National Bankshares Increases Maple Leaf Foods (TSE:MFI) Price Target to C$36.00

Key Points

• National Bankshares raised the price target for Maple Leaf Foods from C$31.00 to C$36.00, indicating a potential upside of 8.37% from its current price.
• Multiple firms have upgraded their ratings for Maple Leaf Foods, with a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average target price of C$37.36.
• Maple Leaf Foods' market capitalization is approximately C$4.16 billion, with shares trading at C$33.22 after an increase of C$1.26 during midday trading.

Maple Leaf Foods (TSE:MFI - Free Report) had its price target boosted by National Bankshares from C$31.00 to C$36.00 in a research report report published on Friday,BayStreet.CA reports. They currently have an outperform rating on the stock.

A number of other analysts also recently commented on the company. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their target price on Maple Leaf Foods from C$36.50 to C$40.50 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday. TD Securities increased their price target on shares of Maple Leaf Foods from C$38.00 to C$41.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 15th. Stifel Canada upgraded shares of Maple Leaf Foods to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Monday, June 2nd. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price target on shares of Maple Leaf Foods from C$35.00 to C$38.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday. Finally, CIBC increased their price target on shares of Maple Leaf Foods from C$32.00 to C$38.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 16th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of C$37.36.

Maple Leaf Foods Price Performance

MFI traded up C$0.23 during trading on Friday, reaching C$33.60. 41,417 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 208,350. The business's 50 day moving average price is C$29.08 and its two-hundred day moving average price is C$26.04. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 130.19, a current ratio of 1.26 and a quick ratio of 0.54. The company has a market capitalization of C$4.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 124.00, a P/E/G ratio of 18.07 and a beta of 0.47. Maple Leaf Foods has a 1 year low of C$19.61 and a 1 year high of C$33.60.

Maple Leaf Foods Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, June 30th. Investors of record on Monday, June 30th were given a dividend of $0.24 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, June 6th. This represents a $0.96 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.9%. Maple Leaf Foods's dividend payout ratio is 324.76%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Senior Officer Olajumoke Fagbemi sold 3,600 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$26.33, for a total transaction of C$94,788.00. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 28 shares in the company, valued at approximately C$737.24. This represents a 99.23% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Company insiders own 39.87% of the company's stock.

About Maple Leaf Foods

Maple Leaf Foods Inc is a consumer-packaged meats company. It produces prepared meats and meals, fresh pork, and poultry and turkey products. The company also has agribusiness operations. These operations supply livestock to the meat products business operations. Its main markets are Canada, the United States, Japan, and China.