The Globe and Mail reports in its Tuesday, Jan. 16, edition that National Bank Financial analyst Vishal Shreedhar has reaffirmed his "sector perform" recommendation for Metro. The Globe's David Leeder writes in the Eye On Equities column that Mr. Shreedhar boosted his share target by a loonie to $80. Analysts on average target the shares at $76.78. Mr. Shreedhar says in a note: "We expect a milder year-over-year flu season in H1/F24, moderating results. Management indicated that influenza and cough & cold were elevated last year and that trends for Q1/F24 are expected to be lower y/y. Government data indicates significantly lower influenza cases and symptoms year-over-year, although trends are largely in line with the historical average (2014-2019). ... We believe Metro is a solid company which has delivered superior long-term performance supported by strong execution and strong capital allocation. However, these favourable attributes are reflected in the valuation, in our view." The Globe reported on Jan. 26, 2023, and Nov. 17, 2023, that Mr. Shreedhar was sticking with his "sector perform" call on Metro. The shares could then be had for $74.19 and $70.25.