Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM) Sets New 52-Week High – Time to Buy?

Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM) hit a new 52-week high during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $148.53 and last traded at $148.17, with a volume of 4989453 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $146.57.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

PM has been the topic of several research reports. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of Philip Morris International from $155.00 to $145.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. StockNews.com cut shares of Philip Morris International from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday. UBS Group upped their price target on shares of Philip Morris International from $105.00 to $120.00 and gave the company a “sell” rating in a research report on Friday, February 7th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on Philip Morris International from $145.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, February 7th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on Philip Morris International from $125.00 to $145.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 23rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Philip Morris International currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $134.35.

Philip Morris International Price Performance

The company has a market capitalization of $230.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.85, a PEG ratio of 2.55 and a beta of 0.55. The company has a 50 day moving average of $125.98 and a 200-day moving average of $124.29.

Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $1.55 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.49 by $0.06. Philip Morris International had a negative return on equity of 120.08% and a net margin of 9.24%. Research analysts predict that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 7.11 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Philip Morris International Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, January 13th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, December 26th were issued a $1.35 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, December 26th. This represents a $5.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.64%. Philip Morris International’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 119.73%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Philip Morris International

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Fiduciary Alliance LLC bought a new position in Philip Morris International in the third quarter worth $229,000. CX Institutional grew its stake in shares of Philip Morris International by 6.7% in the third quarter. CX Institutional now owns 7,562 shares of the company’s stock worth $918,000 after acquiring an additional 475 shares during the last quarter. Creative Planning increased its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 5.6% during the third quarter. Creative Planning now owns 365,549 shares of the company’s stock valued at $44,378,000 after acquiring an additional 19,490 shares in the last quarter. Allen Mooney & Barnes Investment Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Philip Morris International by 1.1% in the 3rd quarter. Allen Mooney & Barnes Investment Advisors LLC now owns 8,180 shares of the company’s stock worth $993,000 after purchasing an additional 90 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Occidental Asset Management LLC grew its position in Philip Morris International by 13.0% during the 3rd quarter. Occidental Asset Management LLC now owns 2,585 shares of the company’s stock valued at $314,000 after purchasing an additional 297 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 78.63% of the company’s stock.

Philip Morris International Company Profile

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.