Metro (TSE:MRU) Hits New 1-Year High Following Analyst Upgrade

Metro Inc. (TSE:MRU - Get Free Report)'s share price hit a new 52-week high on Monday after TD Securities raised their price target on the stock from C$99.00 to C$112.00. TD Securities currently has a buy rating on the stock. Metro traded as high as C$103.79 and last traded at C$103.76, with a volume of 312826 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$102.08.

MRU has been the topic of a number of other research reports. National Bankshares boosted their target price on shares of Metro from C$102.00 to C$107.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a research report on Thursday, April 17th. UBS Group increased their target price on shares of Metro from C$99.00 to C$105.00 in a research note on Thursday, April 17th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on Metro from C$90.00 to C$98.00 in a research note on Monday, April 14th. Scotiabank upped their price target on Metro from C$100.00 to C$110.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Thursday, April 17th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on Metro from C$96.00 to C$110.00 in a report on Friday, April 4th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Metro presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of C$104.22.

Metro Trading Up 0.3 %

The company has a market capitalization of C$22.73 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.72, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.06 and a beta of 0.08. The company has a quick ratio of 0.41, a current ratio of 1.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 62.29. The company's fifty day simple moving average is C$97.33 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is C$92.00.

Metro Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 11th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 11th were paid a $0.37 dividend. This represents a $1.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.44%. This is a boost from Metro's previous quarterly dividend of $0.34. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 13th. Metro's payout ratio is presently 30.93%.

Metro Company Profile

Metro Inc, through its subsidiaries, operates as a retailer, franchisor, distributor, and manufacturer in the food and pharmaceutical sectors in Canada. The company operates supermarkets, discount, neighborhood, and specialty stores that provide fresh and grocery products, baked goods, prepared food products, meats, dairy products, fruits and vegetables, frozen food products, bakery products, delicatessen items, and pastries.