Loblaw Companies Limited (TSE:L) Given Consensus Rating of “Moderate Buy” by Analysts

Shares of Loblaw Companies Limited (TSE:L) have been assigned an average rating of “Moderate Buy” from the seven brokerages that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and five have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month price target among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is C$199.38.

A number of analysts have recently commented on L shares. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price objective on Loblaw Companies from C$205.00 to C$217.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, December 9th. TD Securities dropped their price target on shares of Loblaw Companies from C$202.00 to C$195.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 21st. UBS Group cut their price target on shares of Loblaw Companies from C$225.00 to C$210.00 in a report on Friday, February 21st. Scotiabank cut shares of Loblaw Companies from an “outperform” rating to a “sector perform” rating and set a C$200.00 price objective on the stock. in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. Finally, CIBC increased their target price on shares of Loblaw Companies from C$206.00 to C$208.00 in a research note on Friday, February 21st.

Insider Transactions at Loblaw Companies

In related news, Senior Officer Kieran Barry Columb sold 11,309 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of C$186.55, for a total value of C$2,109,706.39. Also, Director Richard Dufresne sold 25,783 shares of Loblaw Companies stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of C$186.55, for a total value of C$4,809,847.01. Insiders have sold a total of 141,456 shares of company stock valued at $25,966,244 over the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 53.77% of the company’s stock.

Loblaw Companies Price Performance

TSE L opened at C$198.30 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of C$59.96 billion, a PE ratio of 26.92, a P/E/G ratio of 3.23 and a beta of 0.17. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 166.11, a current ratio of 1.29 and a quick ratio of 0.68. Loblaw Companies has a 12 month low of C$145.80 and a 12 month high of C$198.80. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is C$185.01 and its 200 day simple moving average is C$183.01.

Loblaw Companies Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 1st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, April 1st will be paid a dividend of $0.513 per share. This represents a $2.05 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.03%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 14th. Loblaw Companies’s dividend payout ratio is presently 27.83%.

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.