Metro (TSE:MRU) Insider Genevi�Ve Bich Sells 4,418 Shares

Metro Inc. (TSE:MRU) insider Genevi�Ve Bich sold 4,418 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, January 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$91.13, for a total transaction of C$402,612.34. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 35,677 shares of the company’s stock, valued at C$3,251,245.01. The trade was a 11.02% decrease in their position.

Metro Stock Performance

TSE:MRU opened at C$90.39 on Friday. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is C$98.30 and its 200 day simple moving average is C$98.05. The company has a current ratio of 1.35, a quick ratio of 0.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 62.29. Metro Inc. has a twelve month low of C$89.13 and a twelve month high of C$109.20. The firm has a market capitalization of C$19.27 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.52, a PEG ratio of 4.06 and a beta of 0.11.

Metro (TSE:MRU) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 27th. The company reported C$1.16 EPS for the quarter. The company had revenue of C$5.29 billion for the quarter. Metro had a return on equity of 13.80% and a net margin of 4.50%. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Metro Inc. will post 4.8188614 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have issued reports on the stock. BMO Capital Markets lowered their price objective on shares of Metro from C$115.00 to C$110.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday. Scotiabank decreased their target price on shares of Metro from C$110.00 to C$103.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday. TD Securities lowered their price target on shares of Metro from C$118.00 to C$113.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday. CIBC cut their price objective on shares of Metro from C$105.00 to C$101.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday. Finally, National Bankshares decreased their price objective on shares of Metro from C$107.00 to C$106.00 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of C$106.25.

Key Headlines Impacting Metro

Here are the key news stories impacting Metro this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Analysts and commentators highlight restored operations, dividend growth and valuation as reasons the pullback could be a buying opportunity, which may support the stock longer term. Metro Restores Operations As Dividend Growth And Valuation Draw Focus
• Positive Sentiment: Seeking Alpha calls the recent dip a repeat of last year’s buying opportunity, arguing valuation/earnings visibility could attract value-oriented investors. Metro: Repeats Last Year’s Buying Opportunity
• Neutral Sentiment: Coverage assessing MRU’s valuation after recent share weakness provides context for longer-term expectations but does not offer a clear catalyst. Assessing Metro (TSX:MRU) Valuation After Recent Share Price Weakness
• Negative Sentiment: TD Securities cut its price target to C$113 — part of the near-term analyst downdraft pressuring the stock. TD Securities Cuts Metro (TSE:MRU) Price Target to C$113.00
• Negative Sentiment: BMO Capital Markets lowered its target to C$110, adding to sell-side downward revisions. BMO Capital Markets Cuts Metro (TSE:MRU) Price Target to C$110.00
• Negative Sentiment: Scotiabank trimmed its target to C$103, increasing analyst-driven selling pressure. Scotiabank Cuts Metro (TSE:MRU) Price Target to C$103.00
• Negative Sentiment: CIBC cut its price target to C$101, reinforcing the consensus of lower near-term estimates. CIBC Cuts Metro (TSE:MRU) Price Target to C$101.00
• Negative Sentiment: Desjardins lowered its target to C$99, the most conservative of the recent cuts and another immediate headwind. Desjardins Cuts Metro (TSE:MRU) Price Target to C$99.00
• Negative Sentiment: Two insiders sold shares last week (Geneviève Bich sold 4,418 shares at ~C$91.13; Richard Pruneau sold 2,018 shares at ~C$90.87), which can be interpreted as a near-term negative signal for sentiment.

Metro Company Profile

Metro is one of the largest grocery retailers in Canada. With its 2018 acquisition of Jean Coutu, it also boasts a meaningful drugstore footprint. Noteworthy grocery banners include Metro, Metro Plus, Super C, and Food Basics, while its pharmacies primarily operate under the Jean Coutu and Brunet trademarks. It utilizes an array of business models, but it most frequently acts as either a retailer, operating individual stores, or a franchiser, licensing its trademarks and supplying merchandise to franchisees.