Southeastern Asset Management Inc. TN Buys 2,993,988 Shares of Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:ACI)

Southeastern Asset Management Inc. TN increased its stake in Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:ACI - Free Report) by 108.0% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 5,766,719 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 2,993,988 shares during the period. Albertsons Companies comprises about 5.3% of Southeastern Asset Management Inc. TN's investment portfolio, making the stock its 7th largest position. Southeastern Asset Management Inc. TN owned approximately 1.00% of Albertsons Companies worth $113,258,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Nissay Asset Management Corp Japan ADV boosted its holdings in shares of Albertsons Companies by 1.9% during the fourth quarter. Nissay Asset Management Corp Japan ADV now owns 47,232 shares of the company's stock valued at $941,000 after acquiring an additional 891 shares during the period. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC boosted its holdings 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 acquiring an additional 959 shares during the period. Twin Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Albertsons Companies by 2.9% during the fourth quarter. Twin Capital Management Inc. now owns 40,476 shares of the company's stock valued at $795,000 after acquiring an additional 1,146 shares during the period. Rehmann Capital Advisory Group boosted its holdings in shares of Albertsons Companies by 4.9% during the fourth quarter. Rehmann Capital Advisory Group now owns 24,765 shares of the company's stock valued at $486,000 after acquiring an additional 1,153 shares during the period. Finally, EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Albertsons Companies by 316.6% during the fourth quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,787 shares of the company's stock valued at $35,000 after acquiring an additional 1,358 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 71.35% of the company's stock.

Albertsons Companies Price Performance

Albertsons Companies stock traded down $0.30 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $21.80. The company's stock had a trading volume of 4,122,805 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,594,826. 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 stock's 50-day moving average price is $21.70 and its 200-day moving average price is $20.52. Albertsons Companies, Inc. has a 12 month low of $17.00 and a 12 month high of $23.20. The company has a market capitalization of $12.55 billion, a PE ratio of 12.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.92 and a beta of 0.47.

Albertsons Companies (NYSE:ACI - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 15th. The company reported $0.46 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.40 by $0.06. Albertsons Companies had a net margin of 1.30% and a return on equity of 44.70%. The firm had revenue of $18.80 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $18.78 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.54 earnings per share. Analysts anticipate that Albertsons Companies, Inc. will post 2.14 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Albertsons Companies Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 9th. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 25th were given a $0.15 dividend. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.75%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, April 25th. Albertsons Companies's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 36.59%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on ACI shares. Telsey Advisory Group reissued an "outperform" rating and set a $26.00 price target on shares of Albertsons Companies in a report on Friday, April 11th. UBS Group reduced their price target on shares of Albertsons Companies from $24.00 to $22.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 16th. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and issued a $23.00 price objective on shares of Albertsons Companies in a report on Wednesday, April 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on shares of Albertsons Companies from $24.00 to $31.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, May 1st. Finally, Evercore ISI reduced their price objective on shares of Albertsons Companies from $23.00 to $22.00 and set an "in-line" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 17th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Albertsons Companies has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $24.36.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Albertsons Companies news, EVP Omer Gajial sold 47,303 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $21.46, for a total transaction of $1,015,122.38. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 162,569 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,488,730.74. The trade was a 22.54% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 1.26% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Albertsons Companies 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.