National Bank Financial Issues Pessimistic Forecast for Metro (TSE:MRU) Stock Price

Key Points

• National Bank Financial lowered Metro’s price target from C$105 to C$102 while maintaining a “sector perform” rating, implying approximately 13.85% upside from the current price.
• Analyst sentiment remains cautious: Metro has a consensus “Hold” rating and an average price target of C$102.33, with several firms recently cutting targets and BMO downgrading the stock to “Hold.”
• Metro shares traded at C$89.59, near the lower end of their 12-month range of C$86.63 to C$102.71. The company most recently reported quarterly revenue of C$6.97 billion and EPS of C$1.24.

Metro (TSE:MRU - Get Free Report) had its price objective dropped by National Bank Financial from C$105.00 to C$102.00 in a research note issued to investors on Thursday,BayStreet.CA reports. The brokerage currently has a "sector perform" rating on the stock. National Bank Financial's price target would suggest a potential upside of 13.85% from the company's current price.

A number of other analysts have also recently weighed in on MRU. Desjardins reduced their target price on shares of Metro from C$99.00 to C$97.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 23rd. Scotia dropped their price target on Metro from C$103.00 to C$96.00 and set a "sector perform" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 23rd. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce cut their price objective on Metro from C$101.00 to C$97.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 23rd. TD Securities raised Metro to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 29th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets cut Metro from an "outperform" rating to a "hold" rating and decreased their target price for the stock from C$105.00 to C$95.00 in a report on Monday, July 20th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, one has issued a Buy rating and seven have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of C$102.33.

Metro Price Performance

Metro stock traded down C$0.39 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting C$89.59. The company's stock had a trading volume of 222,575 shares, compared to its average volume of 532,578. Metro has a 12 month low of C$86.63 and a 12 month high of C$102.71. The company has a quick ratio of 0.41, a current ratio of 1.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 69.30. The stock's 50-day moving average price is C$92.23 and its 200-day moving average price is C$92.91. The company has a market capitalization of C$18.90 billion, a PE ratio of 19.10, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.06 and a beta of 0.18.

Metro (TSE:MRU - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 12th. The company reported C$1.24 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Metro had a net margin of 4.52% and a return on equity of 14.38%. The company had revenue of C$6.97 billion for the quarter. Analysts anticipate that Metro will post 4.8188614 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

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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