Lars Dahlgren Sells 3,679 Shares of Philip Morris International Inc.

On March 6th, Lars Dahlgren, an insider at Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE: PM - Get Free Report), sold 3,679 shares of the company's stock. The sale took place at an average price of $152.96 per share, resulting in a total transaction value of $562,739.84. Following this sale, Dahlgren now holds 26,828 shares in the company, which are valued at approximately $4,103,610.88. This transaction represents a decrease of 12.06% in Dahlgren's overall ownership in the company. The details of the transaction have been disclosed in a document filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and can be accessed via their official site.

Stock Performance of Philip Morris International

In trading on Friday, Philip Morris stock dipped by $2.50, closing at $151.05. A total of 4,585,455 shares exchanged hands, which is slightly below the average trading volume of 5,166,635. The stock has experienced a fifty-two week low of $87.82 and a high of $159.51. The market capitalization of the company stands at $234.86 billion, and it has a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.48. The PEG ratio is 2.65, and the stock exhibits a beta of 0.53. The fifty-day simple moving average is $135.47, while the two-hundred day average sits at $128.78.

Earnings Report

Philip Morris International recently reported its earnings results on February 6th. The company posted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.55 for the quarter, surpassing the analysts' expectations of $1.49 by $0.06. However, the company recorded a negative return on equity of 120.08% and a net margin of 7.89%. Analysts predict that the company will achieve an average of 7.14 earnings per share for the current year.

Dividend Announcement

Recently, Philip Morris International announced a quarterly dividend scheduled for payment on April 10th. Stockholders on record as of March 20th will receive a dividend of $1.35 per share, equating to an annualized dividend of $5.40 and a dividend yield of 3.58%. The current payout ratio for the company is 119.73%.

Institutional Investor Activity

Several hedge funds have recently adjusted their stakes in Philip Morris International. For instance, Range Financial Group LLC increased its ownership by 504.9% in the last quarter and now owns 22,915 shares valued at $2,758,000 after acquiring 19,127 additional shares. Accredited Investors Inc. boosted its holdings by 3,553.3%, now owning 206,959 shares worth $25,125,000 following a purchase of 201,294 shares. Additionally, Park Avenue Securities LLC grew its stake by 18.9%, while CWA Asset Management Group LLC raised its stake by 37.5%. Currently, institutional investors and hedge funds collectively hold 78.63% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings and Price Targets

Research analysts have provided various insights regarding Philip Morris shares. Stifel Nicolaus recently increased their price target from $145.00 to $160.00 and maintained a "buy" rating on the stock. Similarly, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target from $145.00 to $160.00. On the other hand, UBS Group raised their target from $105.00 to $120.00 but gave a "sell" rating. Morgan Stanley began coverage with an "overweight" rating and a price goal of $140.00. Barclays also increased their price target significantly from $145.00 to $175.00 while maintaining an "overweight" rating. While one analyst has rated the stock as a sell, one as a hold, and eight as a buy, the consensus rating for the stock is currently a "Moderate Buy" with an average target price estimated at $144.56.

Philip Morris International Overview

Philip Morris International Inc. operates as a leading global tobacco company, aiming to create a smoke-free future. The company diversifies its portfolio to include both tobacco and non-tobacco products. Its main offerings include cigarettes and smoke-free products, such as heat-not-burn and vapor products, under brands like IQOS and ZYN. Additionally, it manufactures consumer accessories like lighters and matches.

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