Loblaw Companies (TSE:L) Stock Price Passes Above Two Hundred Day Moving Average - Should You Sell?

Loblaw Companies Limited (TSE:L - Get Free Report)'s stock price crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of C$204.16 and traded as high as C$221.00. Loblaw Companies shares last traded at C$220.84, with a volume of 297,445 shares.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have weighed in on L. TD Securities upped their price target on Loblaw Companies from C$195.00 to C$245.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, May 1st. CIBC upped their price target on Loblaw Companies from C$208.00 to C$234.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Thursday, May 1st. National Bankshares upped their price objective on Loblaw Companies from C$234.00 to C$235.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 9th. BMO Capital Markets upped their price objective on Loblaw Companies from C$200.00 to C$220.00 in a research note on Thursday, May 1st. Finally, Scotiabank upped their price objective on Loblaw Companies from C$215.00 to C$245.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, May 1st. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Loblaw Companies currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of C$237.00.

Loblaw Companies Price Performance

The stock has a 50 day moving average price of C$223.40 and a two-hundred day moving average price of C$204.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 166.11, a quick ratio of 0.68 and a current ratio of 1.29. The company has a market capitalization of C$66.77 billion, a PE ratio of 29.98, a P/E/G ratio of 3.23 and a beta of 0.17.

Loblaw Companies Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, July 1st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, July 1st were issued a $0.5643 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, June 13th. This represents a $2.26 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.02%. This is a positive change from Loblaw Companies's previous quarterly dividend of $0.51. Loblaw Companies's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 27.83%.

Insider Transactions at Loblaw Companies

In other Loblaw Companies news, Senior Officer Kieran Barry Columb sold 500 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$213.87, for a total value of C$106,932.55. Also, Senior Officer Frank Gambioli sold 1,304 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$213.87, for a total value of C$278,880.09. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 27,328 shares of company stock worth $6,132,567. Insiders own 53.77% of the company's stock.

About Loblaw Companies

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.