Loblaw Companies (TSE:L) Insider Sells C$1,535,409.28 in Stock

Loblaw Companies Limited (TSE:L) insider Mark William Henry Wilson sold 24,496 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, September 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$62.68, for a total value of C$1,535,409.28.

Loblaw Companies Trading Up 1.4%

Shares of TSE L traded up C$0.87 during trading on Friday, hitting C$63.31. 1,346,815 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,340,454. The company has a fifty day moving average price of C$63.25 and a 200-day moving average price of C$63.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 151.15, a quick ratio of 0.68 and a current ratio of 1.06. The firm has a market capitalization of C$73.16 billion, a PE ratio of 26.83, a P/E/G ratio of 3.23 and a beta of 0.06. Loblaw Companies Limited has a 12-month low of C$52.92 and a 12-month high of C$69.59.

Loblaw Companies (TSE:L) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 30th. The company reported C$0.66 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Loblaw Companies had a net margin of 4.32% and a return on equity of 25.25%. The firm had revenue of C$15.05 billion during the quarter. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Loblaw Companies Limited will post 9.1225541 EPS for the current year.

Loblaw Companies Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 1st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, October 1st will be paid a $0.1552 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 15th. This represents a $0.62 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.0%. Loblaw Companies’s dividend payout ratio is 24.51%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have recently commented on the stock. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on shares of Loblaw Companies from C$70.00 to C$73.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, July 31st. National Bank Financial increased their price objective on Loblaw Companies from C$67.00 to C$70.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, July 31st. TD Securities upgraded Loblaw Companies to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 29th. Desjardins lifted their target price on Loblaw Companies from C$70.00 to C$72.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, July 31st. Finally, Scotia upped their price target on Loblaw Companies from C$64.00 to C$67.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Friday, July 31st. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have issued a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of C$71.00.

About Loblaw Companies

Loblaw is Canada’s food and pharmacy leader, and the nation’s largest retailer. Loblaw provides Canadians with grocery, pharmacy, health and beauty, apparel, general merchandise, financial services and wireless mobile products and services. With more than 2,800 corporate franchised and Associate-owned locations, Loblaw, its franchisees and Associate-owners employ more than 220,000 full- and part-time employees, making it one of Canada’s largest private sector employers. Loblaw’s purpose – Live Life Well® – puts first the needs and well-being of Canadians who make one billion transactions annually in the company’s stores.