Maple Leaf Foods (TSE:MFI) Stock Crosses Above 200 Day Moving Average – Should You Sell?

Maple Leaf Foods Inc. (TSE:MFI)’s stock price passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of C$22.09 and traded as high as C$24.99. Maple Leaf Foods shares last traded at C$24.74, with a volume of 155,668 shares changing hands.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts recently issued reports on MFI shares. CIBC increased their price target on shares of Maple Leaf Foods from C$30.00 to C$32.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 26th. National Bankshares lifted their price target on Maple Leaf Foods from C$26.00 to C$27.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 26th. Canaccord Genuity Group upped their price objective on Maple Leaf Foods from C$30.00 to C$32.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, January 13th. TD Securities reduced their price objective on Maple Leaf Foods from C$35.00 to C$34.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, November 14th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on Maple Leaf Foods from C$29.00 to C$30.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 26th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of C$31.08.

Maple Leaf Foods Stock Performance

The company has a quick ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 1.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 130.19. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of C$22.20 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$22.09. The stock has a market capitalization of C$3.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 91.30, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 18.07 and a beta of 0.47.

Maple Leaf Foods Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Monday, March 31st will be given a $0.24 dividend. This represents a $0.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.88%. This is a positive change from Maple Leaf Foods’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 7th. Maple Leaf Foods’s payout ratio is presently 324.76%.

About Maple Leaf Foods

Maple Leaf Foods Inc is a consumer-packaged meats company. It produces prepared meats and meals, fresh pork, and poultry and turkey products. The company also has agribusiness operations. These operations supply livestock to the meat products business operations. Its main markets are Canada, the United States, Japan, and China.