Mackenzie Financial Corp Makes New Investment in Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:ACI)

Mackenzie Financial Corp purchased a new stake in Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:ACI - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm purchased 26,371 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $518,000.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio acquired a new stake in shares of Albertsons Companies in the 4th quarter valued at $3,581,000. Pacific Point Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Albertsons Companies in the fourth quarter valued at $248,000. Voloridge Investment Management LLC increased its holdings in Albertsons Companies by 3,052.0% in the fourth quarter. Voloridge Investment Management LLC now owns 799,966 shares of the company's stock valued at $15,711,000 after buying an additional 774,586 shares during the last quarter. Worldquant Millennium Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Albertsons Companies during the 4th quarter worth about $1,504,000. Finally, Woodline Partners LP lifted its holdings in Albertsons Companies by 21.9% during the 4th quarter. Woodline Partners LP now owns 902,017 shares of the company's stock worth $17,716,000 after buying an additional 162,018 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 71.35% of the company's stock.

Albertsons Companies Price Performance

Shares of ACI traded up $0.10 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $21.50. The company had a trading volume of 2,179,452 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,661,555. 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, Inc. has a 12-month low of $17.00 and a 12-month high of $23.20. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $21.86 and a 200-day simple moving average of $20.75. The company has a market capitalization of $12.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.07, a PEG ratio of 1.92 and a beta of 0.47.

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

Albertsons Companies Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 9th. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 25th were issued a $0.15 dividend. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.79%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, April 25th. Albertsons Companies's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 36.59%.

Insider Activity

In other Albertsons Companies news, EVP Omer Gajial sold 47,303 shares of Albertsons Companies stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $21.46, for a total transaction of $1,015,122.38. Following the completion of the transaction, 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 ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Company insiders own 1.26% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have commented on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an "outperform" rating and issued a $23.00 price target on shares of Albertsons Companies in a research note on Wednesday, April 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of Albertsons Companies from $24.00 to $31.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, May 1st. UBS Group cut their price target on shares of Albertsons Companies from $24.00 to $22.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 16th. BMO Capital Markets upgraded shares of Albertsons Companies from a "market perform" rating to an "outperform" rating and upped their price objective for the company from $19.00 to $25.00 in a research note on Wednesday, May 7th. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and set a $26.00 price objective on shares of Albertsons Companies in a report on Friday, April 11th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Albertsons Companies has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $24.36.

About Albertsons Companies

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.