Loblaw Companies Limited (TSE:L) Receives C$92.63 Consensus PT from Analysts

Loblaw Companies Limited (TSE:L) has received an average rating of “Moderate Buy” from the seven brokerages that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold recommendation and six have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year price target among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is C$92.63.

L has been the subject of several recent research reports. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price target on Loblaw Companies from C$68.00 to C$72.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, January 23rd. Desjardins upped their target price on Loblaw Companies from C$67.00 to C$70.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, February 26th. Scotiabank increased their target price on shares of Loblaw Companies from C$68.00 to C$70.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 26th. National Bank Financial raised their price target on shares of Loblaw Companies from C$62.00 to C$66.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets boosted their price target on shares of Loblaw Companies from C$63.00 to C$68.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a research report on Monday, February 23rd.

Loblaw Companies Price Performance

Shares of TSE:L opened at C$63.14 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 227.92, a quick ratio of 0.68 and a current ratio of 1.08. Loblaw Companies has a 52 week low of C$45.47 and a 52 week high of C$69.59. The firm has a market cap of C$74.00 billion, a PE ratio of 28.44, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.23 and a beta of 0.29. The firm’s fifty day moving average is C$63.97 and its 200-day moving average is C$60.16.

Loblaw Companies (TSE:L) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 25th. The company reported C$0.67 earnings per share for the quarter. Loblaw Companies had a return on equity of 24.03% and a net margin of 4.17%. Sell-side analysts predict that Loblaw Companies will post 9.1225541 earnings per share for the current year.

Loblaw Companies Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 1st. Investors of record on Wednesday, April 1st will be issued a $0.1411 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 13th. This represents a $0.56 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.9%. Loblaw Companies’s payout ratio is presently 24.84%.

About Loblaw Companies

Loblaw is one of Canada’s largest grocery, pharmacy, and general merchandise retailers, operating the most expansive store footprint in Ontario and maintaining sizable presences in provinces like Quebec and British Columbia. Key grocery banners include Loblaw, No Frills, and Maxi, while its pharmaceutical operations are the product of its 2014 acquisition of Shoppers Drug Mart. The firm carries a robust private-label assortment, with top sellers like President’s Choice and No Name. In addition to its retail operations, Loblaw oversees a financial-services business, which provides credit card services and guaranteed investment certificates, and also operates its PC Optimum loyalty program.