David Markwell Sells 56,240 Shares of Loblaw Companies (TSE:L) Stock

Loblaw Companies Limited (TSE:L) insider David Markwell sold 56,240 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$62.07, for a total value of C$3,490,816.80.

Loblaw Companies Stock Performance

L stock traded up C$0.54 during midday trading on Monday, reaching C$62.34. 538,076 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,339,555. Loblaw Companies Limited has a one year low of C$52.92 and a one year high of C$69.59. The firm has a market capitalization of C$72.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.23 and a beta of 0.06. The business has a 50-day moving average price of C$62.97 and a two-hundred day moving average price of C$62.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 151.15, a current ratio of 1.06 and a quick ratio of 0.68.

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

Loblaw Companies Dividend Announcement

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

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. TD set a C$75.00 price objective on Loblaw Companies and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, September 10th. National Bank Financial set a C$70.00 target price on Loblaw Companies and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, September 10th. Scotia lifted their price target on Loblaw Companies from C$64.00 to C$67.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a report on Friday, July 31st. TD Securities upgraded Loblaw Companies to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 29th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets upped their price objective on Loblaw Companies from C$70.00 to C$73.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, July 31st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have assigned a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of C$71.44.

Loblaw Companies Company Profile

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.