Metro (TSE:MRU) Reaches New 12-Month Low – Time to Sell?

Metro Inc. (TSE:MRU)’s stock price hit a new 52-week low on Monday . The stock traded as low as C$0.01 and last traded at C$95.42, with a volume of 318932 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at C$95.72.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on MRU shares. BMO Capital Markets raised shares of Metro from a “market perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and raised their target price for the company from C$92.00 to C$96.00 in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Desjardins raised their price objective on shares of Metro from C$85.00 to C$95.00 in a research note on Friday, November 22nd. Scotiabank lifted their target price on shares of Metro from C$98.00 to C$100.00 in a report on Thursday, January 30th. UBS Group increased their price target on Metro from C$98.00 to C$99.00 in a research note on Thursday, January 30th. Finally, National Bankshares lifted their price objective on Metro from C$89.00 to C$94.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Monday, January 13th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of C$93.56.

Metro Stock Down 0.1 %

The company has a market capitalization of C$21.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.08, a P/E/G ratio of 4.06 and a beta of 0.08. The company has a quick ratio of 0.41, a current ratio of 1.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 62.29. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of C$91.55 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$88.18.

Metro Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 11th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 11th will be paid a dividend of $0.37 per share. This represents a $1.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.55%. This is a boost from Metro’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.34. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 13th. Metro’s dividend payout ratio is presently 30.93%.

Metro Company Profile

Metro Inc, through its subsidiaries, operates as a retailer, franchisor, distributor, and manufacturer in the food and pharmaceutical sectors in Canada. The company operates supermarkets, discount, neighborhood, and specialty stores that provide fresh and grocery products, baked goods, prepared food products, meats, dairy products, fruits and vegetables, frozen food products, bakery products, delicatessen items, and pastries.