Metro (TSE:MRU) Cut to Hold at BMO Capital Markets

BMO Capital Markets cut shares of Metro (TSE:MRU) from an outperform rating to a hold rating in a research report released on Monday morning, Marketbeat reports. They currently have C$95.00 target price on the stock, down from their prior target price of C$105.00.

A number of other research analysts have also issued reports on MRU. Scotia reduced their target price on shares of Metro from C$103.00 to C$96.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 23rd. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce lowered their price target on shares of Metro from C$101.00 to C$97.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 23rd. Scotiabank downgraded shares of Metro from an “outperform” rating to a “hold” rating and set a C$103.00 price objective on the stock. in a research note on Thursday, April 9th. Desjardins decreased their target price on shares of Metro from C$99.00 to C$97.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 23rd. Finally, National Bank Financial set a C$105.00 target price on shares of Metro and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Tuesday, June 30th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Metro has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of C$102.38.

Metro Price Performance

Shares of TSE:MRU opened at C$92.29 on Monday. Metro has a one year low of C$86.63 and a one year high of C$107.78. The stock has a market cap of C$19.47 billion, a PE ratio of 19.68, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.06 and a beta of 0.16. The business’s fifty day moving average price is C$91.25 and its two-hundred day moving average price is C$93.59. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 69.30, a quick ratio of 0.41 and a current ratio of 1.43.

Metro (TSE:MRU) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 22nd. The company reported C$1.11 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The business had revenue of C$5.11 billion for the quarter. Metro had a return on equity of 14.38% and a net margin of 4.52%. On average, analysts forecast that Metro will post 4.8188614 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Metro Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, June 2nd. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, June 2nd were issued a $0.4075 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, May 13th. This represents a $1.63 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.8%. Metro’s payout ratio is 32.36%.

About Metro

With annual sales of more than $22 billion, METRO Inc is a food and pharmacy leader in Québec and Ontario, providing employment to more than 97,000 people. Its purpose is to Nourish the health and well-being of our communities. As a retailer, franchisor, distributor, manufacturer, and provider of eCommerce services, the company operates or services a network of some 1,000 food stores under several banners including Metro, Metro Plus, Super C, Food Basics, Adonis and Première Moisson, and some 640 pharmacies primarily under the Jean Coutu, Brunet, Metro Pharmacy and Food Basics Pharmacy banners.