capital Markets raised their price target on Loblaw Companies from C$70.00 to C$73.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, July 31st. TD Securities raised Loblaw Companies to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 29th. TD set a C$75.00 target price on shares of Loblaw Companies and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, September 10th. National Bank Financial set a C$70.00 target price on shares of Loblaw Companies and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, September 10th. Finally, Scotia upped their price target on shares of Loblaw Companies from C$64.00 to C$67.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Friday, July 31st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have given a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of C$71.44.

Loblaw Companies Company Profile

Loblaw is Canada’s food and pharmacy leader, and the nation’s largest retailer. Loblaw provides Canadians with grocery, pharmacy, health and beauty, apparel, general merchandise, financial services and wireless mobile products and services. With more than 2,800 corporate franchised and Associate-owned locations, Loblaw, its franchisees and Associate-owners employ more than 220,000 full- and part-time employees, making it one of Canada’s largest private sector employers. Loblaw’s purpose – Live Life Well® – puts first the needs and well-being of Canadians who make one billion transactions annually in the company’s stores.