Capital Analysts LLC Lowers Stock Holdings in Citigroup Inc. $C

Key Points

• Capital Analysts LLC cut its Citigroup stake by 23.9% in the second quarter, selling 55,893 shares and retaining 178,188 shares valued at approximately $24.9 million. Institutional investors collectively own 71.72% of Citi’s stock.
• Citigroup reported stronger-than-expected quarterly results, with EPS of $3.15 versus the $2.74 consensus and revenue of $24.77 billion, up 14.5% year over year. The bank also raised its quarterly dividend to $0.67 per share, implying a 2.0% annualized yield.
• Analyst sentiment remains broadly positive, with a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and a $145.22 price target, although fading capital-markets activity could pressure near-term results. Citi’s restructuring, blockchain-based payments milestone and potential China brokerage approval provide longer-term upside catalysts.

Capital Analysts LLC lowered its position in shares of Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C - Free Report) by 23.9% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 178,188 shares of the company's stock after selling 55,893 shares during the period. Capital Analysts LLC's holdings in Citigroup were worth $24,939,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Whipplewood Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Citigroup in the 1st quarter worth approximately $25,000. Mcguire Capital Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in Citigroup during the fourth quarter valued at about $25,000. Paladin Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Citigroup in the second quarter worth about $27,000. TD Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Citigroup in the fourth quarter worth about $28,000. Finally, IMG Wealth Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Citigroup by 197.6% in the 1st quarter. IMG Wealth Management Inc. now owns 244 shares of the company's stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 162 shares during the last quarter. 71.72% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Citigroup Stock Down 0.8%

Shares of NYSE:C opened at $136.64 on Wednesday. The stock's 50-day moving average is $135.09 and its 200 day moving average is $127.86. The company has a market cap of $233.05 billion, a PE ratio of 14.76, a P/E/G ratio of 0.62 and a beta of 1.12. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.71, a current ratio of 0.99 and a quick ratio of 0.99. Citigroup Inc. has a 1 year low of $93.66 and a 1 year high of $147.96.

Citigroup (NYSE:C - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 14th. The company reported $3.15 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.74 by $0.41. The business had revenue of $24.77 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $23.74 billion. Citigroup had a return on equity of 10.15% and a net margin of 10.23%.The business's revenue was up 14.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.96 EPS. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Citigroup Inc. will post 11.21 EPS for the current year.

Citigroup Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 28th. Investors of record on Monday, August 3rd were paid a $0.67 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, August 3rd. This is a positive change from Citigroup's previous quarterly dividend of $0.60. This represents a $2.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.0%. Citigroup's payout ratio is 28.94%.

Key Headlines Impacting Citigroup

Here are the key news stories impacting Citigroup this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Citigroup’s restructuring is reportedly improving operating performance, but its valuation has not fully reflected the potential benefits. This supports the view that efficiency gains and better returns could create additional upside for C. Citigroup's Restructuring Is Working, And Valuation Has Not Caught Up
• Positive Sentiment: Citi and DBS completed a Singapore-to-U.S. dollar payment over SWIFT’s blockchain-based Digital Ledger during a weekend, settling the transaction in minutes. The milestone reinforces Citi’s technology leadership in cross-border payments and could improve its appeal to institutional clients. Citi and DBS Mark 1st Singapore-to-US Weekend Dollar Transaction
• Positive Sentiment: Citigroup may receive final approval for its wholly owned mainland China brokerage business as soon as September. The expansion would give Citi a larger role in China’s capital markets and broaden its long-term growth opportunities, although the bank plans to invest in additional staffing. C Nears China Brokerage License: Can Onshore Expansion Boost Growth?
• Neutral Sentiment: Citi’s market strategists expect semiconductor stocks to rebound and have become more constructive on selected trucking companies. These views could support broader financial-market activity and client trading, but they do not directly change Citigroup’s earnings outlook. After an 18% summer selloff in chip stocks, Citi asks what comes next
• Negative Sentiment: Analysts warn that capital-markets momentum is fading in the third quarter. Because investment banking, trading and underwriting are important contributors to large-bank results, weaker activity could pressure Citi’s near-term revenue and earnings expectations. Capital Markets Momentum Fades: What it Means for Big Banks in Q3

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on C shares. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on Citigroup from $154.00 to $164.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Monday, June 29th. Oppenheimer downgraded Citigroup from an "outperform" rating to a "market perform" rating in a research report on Tuesday, June 30th. Evercore set a $143.00 price objective on Citigroup in a research note on Monday, July 6th. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Citigroup from a "buy (b)" rating to a "buy (b+)" rating in a report on Monday, August 24th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on shares of Citigroup from $135.50 to $149.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Monday, July 6th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Citigroup has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $145.22.

Citigroup Company Profile

Citigroup Inc NYSE: C is a global financial services company headquartered in New York City. Through its businesses, Citi provides banking, lending, credit card, wealth management, investment banking, securities, markets and treasury services to individuals, businesses, financial institutions and governments.

The company's operations include U.S. Personal Banking, which offers consumer banking, credit cards and lending products; Wealth Management, which serves affluent and high-net-worth clients; and its Institutional Clients Group, which provides investment banking, corporate banking, markets, securities services and transaction banking.

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