Scotiabank Boosts George Weston (TSE:WN) Price Target to C$212.00

George Weston (TSE:WN) had its price objective upped by Scotiabank from C$200.00 to C$212.00 in a report issued on Monday morning, BayStreet.CA reports. They currently have a sector perform rating on the stock.

Other equities research analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price objective on shares of George Weston from C$216.00 to C$218.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, February 29th. BMO Capital Markets increased their target price on George Weston from C$172.00 to C$185.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, March 1st. TD Securities boosted their price objective on George Weston from C$205.00 to C$215.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, February 26th. Finally, CIBC lifted their target price on George Weston from C$213.00 to C$222.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, February 29th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of C$216.67.

George Weston Stock Up 1.7 %

WN stock opened at C$190.50 on Monday. The stock’s 50 day moving average is C$181.00 and its 200-day moving average is C$170.65. George Weston has a twelve month low of C$144.41 and a twelve month high of C$194.02. The firm has a market capitalization of C$25.61 billion, a PE ratio of 17.70, a P/E/G ratio of 1.70 and a beta of 0.38. The company has a quick ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 1.24 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 158.23.

George Weston (TSE:WN) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 28th. The company reported C$2.51 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. George Weston had a net margin of 2.56% and a return on equity of 19.71%. The firm had revenue of C$14.70 billion for the quarter. Sell-side analysts expect that George Weston will post 11.8758003 EPS for the current fiscal year.

George Weston Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 1st. Stockholders of record on Saturday, June 15th will be issued a $0.82 dividend. This is a positive change from George Weston’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.71. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, June 14th. This represents a $3.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.72%. George Weston’s dividend payout ratio is presently 26.49%.

Insider Transactions at George Weston

In other news, Director Willard Galen Garfield Weston sold 79,200 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$144.88, for a total value of C$11,474,503.92. In other news, Director Willard Galen Garfield Weston sold 79,200 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$144.88, for a total transaction of C$11,474,503.92. Also, Senior Officer Richard Dufresne sold 10,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$181.41, for a total value of C$1,814,055.00. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 151,008 shares of company stock valued at $24,350,724. Insiders own 58.21% of the company’s stock.

About George Weston

George Weston Limited provides food and drug retailing, and financial services in Canada. The company operates through two segments, Loblaw Companies Limited (Loblaw) and Choice Properties Real Estate Investment Trust (Choice Properties). The Loblaw segment provides grocery, pharmacy and healthcare services, health and beauty products, apparel, general merchandise, and financial services.