Metro (TSE:MRU) Insider Sells C$236,777.50 in Stock

Key Points

• Insider sale: Simon Rivet sold 2,650 Metro shares for approximately C$236,778 at an average price of C$89.35, reducing his ownership by 11.58% to 20,225 shares.
• Financial and dividend highlights: Metro reported quarterly revenue of C$6.97 billion and EPS of C$1.24. The company declared a quarterly dividend of C$0.4075 per share, representing a 1.8% yield and a 36.94% payout ratio.
• Analyst outlook: Metro has a consensus “Hold” rating from analysts, with a consensus price target of C$102.33 versus the reported share price of C$90.10.

Metro Inc. (TSE:MRU - Get Free Report) insider Simon Rivet sold 2,650 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated 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 completion of the transaction, the insider owned 20,225 shares in the company, valued at approximately C$1,807,103.75. The trade was a 11.58% decrease in their ownership of the stock.

Metro Price Performance

MRU stock remained flat at C$90.10 during trading on Wednesday. 273,910 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 536,508. Metro Inc. has a 52 week low of C$86.63 and a 52 week high of C$101.30. The firm has a 50-day moving average of C$91.03 and a 200 day moving average of C$92.12. The stock has a market cap of C$18.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.40, a P/E/G ratio of 4.06 and a beta of 0.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 71.09, a current ratio of 1.43 and a quick ratio of 0.41.

Metro (TSE:MRU - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, August 12th. The company reported C$1.24 EPS for the quarter. Metro had a net margin of 4.00% and a return on equity of 12.87%. The business had revenue of C$6.97 billion for the quarter. Sell-side analysts forecast that Metro Inc. will post 4.8188614 earnings per share for the current year.

Metro Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 22nd. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 22nd will be issued a dividend of $0.4075 per share. This represents a $1.63 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.8%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 3rd. Metro's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 36.94%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on MRU shares. TD Securities upgraded Metro to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 29th. BMO Capital Markets downgraded Metro from an "outperform" rating to a "hold" rating and decreased their price objective for the company from C$105.00 to C$95.00 in a report on Monday, July 20th. TD upped their price objective on shares of Metro from C$106.00 to C$108.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, August 13th. Royal Bank Of Canada dropped their target price on shares of Metro from C$111.00 to C$110.00 and set a "sector perform" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, August 13th. Finally, National Bank Financial reduced their price target on shares of 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. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has given a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of C$102.33.

Metro Company Profile

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.

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