PharVision Advisers LLC Takes Position in Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM)

PharVision Advisers LLC acquired a new position in Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM - Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor acquired 2,511 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $302,000.

Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund increased its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 23.3% during the 4th quarter. Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund now owns 56,737 shares of the company's stock valued at $6,828,000 after acquiring an additional 10,703 shares during the last quarter. Empire Life Investments Inc. raised its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 11.6% in the fourth quarter. Empire Life Investments Inc. now owns 94,423 shares of the company's stock valued at $11,364,000 after purchasing an additional 9,789 shares during the period. Game Plan Financial Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 80.9% in the fourth quarter. Game Plan Financial Advisors LLC now owns 7,660 shares of the company's stock valued at $922,000 after purchasing an additional 3,425 shares during the period. Brighton Jones LLC lifted its stake in shares of Philip Morris International by 31.1% in the fourth quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 8,531 shares of the company's stock worth $1,027,000 after buying an additional 2,023 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Symmetry Investments LP bought a new stake in shares of Philip Morris International during the 4th quarter worth $1,966,000. 78.63% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages recently commented on PM. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on shares of Philip Morris International from $145.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, February 18th. UBS Group upgraded Philip Morris International from a "sell" rating to a "neutral" rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $130.00 to $170.00 in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Morgan Stanley restated an "overweight" rating and set a $182.00 target price (up previously from $156.00) on shares of Philip Morris International in a research note on Thursday, April 24th. Argus raised Philip Morris International from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, March 14th. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded Philip Morris International from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, May 22nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Philip Morris International currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $169.20.

Philip Morris International Price Performance

Shares of PM traded down $0.15 on Tuesday, reaching $178.04. 1,323,882 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,594,249. The stock's 50-day moving average price is $163.08 and its 200-day moving average price is $144.39. The firm has a market cap of $277.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 39.47, a P/E/G ratio of 2.65 and a beta of 0.50. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 12 month low of $98.93 and a 12 month high of $179.73.

Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 23rd. The company reported $1.69 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.61 by $0.08. Philip Morris International had a net margin of 7.89% and a negative return on equity of 120.08%. The firm had revenue of $9.30 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.10 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.50 earnings per share. The business's revenue was up 5.8% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 7.14 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Philip Morris International Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, April 10th. Investors of record on Thursday, March 20th were paid a $1.35 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 20th. This represents a $5.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.03%. Philip Morris International's payout ratio is currently 111.34%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Philip Morris International news, insider Lars Dahlgren sold 3,679 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $152.96, for a total transaction of $562,739.84. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 26,828 shares in the company, valued at $4,103,610.88. This represents a 12.06% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Company insiders own 0.13% of the company's stock.

About Philip Morris International

Philip Morris International Inc operates as a tobacco company working to delivers a smoke-free future and evolving portfolio for the long-term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company's product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products primarily under the IQOS and ZYN brands; and consumer accessories, such as lighters and matches.