EQB Inc. (TSE:EQB) Given Consensus Recommendation of “Hold” by Analysts

EQB Inc. (TSE:EQB) has been assigned a consensus recommendation of “Hold” from the ten research firms that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat reports. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price objective among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is C$117.44.

EQB has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Veritas raised EQB to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, December 1st. Scotiabank increased their target price on EQB from C$105.00 to C$122.00 in a report on Friday. TD Securities decreased their price target on EQB from C$138.00 to C$132.00 in a research note on Thursday. National Bank Financial boosted their price objective on EQB from C$111.00 to C$120.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Thursday. Finally, Raymond James Financial dropped their price objective on EQB from C$93.00 to C$91.00 in a research note on Friday, December 5th.

EQB Stock Performance

Shares of EQB opened at C$115.32 on Monday. EQB has a fifty-two week low of C$83.93 and a fifty-two week high of C$126.51. The firm has a market cap of C$4.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.34, a PEG ratio of 0.34 and a beta of 0.74. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of C$109.19 and a 200-day moving average price of C$98.27.

EQB (TSE:EQB) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, December 3rd. The company reported C$6.56 EPS for the quarter. EQB had a net margin of 13.04% and a return on equity of 8.52%. As a group, equities research analysts predict that EQB will post 12.5988235 earnings per share for the current year.

EQB Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, December 31st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, December 31st were given a dividend of $0.57 per share. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 15th. This is an increase from EQB’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.55. EQB’s dividend payout ratio is currently 31.28%.

EQB News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting EQB this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Scotiabank raised its price target on EQB from C$105.00 to C$122.00, signaling a renewed bullish view that implies upside from recent levels. Scotiabank raise
• Positive Sentiment: National Bank Financial lifted its target to C$120.00 and moved to a “sector perform” stance, reflecting a modestly more constructive view on near-term performance. National Bank target raise
• Neutral Sentiment: Coverage piece: “Is EQB Still Attractive After Mixed Recent Share Price Performance” examines valuation and fundamentals and weighs EQB’s earnings/ROE versus recent stock moves — useful context but not a direct catalyst. Is EQB still attractive
• Neutral Sentiment: Coverage piece: “Why The EQB Story Is Shifting With New ROE Expectations And Price Targets” summarizes analyst revisions to ROE forecasts and how those changes are driving updated targets — important for medium-term outlook but mixed in direction. ROE expectations shifting
• Negative Sentiment: TD Securities cut its price target on EQB from C$138.00 to C$132.00, a downward revision that reduces upside expectations despite the new target remaining above current trading levels. TD Securities cut

About EQB

EQB Inc formerly Equitable Group Inc trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange TSX: EQB and EQB.PR.C and serves over 360000 Canadians through its wholly owned subsidiary Equitable Bank Canadas Challenger Bank. Equitable Bank has grown to become the countrys eighth largest independent Schedule I bank with a clear mandate to drive real change in Canadian banking to enrich peoples lives. At Equitable Bank we are as invested in our employees as we are in our business. Thats why we are consistently recognized as one of Canadas Top Employers a rating that comes from our 1300+ employees.