Sowell Financial Services LLC Reduces Stake in Procter & Gamble

Sowell Financial Services LLC has decreased its holdings in The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG) by 6.5% during the fourth quarter, as revealed in its latest 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Following the sale of 2,010 shares, the firm now owns 28,842 shares of Procter & Gamble. As per their most recent filing, these holdings are valued at approximately $4,835,000.

Additionally, there have been several other institutional investors who have altered their positions in Procter & Gamble recently. For instance, Raymond James Financial Inc. made a significant move by purchasing a new position valued at $1,010,685,000 during the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC also increased its stake by 7.0% in the third quarter, acquiring an additional 3,619,466 shares, bringing its total ownership to 55,204,776 shares worth about $9,538,327,000.

Another notable investor, Bank Julius Baer & Co. Ltd Zurich, saw a dramatic increase in ownership of 1,195.1% during the fourth quarter by acquiring 2,973,757 shares, now totaling 3,222,585 shares valued at $580,596,000. Franklin Resources Inc. also reported a 10.2% increase in its ownership in the third quarter, with 18,988,721 shares worth about $3,290,573,000. Institutional investors as a whole currently own 65.77% of Procter & Gamble's stock.

Procter & Gamble's Financial Performance

As of Friday, NYSE:PG opened at $176.06. Procter & Gamble has a market capitalization of $412.84 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.04, and a PEG ratio of 3.76, with a beta of 0.41. Financial indicators show a quick ratio of 0.55 and a current ratio of 0.76, alongside a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50. Over the past year, the stock has reached a low of $153.52 and a high of $180.43, with the 50-day moving average at $166.85 and the 200-day average at $169.77.

Dividends and Earnings Announcements

Procter & Gamble recently announced its quarterly earnings on January 22nd, reporting earnings per share of $1.88, which surpassed the analysts' estimate of $1.86. Revenue for the quarter stood at $21.88 billion, exceeding expectations of $21.66 billion. The company's return on equity was recorded at 33.00% with a net margin of 18.35%, reflecting a 2.1% increase in revenue compared to the same time last year.

The company declared its last quarterly dividend on February 18th, rewarding shareholders with $1.0065 per share for those who were on record as of January 24th. This translates to an annual dividend yield of 2.29%, with a payout ratio of 64.01%.

Insider Transactions

In insider activity, CEO Gary A. Coombe sold 35,000 shares of Procter & Gamble on February 28th for an average of $173.68, totalling $6,078,800. Following this sale, his direct ownership fell to 22,051 shares valued at approximately $3,829,817.68. Another insider, Marc S. Pritchard, sold 90,450 shares on January 23rd at an average price of $163.84, amounting to $14,819,328. After this transaction, he holds 172,814 shares valued at about $28,313,845.76, indicating a 34.36% decrease in his stake in the company.

Analysts' Outlook on Procter & Gamble

Various financial analysts have provided their insights on Procter & Gamble. Royal Bank of Canada has reiterated a "sector perform" rating with a price target of $164.00. UBS Group maintains a "buy" rating, while JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded their price target from $186.00 to $181.00, still holding an "overweight" evaluation. Barclays has revised their target from $155.00 to $159.00, stating an "equal weight" stance, and Piper Sandler adjusted their target from $173.00 to $172.00, holding a "neutral" rating. In total, the consensus opinion among analysts displays seven holds, thirteen buys, and two strong buys, leading to a general rating of "Moderate Buy" with an average price target of $181.11.

Company Overview

Procter & Gamble Co is a leading name in the realm of branded consumer packaged goods. The company's operations cover several segments including Beauty, Grooming, Health Care, Fabric and Home Care, as well as Baby, Feminine and Family Care. Each segment features a broad range of products designed for personal care and household needs.

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