Quantbot Technologies LP Increases Stake in Philip Morris International Inc.

Quantbot Technologies LP has raised its investment in shares of Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM - Free Report) by 19.9% during the fourth quarter, as reported in its latest Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm now holds a total of 37,725 shares of the company’s stock, having acquired an additional 6,273 shares during this period. As of the latest reporting, Quantbot Technologies LP's shares in Philip Morris International are valued at approximately $4,540,000.

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Several other institutional investors have made adjustments to their positions in Philip Morris International as well. Range Financial Group LLC increased its stake by an astounding 504.9% during the fourth quarter, now owning 22,915 shares worth $2,758,000 after adding 19,127 shares. Park Avenue Securities LLC also grew its position by 18.9%, with ownership of 100,826 shares valued at $12,134,000 after acquiring an additional 16,035 shares. Meanwhile, CWA Asset Management Group LLC raised its holdings by 37.5%, now possessing 24,200 shares worth $2,912,000 after buying 6,605 additional shares. Swiss National Bank has increased its stake by 0.4% to own 4,614,200 shares valued at $560,164,000, following a purchase of 17,700 shares. Lastly, Ritholtz Wealth Management expanded its position by 50.9% during the fourth quarter, bringing its total to 53,884 shares valued at $6,485,000 after buying 18,183 shares. Collectively, institutional investors hold 78.63% of the company's stock.

Insider Trading Activity

In other news regarding Philip Morris International, Vice President Reginaldo Dobrowolski sold 5,000 shares on February 12th at an average price of $149.88, totaling $749,400. Following this transaction, Dobrowolski owns 20,799 shares valued at approximately $3,117,354. This sale marks a decrease of 19.38% in his ownership. Moreover, Chief Financial Officer Emmanuel Babeau sold 30,000 shares on February 20th at an average price of $148.85, for a total of $4,465,500. Post-transaction, Babeau owns 139,105 shares valued at about $20,705,779, reflecting a 17.74% decrease in ownership. During the last quarter, insiders sold a total of 131,822 shares worth $19,655,585, with current insider ownership at 0.13%.

Analysts' Ratings Updates

A variety of research firms have shared their insights on Philip Morris International. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price target from $145.00 to $160.00 while recommending a "buy" rating. Barclays increased their price target from $145.00 to $175.00 with an "overweight" rating. Similarly, Argus upgraded its rating from "hold" to "buy". UBS Group adjusted its price target from $105.00 to $120.00, maintaining a "sell" rating. Morgan Stanley began coverage on the stock with an "overweight" rating and a $140.00 price target. Currently, one analyst has assigned a "sell" rating, one gave a "hold" rating, and nine have rated it as a "buy", leading to a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $144.56 based on data from MarketBeat.com.

Philip Morris International Stock Performance

On Friday, shares of NYSE PM opened at $151.95. The stock has reached a 12-month low of $87.82 and a high of $159.51. The company's fifty-day simple moving average is $139.10, while the 200-day moving average is $130.08, which reflects consistent performance. With a market cap of $236.26 billion, Philip Morris International has a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 33.69, a PEG ratio of 2.65, and a beta of 0.53.

In its latest earnings report issued on February 6th, the company reported earnings per share (EPS) of $1.55, exceeding analyst expectations of $1.49. The company’s return on equity was reported as negative at -120.08%, with a net margin of 7.89%. Equity analysts predict that Philip Morris International will achieve an EPS of 7.14 for the current fiscal year.

Dividend Announcement from Philip Morris International

The company has announced a quarterly dividend, with a payment date set for April 10th. Shareholders who are on record by March 20th will receive a dividend of $1.35 per share, with the ex-dividend date also on March 20th. This figure corresponds to an annualized dividend of $5.40, yielding 3.55%. The current dividend payout ratio stands at 119.73%.

Overview of Philip Morris International

Philip Morris International Inc. operates as a prominent tobacco company striving to deliver a smoke-free future. Their evolving product portfolio includes not only traditional cigarettes but also smoke-free alternatives such as heat-not-burn products, vaporizers, and oral nicotine products, primarily branded as IQOS and ZYN. Additionally, they offer consumer accessories like lighters and matches.

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