Aptus Capital Advisors LLC Has $25.33 Million Stock Position in Citigroup Inc. $C

Key Points

• Aptus Capital Advisors trimmed its Citigroup stake by 3.6% in the fourth quarter, but still held 217,037 shares worth about $25.33 million at quarter-end.
• Citigroup reported stronger-than-expected quarterly results, with EPS of $3.06 versus estimates of $2.63 and revenue of $24.63 billion, up 14.1% year over year.
• The bank boosted shareholder returns by paying a $0.60 quarterly dividend and authorizing a $30 billion share repurchase plan, while analysts continue to rate the stock a Moderate Buy overall.

Aptus Capital Advisors LLC decreased its stake in shares of Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C - Free Report) by 3.6% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 217,037 shares of the company's stock after selling 7,994 shares during the period. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC's holdings in Citigroup were worth $25,326,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in C. Richards Merrill & Peterson Inc. acquired a new position in Citigroup during the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. Dunhill Financial LLC lifted its position in Citigroup by 92.2% during the 3rd quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 319 shares of the company's stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 153 shares in the last quarter. Luken Investment Analytics LLC acquired a new position in Citigroup during the 4th quarter worth about $32,000. High Note Wealth LLC lifted its position in Citigroup by 107.7% during the 4th quarter. High Note Wealth LLC now owns 270 shares of the company's stock worth $32,000 after buying an additional 140 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Entrust Financial LLC acquired a new position in Citigroup during the 4th quarter worth about $34,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 71.72% of the company's stock.

Citigroup Stock Performance

Shares of C stock opened at $139.68 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.59, a current ratio of 0.99 and a quick ratio of 0.99. The stock has a market cap of $238.23 billion, a PE ratio of 17.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.62 and a beta of 1.12. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $127.34 and a 200-day moving average of $118.06. Citigroup Inc. has a one year low of $76.11 and a one year high of $141.12.

Citigroup (NYSE:C - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 14th. The company reported $3.06 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $2.63 by $0.43. The company had revenue of $24.63 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $22.96 billion. Citigroup had a return on equity of 9.19% and a net margin of 9.35%.Citigroup's revenue was up 14.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.96 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Citigroup Inc. will post 10.68 earnings per share for the current year.

Citigroup Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 22nd. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 4th were paid a $0.60 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, May 4th. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.7%. Citigroup's dividend payout ratio is 29.74%.

Citigroup announced that its Board of Directors has approved a share repurchase plan on Thursday, May 7th that authorizes the company to repurchase $30.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the company to purchase up to 13.7% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are often an indication that the company's board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have issued reports on C. Evercore set a $139.00 target price on shares of Citigroup in a research report on Wednesday, April 15th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their target price on shares of Citigroup from $140.00 to $153.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, May 8th. Oppenheimer restated an "outperform" rating and set a $145.00 target price on shares of Citigroup in a research report on Friday, May 8th. Barclays upped their target price on shares of Citigroup from $146.00 to $154.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 15th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of Citigroup from $160.00 to $162.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 29th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Citigroup presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $137.62.

Key Stories Impacting Citigroup

Here are the key news stories impacting Citigroup this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Citigroup launched tokenized Digital Depositary Receipts, creating a new blockchain-based way for clients to gain exposure to private companies and for issuers to tap liquidity, reinforcing Citi’s push into next-generation capital markets. Citigroup Is Rolling Out Tokenized Shares of Private Companies
• Positive Sentiment: Related coverage said Citi is expanding access to private markets with tokenized private-share trading, which could open a new fee-generating business line and strengthen its innovation story with large clients. Citigroup Expands Access to Private Markets With Tokenized Depositary Receipts
• Positive Sentiment: Trump praised Citigroup and CEO Jane Fraser as a top M&A adviser, which helped fuel momentum and reinforced confidence in Citi’s investment banking comeback. Citigroup shares outperform down market after Trump endorsement
• Positive Sentiment: Citi also continued building out its consumer and retail investment banking franchise with a new managing director hire, suggesting management is still investing in growth areas. Citi hires Ryan Beaupré as MD in consumer and retail investment banking push
• Neutral Sentiment: Citi completed the sale of its Polish consumer banking business, continuing its multi-year retreat from underperforming overseas markets. This supports simplification, but it also shows ongoing shrinkage in some international operations. Citi's overseas retreat advances with sale of Polish business
• Neutral Sentiment: Reports that regulators are probing banks’ use of AI could raise compliance scrutiny for the sector, but there was no Citi-specific issue mentioned. Bank Regulators Probe Industry Use of AI

Insider Transactions at Citigroup

In other news, Director John Cunningham Dugan sold 2,117 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $125.30, for a total value of $265,260.10. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 12,194 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,527,908.20. This represents a 14.79% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Edward Skyler sold 25,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, April 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $131.41, for a total value of $3,285,250.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 182,022 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $23,919,511.02. This trade represents a 12.08% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Corporate insiders own 0.11% of the company's stock.

Citigroup Profile

Citigroup Inc is a global financial services company headquartered in New York City with roots tracing back to the City Bank of New York, founded in 1812. The modern Citigroup was created through the 1998 merger of Citicorp and Travelers Group and has since operated as a diversified bank holding company that provides a broad range of banking and financial products and services to consumers, corporations, governments and institutions worldwide.

Citi's principal businesses include retail and commercial banking, credit card and consumer lending products, wealth management and private banking, and a full suite of institutional services.

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