Quantbot Technologies LP Increases Stake in Philip Morris International Inc.

Quantbot Technologies LP has increased its investment in Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM) by 19.9% during the fourth quarter, according to its latest Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm now holds a total of 37,725 shares of the company after acquiring an additional 6,273 shares in the recent quarter. At the close of the reporting period, Quantbot Technologies LP's holdings in Philip Morris International were valued at approximately $4,540,000.

Market Trends and Hedge Fund Activity

Several other institutional investors have also adjusted their shares in PM. For instance, Range Financial Group LLC increased its stake in Philip Morris International by an impressive 504.9% during the fourth quarter. As a result, Range Financial now holds 22,915 shares worth $2,758,000 after adding 19,127 shares in the earlier quarter. Similarly, Park Avenue Securities LLC boosted its investment in Philip Morris by 18.9%, owning 100,826 shares valued at $12,134,000 following the acquisition of an additional 16,035 shares. CWA Asset Management Group LLC raised its holdings by 37.5%, now possessing 24,200 shares valued at $2,912,000 after increasing its stake by 6,605 shares. The Swiss National Bank also enhanced its holdings in Philip Morris by 0.4%, owning 4,614,200 shares now worth $560,164,000 after purchasing an additional 17,700 shares. Lastly, Ritholtz Wealth Management grew its position by 50.9%, owning 53,884 shares valued at $6,485,000 after acquiring 18,183 additional shares. Overall, institutional investors now control 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 of the company on February 12th for an average price of $149.88, totaling $749,400. This transaction resulted in a 19.38% decrease in his share ownership. Following this sale, Dobrowolski holds 20,799 shares valued at approximately $3,117,354.12. Furthermore, 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, thus reducing his ownership by 17.74%. Consequently, he now holds 139,105 shares worth about $20,705,779.25. Over the previous quarter, company insiders have sold 131,822 shares valued at $19,655,585, with corporate insiders owning only 0.13% of the stock.

Analyst Ratings and Price Predictions

Several research firms have updated their outlook on Philip Morris International. Stifel Nicolaus raised its price target from $145.00 to $160.00 and designated the stock with a "buy" rating. Barclays revised its price target from $145.00 to $175.00, giving it an "overweight" rating. Argus upgraded shares from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating. UBS Group set their price target at $120.00 with a “sell” rating. Morgan Stanley also began coverage with an "overweight" rating at a price target of $140.00. Overall, one analyst rated the stock as a sell, one as a hold, and nine as a buy, leading to a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $144.56.

Stock Performance and Dividend Information

As of Friday, NYSE:PM shares opened at $151.95. Philip Morris International Inc. has seen a 12-month range, with a low of $87.82 and a high of $159.51. The average of the last fifty days stands at $139.10, while the 200-day average is $130.08. The company's market capitalization is approximately $236.26 billion, exhibiting a P/E ratio of 33.69 and a PEG ratio of 2.65. Lastly, Philip Morris International announced a quarterly dividend recently, set to be distributed on April 10th, with investors of record on March 20th receiving $1.35 per share. This results in an annual dividend of $5.40 and a yield of 3.55%, reflecting a current payout ratio of 119.73%.

About Philip Morris International

Philip Morris International Inc. is engaged in the tobacco industry and is working towards a smoke-free future, diversifying its portfolio to include products outside the tobacco and nicotine sector. Their product range mainly consists of traditional cigarettes and smoke-free options such as heat-not-burn and vapor products, marketed under brands like IQOS and ZYN, as well as consumer accessories like lighters and matches.

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