Metro Inc. (MRU.TO) – What Are Investment Firms Thinking About This Stock?

Shares of Metro Inc. (TSE:MRU) have earned an average rating of “Hold” from the nine ratings firms that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation, two have issued a buy recommendation and one has issued a strong buy recommendation on the company. The average 1 year price objective among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is C$104.00.

A number of research analysts have commented on the stock. BMO Capital Markets cut shares of Metro from an “outperform” rating to a “hold” rating and decreased their target price for the company from C$105.00 to C$95.00 in a research report on Monday, July 20th. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce set a C$112.00 target price on Metro and gave the stock an “outperformer” rating in a research note on Thursday. TD Securities upgraded Metro to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 29th. National Bank Financial lowered their target price on Metro from C$105.00 to C$102.00 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, August 13th. Finally, TD lifted their target price on Metro from C$106.00 to C$108.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 13th.

Insider Activity

In related news, insider Simon Rivet sold 2,650 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, September 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$89.35, for a total transaction of C$236,777.50. Following the transaction, the insider owned 20,225 shares in the company, valued at C$1,807,103.75. This trade represents a 11.58% decrease in their position. Also, insider Alain Tadros sold 960 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$90.27, for a total value of C$86,659.20. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider owned 5,952 shares in the company, valued at C$537,287.04. This trade represents a 13.89% decrease in their position. Company insiders own 0.14% of the company’s stock.

Metro Trading Down 1.6%

Shares of Metro stock opened at C$96.33 on Friday. Metro has a 12-month low of C$86.63 and a 12-month high of C$101.30. The firm has a market capitalization of C$20.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.88, a PEG ratio of 4.06 and a beta of 0.12. The company has a current ratio of 1.43, a quick ratio of 0.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 71.09. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is C$90.82 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is C$91.20.

Metro (TSE:MRU) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 12th. The company reported C$1.24 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The company had revenue of C$6.97 billion during the quarter. Metro had a return on equity of 12.87% and a net margin of 4.00%. Analysts predict that Metro will post 4.82 EPS for the current year.

Metro Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, November 10th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, November 10th will be issued a dividend of $0.4075 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, October 22nd. This represents a $1.63 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.7%. Metro’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 36.94%.

About Metro

With annual sales of more than $22 billion, METRO Inc is a food and pharmacy leader in Québec and Ontario, providing employment to more than 97,000 people. Its purpose is to Nourish the health and well-being of our communities. As a retailer, franchisor, distributor, manufacturer, and provider of eCommerce services, the company operates or services a network of some 1,000 food stores under several banners including Metro, Metro Plus, Super C, Food Basics, Adonis and Première Moisson, and some 640 pharmacies primarily under the Jean Coutu, Brunet, Metro Pharmacy and Food Basics Pharmacy banners.