Metro (TSE:MRU) Stock Crosses Above 200-Day Moving Average – Here’s Why

Metro Inc. (TSE:MRU)’s stock price passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of C$96.73 and traded as high as C$97.67. Metro shares last traded at C$95.85, with a volume of 671,068 shares changing hands.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on MRU shares. National Bank Financial lowered their price objective on Metro from C$107.00 to C$106.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. TD Securities decreased their target price on Metro from C$118.00 to C$113.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their price target on Metro from C$112.00 to C$113.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Friday, January 23rd. Scotiabank cut their price objective on Metro from C$110.00 to C$103.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets decreased their price objective on shares of Metro from C$115.00 to C$110.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Metro currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of C$106.25.

Metro Stock Down 1.2%

The company has a quick ratio of 0.41, a current ratio of 1.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 69.33. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of C$97.00 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of C$96.73. The firm has a market cap of C$20.43 billion, a PE ratio of 21.21, a P/E/G ratio of 4.06 and a beta of 0.13.

Metro (TSE:MRU) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 27th. The company reported C$1.16 EPS for the quarter. The firm had revenue of C$5.29 billion for the quarter. Metro had a return on equity of 13.93% and a net margin of 4.44%. Analysts expect that Metro Inc. will post 4.8188614 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Metro

In other Metro news, insider Genevi�Ve Bich sold 4,418 shares of Metro stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$91.13, for a total transaction of C$402,612.34. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 35,677 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately C$3,251,245.01. This trade represents a 11.02% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Also, insider Dan Gabbard sold 2,978 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Friday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$96.67, for a total transaction of C$287,883.26. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 12,344 shares of the company’s stock, valued at C$1,193,294.48. This trade represents a 19.44% decrease in their position. Insiders have sold 11,844 shares of company stock valued at $1,096,119 over the last ninety days. Insiders own 0.14% of the company’s stock.

About Metro

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.