Maple Leaf Foods Inc. (TSE:MFI) Stock Has Consensus Price Target of C$35.33 According to Analysts

Key Points

• Analysts remain bullish: All 11 brokerages covering Maple Leaf Foods rate it Buy or Strong Buy, with an average 12-month price target of C$35.33 versus a recent share price of C$26.29.
• Several analysts recently lowered their targets to the C$36–C$37 range but maintained positive ratings. Director Andrew Gordon Macdonald also purchased 10,000 shares for approximately C$267,800.
• Maple Leaf Foods reported quarterly revenue of C$1.02 billion and EPS of C$0.44, while its quarterly dividend of C$0.21 per share equates to an annualized yield of about 3.2%.

Shares of Maple Leaf Foods Inc. (TSE:MFI - Get Free Report) have received an average recommendation of "Buy" from the eleven brokerages that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a buy recommendation and one has issued a strong buy recommendation on the company. The average twelve-month target price among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is C$35.33.

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Ventum Financial decreased their target price on shares of Maple Leaf Foods from C$39.00 to C$37.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, August 13th. Canaccord Genuity Group dropped their price target on shares of Maple Leaf Foods from C$39.00 to C$37.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, August 13th. Stifel Nicolaus set a C$36.00 price target on shares of Maple Leaf Foods and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 9th. Desjardins reduced their price target on shares of Maple Leaf Foods from C$39.00 to C$36.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, October 7th. Finally, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce set a C$36.00 price objective on shares of Maple Leaf Foods and gave the company an "outperformer" rating in a report on Monday, July 27th.

Insider Transactions at Maple Leaf Foods

In other news, Director Andrew Gordon Macdonald purchased 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 4th. The shares were bought at an average cost of C$26.78 per share, for a total transaction of C$267,800.00. Following the transaction, the director owned 72,200 shares in the company, valued at C$1,933,516. This trade represents a 16.08% increase in their ownership of the stock. Insiders own 39.87% of the company's stock.

Maple Leaf Foods Stock Down 1.0%

Shares of Maple Leaf Foods stock opened at C$26.29 on Friday. The business's fifty day moving average price is C$26.02 and its two-hundred day moving average price is C$28.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 97.47, a current ratio of 1.56 and a quick ratio of 0.54. The company has a market capitalization of C$3.28 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.46, a PEG ratio of 18.07 and a beta of 0.26. Maple Leaf Foods has a 1-year low of C$23.35 and a 1-year high of C$31.87.

Maple Leaf Foods (TSE:MFI - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 12th. The company reported C$0.44 EPS for the quarter. Maple Leaf Foods had a return on equity of 36.83% and a net margin of 13.08%. The company had revenue of C$1.02 billion for the quarter. As a group, research analysts forecast that Maple Leaf Foods will post 1.43 EPS for the current year.

Maple Leaf Foods Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 29th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 29th were paid a dividend of $0.21 per share. This represents a $0.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, September 8th. Maple Leaf Foods's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 20.88%.

About Maple Leaf Foods

Maple Leaf Foods TSX: MFI is a purpose-driven, protein-focused, brand-led consumer packaged goods company headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario. It proudly produces responsibly made, delicious food under powerhouse brands that include Maple Leaf, Maple Leaf Prime, Maple Leaf Natural Selections, Maple Leaf Mighty Protein, Musafir, Schneiders, Mina Halal, Greenfield Natural Meat Co, LightLife, Field Roast, and Yves Veggie Cuisine. Committed to Raising the Good in Food and bringing customers protein with purpose, Maple Leaf Foods delivers shared value for all its stakeholders by leading the way in safety and sustainability, building loved brands, operating with excellence, developing extraordinary talent, and broadening its impact through innovation and geographic reach.

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