Clayton Financial Group LLC Increases Holdings in Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM)

Clayton Financial Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM) by 5.4% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 3,367 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 172 shares during the quarter. Clayton Financial Group LLC’s holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $405,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the business. Choreo LLC increased its stake in Philip Morris International by 157.0% in the fourth quarter. Choreo LLC now owns 130,873 shares of the company’s stock valued at $15,713,000 after purchasing an additional 79,959 shares during the last quarter. Lion Street Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 59.6% in the 4th quarter. Lion Street Advisors LLC now owns 4,133 shares of the company’s stock valued at $497,000 after buying an additional 1,543 shares in the last quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. grew its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 50.8% in the 4th quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 174,525 shares of the company’s stock valued at $21,117,000 after buying an additional 58,827 shares during the last quarter. Montgomery Investment Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Philip Morris International in the 4th quarter valued at $202,000. Finally, Alexander Labrunerie & CO. Inc. lifted its position in Philip Morris International by 7.0% in the fourth quarter. Alexander Labrunerie & CO. Inc. now owns 3,073 shares of the company’s stock valued at $370,000 after acquiring an additional 202 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.63% of the company’s stock.

Philip Morris International Stock Performance

PM stock opened at $130.42 on Wednesday. Philip Morris International Inc. has a one year low of $87.82 and a one year high of $134.15. The company has a fifty day moving average of $125.18 and a 200-day moving average of $123.41. The stock has a market capitalization of $202.78 billion, a PE ratio of 20.70, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.30 and a beta of 0.55.

Philip Morris International Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, January 13th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, December 26th were paid a dividend of $1.35 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, December 26th. This represents a $5.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.14%. Philip Morris International’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 85.71%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have recently commented on the company. Citigroup lifted their target price on Philip Morris International from $118.50 to $132.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 8th. UBS Group lifted their price target on Philip Morris International from $103.00 to $105.00 and gave the stock a “sell” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Morgan Stanley assumed coverage on Philip Morris International in a report on Thursday, January 16th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $140.00 price objective for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on shares of Philip Morris International from $125.00 to $145.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Finally, Barclays decreased their price target on shares of Philip Morris International from $155.00 to $145.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $131.35.

About Philip Morris International

Philip Morris International Inc operates as a tobacco company working to delivers a smoke-free future and evolving portfolio for the long-term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company's product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products primarily under the IQOS and ZYN brands; and consumer accessories, such as lighters and matches.