Quantbot Technologies LP Sells 31,777 Shares of Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:ACI)

Quantbot Technologies LP lessened its stake in shares of Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:ACI) by 53.7% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 27,349 shares of the company’s stock after selling 31,777 shares during the quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP’s holdings in Albertsons Companies were worth $537,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of ACI. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC grew its position in Albertsons Companies by 108.4% during the 4th quarter. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC now owns 1,346 shares of the company’s stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 700 shares during the last quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC boosted its stake in shares of Albertsons Companies by 225.1% during the fourth quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC now owns 1,385 shares of the company’s stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 959 shares in the last quarter. Synovus Financial Corp grew its holdings in shares of Albertsons Companies by 10.0% during the third quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 13,192 shares of the company’s stock worth $244,000 after purchasing an additional 1,197 shares during the last quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Albertsons Companies by 316.6% in the fourth quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,787 shares of the company’s stock valued at $35,000 after buying an additional 1,358 shares during the period. Finally, Arizona State Retirement System raised its holdings in Albertsons Companies by 1.4% in the 4th quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 109,337 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,147,000 after buying an additional 1,498 shares during the last quarter. 71.35% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Albertsons Companies Stock Down 0.0 %

Albertsons Companies stock opened at $21.15 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.21, a current ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.31. The company has a market capitalization of $12.25 billion, a PE ratio of 11.88, a PEG ratio of 1.92 and a beta of 0.50. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $20.68 and its 200 day moving average is $19.61. Albertsons Companies, Inc. has a 12-month low of $17.00 and a 12-month high of $22.05.

Albertsons Companies (NYSE:ACI) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, January 8th. The company reported $0.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.64 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $18.77 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $18.82 billion. Albertsons Companies had a return on equity of 44.70% and a net margin of 1.30%. Albertsons Companies’s quarterly revenue was up 1.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.79 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Albertsons Companies, Inc. will post 2.14 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Albertsons Companies Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 7th. Investors of record on Friday, January 24th were issued a dividend of $0.15 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 24th. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.84%. This is an increase from Albertsons Companies’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.12. Albertsons Companies’s dividend payout ratio is 33.71%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on shares of Albertsons Companies from $24.00 to $19.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. Telsey Advisory Group restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $26.00 price objective on shares of Albertsons Companies in a report on Tuesday, March 11th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on Albertsons Companies from $22.00 to $23.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, March 13th. Citigroup initiated coverage on Albertsons Companies in a research report on Friday, January 24th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $26.00 price target on the stock. Finally, UBS Group lowered their price objective on Albertsons Companies from $27.00 to $24.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, December 17th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $23.50.

Albertsons Companies Company Profile

Albertsons Companies, Inc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the operation of food and drug stores in the United States. The company’s food and drug retail stores offer grocery products, general merchandise, health and beauty care products, pharmacy, fuel, and other items and services. It also manufactures and processes food products for sale in stores.