Stella-Jones (TSE:SJ) Share Price Crosses Above 200 Day Moving Average of $77.72

Stella-Jones Inc. (TSE:SJ) shares passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of C$77.72 and traded as high as C$82.58. Stella-Jones shares last traded at C$81.78, with a volume of 81,908 shares traded.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have commented on the company. Scotiabank reduced their price target on Stella-Jones from C$89.00 to C$86.00 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, March 1st. CIBC upped their price target on Stella-Jones from C$85.00 to C$86.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 11th. TD Securities reduced their price target on Stella-Jones from C$96.00 to C$94.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, March 1st. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on Stella-Jones from C$91.00 to C$94.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, March 1st. Finally, National Bankshares upped their price target on Stella-Jones from C$87.00 to C$89.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, March 1st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Stella-Jones has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of C$88.71.

Stella-Jones Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 97.46, a current ratio of 5.07 and a quick ratio of 1.20. The firm has a 50-day moving average of C$78.08 and a 200-day moving average of C$77.91. The stock has a market cap of C$4.64 billion, a PE ratio of 14.55, a PEG ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 0.68.

Stella-Jones (TSE:SJ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 29th. The company reported C$0.98 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of C$0.90 by C$0.08. Stella-Jones had a return on equity of 20.32% and a net margin of 9.82%. The firm had revenue of C$688.00 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of C$722.50 million. Research analysts predict that Stella-Jones Inc. will post 5.7146953 EPS for the current year.

Stella-Jones Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 19th. Investors of record on Monday, April 1st were paid a dividend of $0.28 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 28th. This is a positive change from Stella-Jones’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.23. This represents a $1.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.37%. Stella-Jones’s dividend payout ratio is presently 19.93%.

Insider Activity at Stella-Jones

In other news, Director Kevin Patrick Comerford purchased 1,300 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 5th. The stock was bought at an average cost of C$53.39 per share, with a total value of C$69,407.00. In related news, Director Simon Pelletier acquired 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 13th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of C$73.15 per share, with a total value of C$146,290.00. Also, Director Kevin Patrick Comerford acquired 1,300 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 5th. The stock was bought at an average cost of C$53.39 per share, with a total value of C$69,407.00. Over the last three months, insiders bought 3,800 shares of company stock valued at $251,922. Insiders own 0.14% of the company’s stock.

Stella-Jones Company Profile

Stella-Jones Inc produces and sells pressure-treated wood products in Canada and the United States. It operates through two segments, Pressure-Treated Wood; and Logs and Lumber. The company offers railway ties and timbers for short line and commercial railroad operators; and wood utility poles for electrical utilities and telecommunication companies.