Stantec (TSE:STN) Shares Cross Above 200 Day Moving Average - Should You Sell?

Key Points

• Stantec shares rose above their 200-day moving average of C$110.09, last trading at C$110.15 on Wednesday.
• Analyst sentiment remains positive: ten analysts rate the stock a Buy, with a consensus price target of C$143, though several firms recently lowered their targets.
• The company reported quarterly EPS of C$1.61 on C$2.23 billion in revenue and paid a quarterly dividend of $0.245 per share.

Stantec Inc. (TSE:STN - Get Free Report) NYSE: STN shares crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Wednesday. The stock has a 200-day moving average of C$110.09 and traded as high as C$111.07. Stantec shares last traded at C$110.15, with a volume of 655,035 shares traded.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on STN shares. Royal Bank Of Canada decreased their target price on shares of Stantec from C$148.00 to C$146.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, August 14th. Scotia cut their price target on shares of Stantec from C$133.00 to C$129.00 and set a "sector outperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, August 14th. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce reduced their price objective on shares of Stantec from C$160.00 to C$137.00 and set an "outperformer" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, July 8th. ATB Cormark Capital Markets increased their price objective on shares of Stantec from C$130.00 to C$133.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, August 14th. Finally, National Bank Financial decreased their price objective on Stantec from C$143.00 to C$120.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Monday, July 13th. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of C$143.00.

Stantec Price Performance

The company has a market capitalization of C$12.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.86, a P/E/G ratio of 1.46 and a beta of 0.79. The company has a 50 day moving average price of C$99.10 and a 200 day moving average price of C$110.09. The company has a current ratio of 1.50, a quick ratio of 1.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 80.98.

Stantec (TSE:STN - Get Free Report) NYSE: STN last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, August 12th. The company reported C$1.61 EPS for the quarter. Stantec had a return on equity of 15.26% and a net margin of 6.23%. The company had revenue of C$2.23 billion for the quarter.

Stantec Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, October 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, October 15th were given a dividend of $0.2450 per share. This represents a $0.98 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.9%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, September 29th. Stantec's dividend payout ratio is presently 21.22%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Susan Reisbord bought 2,068 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 24th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of C$102.59 per share, for a total transaction of C$212,156.12. Following the transaction, the director owned 8,253 shares in the company, valued at C$846,675.27. The trade was a 33.44% increase in their position. Also, Director Shelley Ann Marie Brown bought 393 shares of Stantec stock in a transaction dated Thursday, October 1st. The shares were bought at an average cost of C$95.91 per share, for a total transaction of C$37,692.63. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director owned 6,277 shares in the company, valued at C$602,027.07. This represents a 6.68% increase in their position. 0.27% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Stantec Company Profile

Stantec empowers clients, people, and communities to rise to the world's greatest challenges at a time when the world faces more unprecedented concerns than ever before. We are a global leader in sustainable engineering, architecture, and environmental consulting. Our professionals deliver the expertise, technology, and innovation communities need to manage aging infrastructure, demographic and population changes, the energy transition, and more. Today's communities transcend geographic borders.

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