Citigroup Inc. $C Shares Sold by Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA

Key Points

• Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA trimmed its stake in Citigroup by 15.6% in Q4, selling 18,963 shares and leaving 102,836 shares worth about $11.45 million.
• Research analysts maintain a consensus Moderate Buy on Citigroup with an average price target of $127.25 (14 Buy, 5 Hold).
• Citigroup beat EPS estimates ($1.81 vs. $1.65) but missed revenue forecasts ($19.87B vs. $20.99B), recently paid a $0.60 quarterly dividend (2.2% yield), and saw an insider sell 43,173 shares (~$4.8M).

Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA cut its holdings in shares of Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C - Free Report) by 15.6% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 102,836 shares of the company's stock after selling 18,963 shares during the period. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA's holdings in Citigroup were worth $11,446,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Brighton Jones LLC grew its stake in shares of Citigroup by 166.9% during the fourth quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 19,990 shares of the company's stock worth $1,407,000 after acquiring an additional 12,499 shares during the last quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC raised its position in shares of Citigroup by 20.5% in the 2nd quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 9,805 shares of the company's stock valued at $835,000 after purchasing an additional 1,669 shares during the last quarter. United Bank purchased a new position in shares of Citigroup in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $972,000. Empowered Funds LLC boosted its stake in Citigroup by 16.2% in the 2nd quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 65,491 shares of the company's stock worth $5,575,000 after purchasing an additional 9,149 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Stonebrook Private Inc. purchased a new stake in Citigroup during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $229,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 71.72% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have issued reports on C shares. Morgan Stanley set a $152.00 price target on shares of Citigroup in a report on Tuesday, February 17th. Weiss Ratings reissued a "buy (b)" rating on shares of Citigroup in a report on Wednesday, January 21st. Oppenheimer raised their target price on Citigroup from $141.00 to $144.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their price target on Citigroup from $118.00 to $131.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 17th. Finally, HSBC reiterated a "buy" rating and set a $87.00 price target on shares of Citigroup in a research note on Wednesday, January 7th. Fourteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and five have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $127.25.

Citigroup News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Citigroup this week:

• Positive Sentiment: The Federal Reserve’s proposal to ease capital rules for major banks could boost returns on equity and free up capital for buybacks/lending, a structural tailwind for large banks like Citigroup. Fed proposes easing capital rules for major banks
• Positive Sentiment: Sector-focused coverage highlighting Citigroup among banks that could outperform in choppy markets provides a positive investor narrative that can support multiple buyers. Citigroup and 5 More Bank Stocks Set to Thrive in a Choppy Market
• Neutral Sentiment: Citi’s research desk is active: the firm publicly trimmed crypto price targets and ratings (signaling a cautious view on crypto-linked names) while also issuing rare buy ratings on some industries — activity that highlights fee-generating research but doesn’t directly change bank fundamentals. Citigroup quietly trims most crypto stocks, except one surprise pick
• Neutral Sentiment: Citi research expects Brent crude to jump to $110–$120/bbl amid Middle East supply disruptions — useful for macro positioning (energy stocks up, inflation risks higher) and relevant to Citigroup’s markets and trading revenue outlook. Citi sees Brent rising to $110–120/bbl in the coming days
• Neutral Sentiment: Market reports note Citigroup shares rising while broader markets fell, reflecting stock-specific buying interest or rotation into select banks. This is confirmation of the intraday move rather than a fundamental driver. Citigroup (C) Ascends While Market Falls: Some Facts to Note
• Negative Sentiment: Leadership turnover: reports that long-time Citi finance chief Mark Mason plans to leave by year‑end to pursue a CEO role raise questions about near-term management continuity and could be a headline risk for investors. Citi's Mason plans to leave by year's end, gunning for a CEO role - report
• Negative Sentiment: The Fed’s rate pause accompanied by a warning of higher inflation has pressured bank stocks broadly (JPM, BAC, C, WFC noted), creating a near‑term headwind for earnings expectations and investor sentiment in the sector. Fed Keeps Rates Steady Amid Rising Inflation: What it Means for Banks

Citigroup Trading Up 1.1%

Shares of Citigroup stock opened at $109.85 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $113.57 and a 200 day moving average price of $107.40. The stock has a market cap of $192.17 billion, a PE ratio of 15.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.69 and a beta of 1.17. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.63, a current ratio of 1.00 and a quick ratio of 1.00. Citigroup Inc. has a 1 year low of $55.51 and a 1 year high of $125.16.

Citigroup (NYSE:C - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 14th. The company reported $1.81 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.65 by $0.16. Citigroup had a return on equity of 8.28% and a net margin of 8.50%.The company had revenue of $19.87 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $20.99 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.34 earnings per share. Citigroup's revenue for the quarter was up 2.1% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts predict that Citigroup Inc. will post 7.53 earnings per share for the current year.

Citigroup Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 27th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 2nd were given a dividend of $0.60 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 2nd. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.2%. Citigroup's dividend payout ratio is currently 34.43%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, insider Cantu Ernesto Torres sold 43,173 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $111.09, for a total value of $4,796,088.57. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 45,835 shares in the company, valued at $5,091,810.15. The trade was a 48.50% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Insiders own 0.08% of the company's stock.

About Citigroup

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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