National Bank of Canada (TSE:NA) Cut to Hold at Jefferies Financial Group

Jefferies Financial Group cut shares of National Bank of Canada (TSE:NA - Free Report) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report released on Monday morning,BayStreet.CA reports. They currently have C$126.00 target price on the financial services provider's stock, down from their prior target price of C$147.00.

A number of other research firms have also issued reports on NA. Cibc World Mkts lowered shares of National Bank of Canada from a "hold" rating to a "strong sell" rating in a research report on Friday, April 4th. BMO Capital Markets decreased their target price on shares of National Bank of Canada from C$143.00 to C$135.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, February 27th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price target on National Bank of Canada from C$145.00 to C$144.00 and set a "sector perform" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, February 27th. Scotiabank decreased their target price on shares of National Bank of Canada from C$154.00 to C$125.00 and set a "sector perform" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, February 20th. Finally, TD Securities lowered their price target on shares of National Bank of Canada from C$135.00 to C$131.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, March 5th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of C$133.10.

National Bank of Canada Price Performance

NA traded up C$0.25 on Monday, reaching C$118.73. 1,767,309 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,015,684. The company's 50-day moving average price is C$117.44 and its 200 day moving average price is C$126.90. The firm has a market capitalization of C$46.29 billion, a PE ratio of 10.53, a PEG ratio of 7.14 and a beta of 1.12. National Bank of Canada has a fifty-two week low of C$105.43 and a fifty-two week high of C$141.15.

National Bank of Canada Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, May 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 31st will be given a $1.14 dividend. This represents a $4.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.84%. National Bank of Canada's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 39.03%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other National Bank of Canada news, Director Lynn Loewen bought 1,000 shares of National Bank of Canada stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 17th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of C$117.93 per share, for a total transaction of C$117,930.00. Also, Director Yvon Charest purchased 334 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 19th. The shares were acquired at an average price of C$125.90 per share, for a total transaction of C$42,050.60. Insiders purchased a total of 13,673 shares of company stock worth $1,629,603 in the last 90 days. Insiders own 0.21% of the company's stock.

About National Bank of Canada

National Bank of Canada provides financial services to individuals, businesses, institutional clients, and governments in Canada and internationally. It operates through four segments: Personal and Commercial, Wealth Management, Financial Markets, and U.S. Specialty Finance and International. The Personal and Commercial segment offers personal banking services, including transaction solutions, mortgage loans and home equity lines of credit, consumer loans, payment solutions, and savings and investment solutions; various insurance products; and commercial banking services, such as credit, and deposit, investment solutions, international trade, foreign exchange transactions, payroll, cash management, insurance, electronic transactions, and complimentary services.