Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG) Shares Rise Following Analyst Upgrade

The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) saw its share price increase by 0.7% during trading on Thursday, buoyed by an upgrade from Barclays. The investment bank raised its price target for the stock from $159.00 to $165.00 while maintaining an equal weight rating on the company. At one point, Procter & Gamble shares reached a high of $168.87 before settling at $167.77. During the midday trading session, around 1,653,278 shares exchanged hands, which is significantly lower than the average daily volume of 6,465,882 shares. The previous closing price for the stock was $166.58.

Several other research analysts have also shared their views on Procter & Gamble. On February 24, Piper Sandler reduced their price target from $173.00 to $172.00 while assigning a neutral rating to the stock. Conversely, Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective from $176.00 to $180.00, giving it an overweight rating on January 23. Stifel Nicolaus similarly increased their target from $161.00 to $165.00, while maintaining a hold rating on January 23 as well. DA Davidson reiterated a buy rating with a target price of $209.00 on the same day. UBS Group also reaffirmed a buy rating on February 10. Currently, seven analysts have a hold rating on the stock, twelve analysts rate it as a buy, and three have given it a strong buy rating. According to MarketBeat, the consensus rating for Procter & Gamble is a Moderate Buy, with a target price averaging $181.82.

Insider Transactions

In significant insider transactions, CEO Gary A. Coombe sold 35,000 shares of the company on February 28, at an average price of $173.68, resulting in a total transaction value of approximately $6.08 million. Following this sale, he retains 22,051 shares valued at roughly $3.83 million. This sale marked a 61.35% decrease in his ownership. Additionally, insider Marc S. Pritchard sold 90,450 shares on January 23, at an average price of $163.84, for a total value of about $14.82 million. Post-transaction, Pritchard holds 172,814 shares worth approximately $28.31 million, a 34.36% decrease in his ownership. In the past ninety days, insiders have sold a total of 143,450 shares valued at $23.99 million, with insiders covering just 0.18% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors' Activities

Recently, several institutional investors have adjusted their roles in Procter & Gamble. NewSquare Capital LLC increased its holdings by a remarkable 933.3% during the fourth quarter, acquiring 155 shares worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 140 shares. Navigoe LLC established a new position valued at approximately $31,000 during the same time frame. Capital A Wealth Management LLC also entered a new stake in the fourth quarter, similarly worth $31,000. RPg Family Wealth Advisory LLC added a new stake valued at about $33,000 in the third quarter. Lastly, Hoey Investments Inc. raised its stake by 321.7% in the fourth quarter, now holding 194 shares worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 148 shares. In total, hedge funds and other institutional investors own 65.77% of Procter & Gamble's shares.

Procter & Gamble's Financial Performance

The company maintains a quick ratio of 0.55, a current ratio of 0.76, and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50. Its 50-day moving average price is $168.31 while the 200-day moving average stands at $169.47, with a market capitalization of $393.41 billion. The company's price-to-earnings ratio is 26.72, and it has a price-to-earnings growth (P/E/G) ratio of 3.76, alongside a beta value of 0.41. In its most recent earnings report on January 22, Procter & Gamble achieved an earnings per share (EPS) of $1.88, which exceeded analysts' expectations of $1.86. The revenue for the quarter was reported at $21.88 billion, surpassing the anticipated $21.66 billion. The company enjoyed a net margin of 18.35% and a return on equity of 33.00%, marking a 2.1% increase in quarterly revenue compared to the same period a year earlier. Analysts predict that Procter & Gamble will report an EPS of 6.91 for the current fiscal year.

Recent Dividend Announcement

Procter & Gamble has also declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid to shareholders on February 18. Those on record as of January 24 received a dividend of $1.0065. The ex-dividend date for this dividend was also January 24, equating to an annualized payout of $4.03, reflecting a dividend yield of 2.40%. The company’s dividend payout ratio is currently at 64.01%.

Company Overview

Procter & Gamble Co. specializes in the production of branded consumer packaged goods, organized into diverse segments: Beauty, Grooming, Health Care, Fabric and Home Care, and Baby, Feminine and Family Care. The Beauty segment includes products related to hair, skin, and personal care, while the Grooming segment encompasses various shaving supplies for both men and women.

Procter, Gamble, Stocks