abrdn plc Reduces Stake in The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.

abrdn plc has recently reduced its investment in The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS) by 10.4% during the fourth quarter, as reported in its latest 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Following this adjustment, abrdn holds 315,589 shares of the investment management company after selling 36,631 shares this past quarter. As per the recent SEC filing, abrdn's stake in The Goldman Sachs Group is valued at approximately $180.61 million, representing about 0.10% of the company's total shares.

Changes in Institutional Holdings

Several other institutional investors have also modified their positions in The Goldman Sachs Group in recent times. For example, Genesee Capital Advisors LLC raised its stake by 1% during the fourth quarter and now owns 1,788 shares worth roughly $1.02 million after acquiring an additional 17 shares. Similarly, Horst & Graben Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings by 1.5%, bringing their total to 1,179 shares valued at about $675,000 after an additional purchase of 17 shares.

Waddell & Associates LLC improved its position by 2.1% in the third quarter, currently holding 896 shares valued at approximately $444,000 due to an additional acquisition of 18 shares. Wescott Financial Advisory Group LLC also increased their stake by 0.7% during the same period, now owning 2,719 shares worth $1.35 million. Lastly, Bank of New Hampshire boosted its stake by 8.0% in the fourth quarter, acquiring an additional 18 shares to hold a total of 243 shares valued at about $139,000. Collectively, institutional investors own 71.21% of The Goldman Sachs Group's shares.

Insider Transactions

In related news, insider Kathryn H. Ruemmler sold 7,498 shares of The Goldman Sachs Group on January 21, representing a 43.88% drop in her position, with total sales amounting to about $4.76 million at an average price of $634.69 per share. After this transaction, she retains ownership of 9,589 shares valued at approximately $6.09 million. Additionally, insider Alex S. Golten sold 5,208 shares on January 28, which led to a 59.50% decrease in his holdings. This sale totaled about $3.31 million at an average sales price of $636.25 per share, leaving him with a stake of 3,545 shares valued around $2.26 million. Over the past three months, insiders have sold a total of 40,865 shares worth roughly $25.29 million, with corporate insiders holding about 0.54% of the company's stock.

Performance Overview

The Goldman Sachs Group opened at $632.25 with a market capitalization of $196.28 billion. Its price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio stands at 15.59, while the P/E growth (P/E/G) ratio is 0.89, and it has a beta of 1.38. The company reports a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.32, with both the quick and current ratios at 0.67. Its 50-day and 200-day simple moving averages are $596.07 and $541.71, respectively. The stock’s 52-week low and high are $375.20 and $650.00 respectively.

On January 15, The Goldman Sachs Group reported its quarterly earnings, revealing earnings per share (EPS) of $11.95, which surpassed the consensus estimate of $8.21 by $3.74. The firm also reported a net margin of 11.32% and a return on equity of 13.30%. The company generated $13.87 billion in revenue, exceeding analyst forecasts of $12.36 billion, marking a 22.5% year-over-year increase in revenue.

Dividend Information

The Goldman Sachs Group announced a quarterly dividend, scheduled to be paid on March 28, targeting investors of record by February 28. A dividend of $3.00 will be distributed, translating to an annualized dividend amount of $12.00 and a yield of 1.90%. The current dividend payout ratio is approximately 29.59%.

Analyst Insights

A number of analysts have recently provided updated reports on The Goldman Sachs Group. For example, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price from $550.00 to $605.00, maintaining an “overweight” rating. On the other hand, Oppenheimer lowered their price target from $677.00 to $639.00 while assigning an “outperform” rating. Citi increased their price objective from $485.00 to $585.00 and maintained a “neutral” rating. HSBC Global Research downgraded the company from a “strong buy” to a “hold” rating. Morgan Stanley increased their target price from $736.00 to $782.00, with an “overweight” rating. Overall, eight analysts recommend holding the stock, while twelve suggest buying it. The consensus rating remains a “Moderate Buy” with an average target price of $591.06.

About The Goldman Sachs Group

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is a broad-based financial institution providing various financial services to corporations, governments, and individuals worldwide. It operates in several segments, including Global Banking & Markets, Asset & Wealth Management, and Platform Solutions. Key services encompass financial advisory concerning mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructuring, and relationship lending.

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