Loblaw Companies (TSE:L) Price Target Increased to C$148.27 by Analysts at Scotiabank

Loblaw Companies (TSE:L - Free Report) had its price target increased by Scotiabank from C$146.00 to C$148.27 in a research report released on Monday, BayStreet.CA reports. The brokerage currently has a sector perform rating on the stock.

Other analysts also recently issued reports about the company. BMO Capital Markets raised their price objective on Loblaw Companies from C$130.00 to C$145.00 in a research report on Friday, February 23rd. CIBC reduced their price target on shares of Loblaw Companies from C$150.00 to C$149.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 23rd. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price objective on shares of Loblaw Companies from C$170.00 to C$172.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, January 24th. Desjardins lifted their target price on shares of Loblaw Companies from C$133.00 to C$148.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, February 23rd. Finally, National Bankshares upped their price target on Loblaw Companies from C$153.00 to C$156.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, April 15th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of C$154.04.

Loblaw Companies Price Performance

Shares of L stock traded up C$2.31 during trading hours on Monday, reaching C$150.58. The company had a trading volume of 340,922 shares, compared to its average volume of 376,057. Loblaw Companies has a 12-month low of C$110.52 and a 12-month high of C$154.70. The company has a market capitalization of C$46.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.10, a PEG ratio of 2.53 and a beta of 0.12. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 156.41, a quick ratio of 0.68 and a current ratio of 1.25. The stock has a fifty day moving average of C$146.61 and a 200-day moving average of C$131.68.

Loblaw Companies (TSE:L - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 22nd. The company reported C$2.00 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of C$1.92 by C$0.08. Loblaw Companies had a net margin of 3.53% and a return on equity of 18.96%. The firm had revenue of C$14.53 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of C$14.58 billion. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Loblaw Companies will post 8.4881297 earnings per share for the current year.

Loblaw Companies Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, April 1st were issued a dividend of $0.446 per share. This represents a $1.78 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.18%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 14th. Loblaw Companies's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 27.30%.

Insider Transactions at Loblaw Companies

In other news, Senior Officer Frank Gambioli sold 4,603 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of C$144.00, for a total value of C$662,832.00. In other Loblaw Companies news, Senior Officer Frank Gambioli sold 4,603 shares of Loblaw Companies stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of C$144.00, for a total transaction of C$662,832.00. Also, Senior Officer Kieran Barry Columb sold 6,955 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$145.84, for a total transaction of C$1,014,322.76. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 71,495 shares of company stock valued at $10,547,163. Corporate insiders own 52.69% of the company's stock.

About Loblaw Companies

Loblaw Companies Limited, a food and pharmacy company, provides grocery, pharmacy and healthcare services, health and beauty products, apparels, general merchandise, financial services, and wireless mobile products and services in Canada. It operates in two segments, Retail and Financial Services. The Retail segment operates corporate and franchise-owned retail food, and associate-owned drug stores.