EQB Inc. (TSE:EQB) Stock Now Rated “Hold” by Sell-Side Analysts

Shares of EQB Inc. (TSE:EQB) have been assigned an average rating of “Hold” from the eleven research firms that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price target among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is C$139.10.

A number of equities analysts recently commented on EQB shares. Scotiabank decreased their price target on EQB from C$141.00 to C$135.00 in a research note on Monday, August 31st. National Bank Financial boosted their price objective on EQB from C$120.00 to C$143.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a report on Thursday, August 13th. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce cut their price objective on EQB from C$165.00 to C$154.00 and set an “outperformer” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, August 28th. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their target price on EQB from C$128.00 to C$127.00 in a report on Thursday, September 3rd. Finally, TD increased their target price on EQB from C$123.00 to C$154.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, August 14th.

Insider Activity at EQB

In other EQB news, insider Loblaw Companies Limited acquired 8,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, September 25th. The stock was purchased at an average price of C$127.05 per share, with a total value of C$1,016,400.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the insider directly owned 1,780,100 shares in the company, valued at C$226,161,705. This trade represents a 0.45% increase in their position. Also, Director Andrew Michael Bunston acquired 200 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 22nd. The stock was acquired at an average cost of C$126.37 per share, with a total value of C$25,274.00. Following the acquisition, the director owned 200 shares of the company’s stock, valued at C$25,274. This trade represents a ∞ increase in their ownership of the stock. Over the last three months, insiders have purchased 222,300 shares of company stock worth $29,036,222 and have sold 2,900 shares worth $432,253. Corporate insiders own 29.02% of the company’s stock.

EQB Price Performance

TSE EQB opened at C$119.33 on Tuesday. EQB has a 12 month low of C$83.93 and a 12 month high of C$150.32. The company has a market capitalization of C$5.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -426.18, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.34 and a beta of 0.86. The company’s fifty day moving average price is C$130.12 and its two-hundred day moving average price is C$126.14.

EQB (TSE:EQB) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 26th. The company reported C$2.12 earnings per share for the quarter. The company had revenue of C$393.04 million during the quarter. EQB had a negative net margin of 0.08% and a negative return on equity of 0.07%. As a group, analysts anticipate that EQB will post 12.60 EPS for the current year.

EQB Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 29th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 29th were issued a $0.63 dividend. This is a positive change from EQB’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.61. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, September 15th. This represents a $2.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.1%. EQB’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -828.57%.

About EQB

EQB Inc (TSX: EQB) is a leading Canadian financial services company with approximately $151 billion in combined assets under management and administration. It is the parent company of Equitable Bank, the country’s seventh largest Schedule I bank by assets, which operates EQ Bank, Canada’s Challenger Bank. Our purpose is to remake banking so every Canadian gets ahead, every day. Since 1970, we have built thoughtful financial solutions that serve more than 4 million customers, turning everyday moments into meaningful progress.