Equities analysts expect that Royal Bank of Canada (NYSE:RY – Get Rating) (TSE:RY) will post earnings of $2.13 per share for the current fiscal quarter, according to Zacks. Zero analysts have issued estimates for Royal Bank of Canada’s earnings, with the lowest EPS estimate coming in at $2.10 and the highest estimate coming in at $2.16. Royal Bank of Canada reported earnings of $2.21 per share in the same quarter last year, which suggests a negative year-over-year growth rate of 3.6%. The firm is expected to report its next earnings results on Monday, January 1st.

On average, analysts expect that Royal Bank of Canada will report full year earnings of $8.80 per share for the current fiscal year, with EPS estimates ranging from $8.63 to $8.94. For the next financial year, analysts expect that the company will post earnings of $9.35 per share, with EPS estimates ranging from $9.08 to $9.55. Zacks Investment Research’s EPS averages are an average based on a survey of analysts that follow Royal Bank of Canada.

Royal Bank of Canada (NYSE:RY – Get Rating) (TSE:RY) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 24th. The financial services provider reported $2.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the Zacks’ consensus estimate of $2.15 by $0.13. Royal Bank of Canada had a net margin of 28.16% and a return on equity of 18.28%. The company had revenue of $10.37 billion during the quarter.

RY has been the subject of several research reports. Canaccord Genuity Group downgraded Royal Bank of Canada from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $141.00 to $148.00 in a research report on Monday, February 7th. Zacks Investment Research downgraded Royal Bank of Canada from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, February 25th. Scotiabank lifted their target price on shares of Royal Bank of Canada from C$146.00 to C$162.00 in a research note on Friday, February 18th. TD Securities lowered their target price on shares of Royal Bank of Canada from C$155.00 to C$150.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, December 2nd. Finally, lowered their target price on shares of Royal Bank of Canada from C$143.00 to C$141.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, December 2nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $143.75.

Shares of RY stock traded up $1.15 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $113.36. 618,669 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,266,629. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $112.12 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $106.99. Royal Bank of Canada has a 1-year low of $91.14 and a 1-year high of $119.41. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.11, a current ratio of 0.91 and a quick ratio of 0.91. The firm has a market cap of $160.69 billion, a PE ratio of 12.61, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.41 and a beta of 0.92.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 24th. Shareholders of record on Monday, April 25th will be given a $0.944 dividend. This is a boost from Royal Bank of Canada’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.94. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 22nd. This represents a $3.78 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.33%. Royal Bank of Canada’s dividend payout ratio is 42.27%.

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Contravisory Investment Management Inc. grew its position in Royal Bank of Canada by 9.7% in the 4th quarter. Contravisory Investment Management Inc. now owns 991 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $105,000 after purchasing an additional 88 shares during the last quarter. Sargent Bickham Lagudis LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Royal Bank of Canada by 4.0% in the third quarter. Sargent Bickham Lagudis LLC now owns 2,563 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $255,000 after acquiring an additional 99 shares in the last quarter. Total Clarity Wealth Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Royal Bank of Canada by 2.1% in the fourth quarter. Total Clarity Wealth Management Inc. now owns 4,780 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $507,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Royal Bank of Canada by 15.9% in the fourth quarter. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 751 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $80,000 after acquiring an additional 103 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Midwest Professional Planners LTD. boosted its holdings in shares of Royal Bank of Canada by 2.8% in the fourth quarter. Midwest Professional Planners LTD. now owns 4,079 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $433,000 after acquiring an additional 113 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 40.96% of the company’s stock.

About Royal Bank of Canada (Get Rating)

Royal Bank of Canada operates as a diversified financial service company worldwide. The company’s Personal & Commercial Banking segment offers checking and savings accounts, home equity financing, personal lending, private banking, indirect lending, including auto financing, mutual funds and self-directed brokerage accounts, guaranteed investment certificates, credit cards, and payment products and solutions; and lending, leasing, deposit, investment, foreign exchange, cash management, auto dealer financing, trade products, and services to small and medium-sized commercial businesses.

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