Saputo (TSE:SAP) Stock Passes Above Two Hundred Day Moving Average - Should You Sell?

Key Points

• Saputo shares briefly moved above their 200-day moving average of C$41.67, reaching C$41.68 before closing at C$40.93. The stock was down 0.8% in the session.
• Analysts maintain a generally positive outlook, with a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of C$47.18, compared with the recent price near C$41. Several firms raised targets, although Jefferies downgraded the stock to “hold.”
• Saputo pays a quarterly dividend of C$0.20 per share, equal to an annualized C$0.80 and a 2.0% yield. Insiders sold 155,766 shares worth approximately C$6.53 million over the last quarter.

Saputo Inc. (TSE:SAP - Get Free Report) crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of C$41.67 and traded as high as C$41.68. Saputo shares last traded at C$40.93, with a volume of 492,313 shares trading hands.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have recently commented on SAP shares. National Bank Financial lifted their target price on Saputo from C$44.00 to C$45.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a research report on Monday, August 10th. Ventum Capital upped their price target on Saputo from C$47.00 to C$48.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, June 8th. Jefferies Financial Group cut Saputo from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, July 24th. TD Securities raised shares of Saputo to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Monday, June 22nd. Finally, TD boosted their target price on shares of Saputo from C$51.00 to C$53.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, August 10th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have assigned a Buy rating and three have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Saputo currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of C$47.18.

Saputo Stock Down 0.8%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 41.86, a current ratio of 1.51 and a quick ratio of 0.67. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is C$41.24 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$41.67. The stock has a market cap of C$16.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.01, a PEG ratio of 0.56 and a beta of 0.15.

Saputo (TSE:SAP - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, August 6th. The company reported C$0.01 EPS for the quarter. The company had revenue of C$4.42 billion during the quarter. Saputo had a return on equity of 7.45% and a net margin of 2.80%. On average, research analysts anticipate that Saputo Inc. will post 1.7735369 earnings per share for the current year.

Saputo Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, June 25th. Investors of record on Thursday, June 25th were given a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, June 16th. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.0%. Saputo's payout ratio is currently 64.52%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Saputo news, insider Leanne Cutts sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, June 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$41.73, for a total value of C$417,300.00. Following the sale, the insider directly owned 23,790 shares of the company's stock, valued at C$992,756.70. This trade represents a 29.59% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Also, insider Martin Gagnon sold 26,806 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$41.78, for a total value of C$1,119,954.68. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 31,362 shares in the company, valued at C$1,310,304.36. The trade was a 46.08% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 155,766 shares of company stock worth $6,525,571. 40.45% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Saputo Company Profile

Saputo, one of the top ten dairy processors in the world, produces, markets, and distributes a wide array of dairy products of the utmost quality, including cheese, fluid milk, extended shelf-life milk and cream products, cultured products, and dairy ingredients. Saputo is a leading cheese manufacturer and fluid milk and cream processor in Canada and a leading dairy processor in Australia. In the USA, Saputo ranks among the top three cheese producers and is one of the top producers of extended shelf-life and cultured dairy products.

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