Philip Morris International Insider Sells Shares

On March 6th, insider Lars Dahlgren sold 3,679 shares of Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM). The shares were sold at an average price of $152.96, resulting in a total transaction value of $562,739.84. After the sale, Dahlgren now owns 26,828 shares in the company, which are valued at about $4,103,610.88. This sale represents a 12.06% decrease in Dahlgren's ownership stake. The transaction was reported to the Securities and Exchange Commission in a legal filing, which can be accessed on the SEC website.

Philip Morris International Price Performance

During trading on Friday, PM's stock decreased by $2.50, closing at $151.05. The trading volume was 4,585,455 shares, compared to an average volume of 5,166,635 shares. Over the past year, Philip Morris International's stock reached a low of $87.82 and a high of $159.51. The company boasts a market capitalization of $234.86 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 33.48, and a PEG ratio of 2.65. PM's fifty-day simple moving average stands at $135.47, while its two-hundred day simple moving average is $128.78.

Recent Earnings Report

On February 6th, Philip Morris International announced its latest earnings results, reporting earnings per share (EPS) of $1.55 for the quarter, surpassing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.49 by $0.06. The company had a negative return on equity of 120.08% and a net margin of 7.89%. Analysts forecast that Philip Morris will report an EPS of 7.14 for the current year.

Dividend Announcement

The company recently declared a quarterly dividend scheduled for payment on April 10th. Shareholders of record as of March 20th will receive a dividend of $1.35, resulting in an annualized dividend of $5.40 with a yield of 3.58%. Presently, Philip Morris International’s payout ratio is 119.73%.

Institutional Investor Activity

Several hedge funds have adjusted their positions in Philip Morris International. Range Financial Group LLC increased its stake in the company by 504.9% during the fourth quarter, acquiring 22,915 shares valued at $2,758,000. Accredited Investors Inc. boosted its holdings by 3,553.3% in the third quarter, now owning 206,959 shares worth $25,125,000. Other institutional investors, including Park Avenue Securities LLC and CWA Asset Management Group LLC, also expanded their holdings in Philip Morris. Currently, institutional investors and hedge funds collectively hold 78.63% of the company’s shares.

Analyst Ratings and Price Targets

Research analysts have provided commentary on PM shares. Stifel Nicolaus raised its price target from $145 to $160, rating the stock as a "buy." JPMorgan Chase also increased its price target to $160 with an "overweight" rating. Conversely, UBS Group set a target of $120 with a "sell" rating. Morgan Stanley initiated coverage, rating the stock as "overweight" with a $140 price objective. Overall, one analyst rates the stock as a sell, one as hold, and eight have a buy rating, with an average consensus target price of $144.56.

Company Overview

Philip Morris International Inc. is a global tobacco company focused on transitioning to a smoke-free future. Its product range includes cigarettes and smoke-free alternatives, with well-known brands such as IQOS and ZYN, alongside consumer accessories like lighters and matches.

Philip, Morris, Stock