North West (TSE:NWC) Shares Pass Above 200 Day Moving Average - Time to Sell?

Key Points

• North West Company Inc. (TSE:NWC) shares have surpassed their 200-day moving average, reaching a high of C$51.93 during trading.
• Royal Bank of Canada has set a target price of C$60.00 for North West, which is supported by multiple "Buy" ratings from analysts.
• The company recently increased its quarterly dividend to $0.53 per share, reflecting a 4.1% yield with a payout ratio of 58.83%.

The North West Company Inc. (TSE:NWC - Get Free Report)'s stock price passed above its two hundred day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of C$50.27 and traded as high as C$51.93. North West shares last traded at C$51.46, with a volume of 99,707 shares changing hands.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, Royal Bank Of Canada set a C$60.00 target price on North West and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, July 28th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and four have issued a Buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, North West presently has an average rating of "Buy" and an average price target of C$60.75.

North West Stock Up 0.5%

The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of C$48.54 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$50.37. The company has a market capitalization of C$2.43 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.55, a P/E/G ratio of 1.11 and a beta of 0.64. The company has a quick ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 2.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 59.78.

North West Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, July 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, July 15th were issued a $0.53 dividend. This represents a $2.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.2%. This is an increase from North West's previous quarterly dividend of $0.40. The ex-dividend date was Friday, June 27th. North West's dividend payout ratio is currently 58.83%.

Insider Activity

In other North West news, Senior Officer Vineet Gupta purchased 2,200 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 17th. The stock was bought at an average cost of C$49.95 per share, for a total transaction of C$109,890.00. 0.12% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

About North West

The North West Co Inc is a Canada-based company that is principally engaged in retail business in underserved rural communities and urban neighborhoods. The company provides food, family apparel, housewares, appliances, and outdoor products, with food products accounting for the majority of the company's revenue.