Stifel Nicolaus Forecasts Strong Price Appreciation for Maple Leaf Foods (TSE:MFI) Stock

Key Points

• Stifel Nicolaus raised its target on Maple Leaf Foods to C$35 (from C$32) and keeps a "buy" rating, implying roughly a 21.65% upside from the prior close.
• Consensus is a "Moderate Buy" with an average analyst target of C$34.57 while the stock trades at C$28.77, though investors should weigh the company's high leverage (debt-to-equity ~100.37) and modest net margin (~4.22%).

Maple Leaf Foods (TSE:MFI - Get Free Report) had its target price lifted by equities researchers at Stifel Nicolaus from C$32.00 to C$35.00 in a research note issued to investors on Friday,BayStreet.CA reports. The firm presently has a "buy" rating on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus' target price indicates a potential upside of 21.65% from the stock's previous close.

Several other brokerages have also recently issued reports on MFI. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price objective on Maple Leaf Foods from C$35.00 to C$33.00 in a report on Thursday, November 6th. Royal Bank Of Canada set a C$33.00 price target on shares of Maple Leaf Foods and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Thursday, November 27th. TD Securities reduced their price objective on Maple Leaf Foods from C$43.00 to C$42.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, November 6th. Finally, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce dropped their target price on Maple Leaf Foods from C$36.00 to C$35.00 in a report on Thursday, November 6th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Maple Leaf Foods has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of C$34.57.

Maple Leaf Foods Price Performance

Shares of Maple Leaf Foods stock traded up C$0.46 on Friday, hitting C$28.77. 201,491 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 295,262. Maple Leaf Foods has a 52 week low of C$22.57 and a 52 week high of C$36.35. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of C$26.29 and a 200 day simple moving average of C$28.39. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 100.37, a quick ratio of 0.54 and a current ratio of 1.47. The stock has a market capitalization of C$3.59 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 18.07 and a beta of 0.75.

Maple Leaf Foods (TSE:MFI - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, March 5th. The company reported C$0.32 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Maple Leaf Foods had a net margin of 4.22% and a return on equity of 12.88%. The company had revenue of C$991.24 million for the quarter. Research analysts expect that Maple Leaf Foods will post 1.4334187 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

About Maple Leaf Foods

Maple Leaf Foods Inc is a consumer-packaged meats company. It produces prepared meats and meals, fresh pork, and poultry and turkey products. The company also has agribusiness operations. These operations supply livestock to the meat products business operations. Its main markets are Canada, the United States, Japan, and China. The key brands are Maple Leaf and Schneiders, Maple Leaf Prime Naturally, Shopsy, Mitchell's Gourmet Food, Larse, Parm, and Hygrade.

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