Envestnet Asset Management Inc. Buys 48,752 Shares of Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:ACI)

Envestnet Asset Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:ACI - Free Report) by 54.4% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 138,347 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 48,752 shares during the period. Envestnet Asset Management Inc.'s holdings in Albertsons Companies were worth $2,717,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of ACI. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Albertsons Companies during the 4th quarter valued at about $298,302,000. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in Albertsons Companies by 6.9% in the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 36,310,122 shares of the company's stock worth $713,131,000 after purchasing an additional 2,347,875 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA lifted its holdings in shares of Albertsons Companies by 21.0% during the fourth quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 7,465,449 shares of the company's stock valued at $146,621,000 after purchasing an additional 1,294,848 shares during the last quarter. Trium Capital LLP purchased a new position in Albertsons Companies during the fourth quarter valued at $23,678,000. Finally, Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Albertsons Companies during the fourth quarter valued at $15,544,000. Institutional investors own 71.35% of the company's stock.

Albertsons Companies Stock Performance

ACI traded up $0.16 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $22.14. The company's stock had a trading volume of 787,486 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,603,698. Albertsons Companies, Inc. has a twelve month low of $17.00 and a twelve month high of $23.20. The stock has a market cap of $12.74 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.43, a PEG ratio of 1.92 and a beta of 0.47. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $21.40 and a 200 day simple moving average of $20.18. The company has a current ratio of 0.93, a quick ratio of 0.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.31.

Albertsons Companies (NYSE:ACI - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, April 15th. The company reported $0.46 EPS for the quarter, beating 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 during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $18.78 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.54 EPS. Research analysts expect that Albertsons Companies, Inc. will post 2.14 earnings per share for the current year.

Albertsons Companies Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 9th. Investors of record on Friday, April 25th will be paid a $0.15 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, April 25th. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.71%. Albertsons Companies's payout ratio is 36.59%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have issued reports on the company. UBS Group cut their target price on Albertsons Companies from $24.00 to $22.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 16th. Telsey Advisory Group restated an "outperform" rating and set a $26.00 price objective on shares of Albertsons Companies in a report on Friday, April 11th. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an "outperform" rating and set a $23.00 target price on shares of Albertsons Companies in a research report on Wednesday, April 16th. Tigress Financial boosted their price objective on shares of Albertsons Companies from $27.00 to $28.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, April 24th. Finally, Evercore ISI dropped their target price on Albertsons Companies from $23.00 to $22.00 and set an "in-line" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 17th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $23.38.

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.