UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC Decreases Stake in Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:ACI)

UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC cut its position in shares of Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:ACI - Free Report) by 7.2% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 2,004,055 shares of the company's stock after selling 155,681 shares during the period. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC owned approximately 0.35% of Albertsons Companies worth $39,360,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Private Management Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Albertsons Companies by 2.0% in the 4th quarter. Private Management Group Inc. now owns 2,196,484 shares of the company's stock valued at $43,138,000 after purchasing an additional 43,532 shares during the last quarter. Jump Financial LLC purchased a new stake in Albertsons Companies in the 4th quarter valued at about $11,800,000. NINE MASTS CAPITAL Ltd acquired a new position in Albertsons Companies in the fourth quarter valued at about $746,000. ORBA Wealth Advisors L.L.C. purchased a new position in Albertsons Companies during the fourth quarter worth about $433,000. Finally, Econ Financial Services Corp acquired a new stake in shares of Albertsons Companies during the fourth quarter valued at about $499,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 71.35% of the company's stock.

Albertsons Companies Stock Performance

Shares of ACI stock traded up $0.06 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $22.22. The stock had a trading volume of 1,005,273 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,619,798. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.31, a current ratio of 0.93 and a quick ratio of 0.21. The firm has a market capitalization of $12.79 billion, a PE ratio of 12.50, a PEG ratio of 1.92 and a beta of 0.47. The stock's 50 day moving average is $21.81 and its 200 day moving average is $20.67. Albertsons Companies, Inc. has a twelve month low of $17.00 and a twelve month high of $23.20.

Albertsons Companies (NYSE:ACI - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, April 15th. The company reported $0.46 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.40 by $0.06. The business 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 quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.54 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts forecast that Albertsons Companies, Inc. will post 2.14 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Albertsons Companies Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 9th. Investors of record on Friday, April 25th were given a $0.15 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, April 25th. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.70%. Albertsons Companies's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 36.59%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have issued reports on ACI shares. Tigress Financial boosted their target price on Albertsons Companies from $27.00 to $28.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, April 24th. Telsey Advisory Group restated an "outperform" rating and issued a $26.00 price objective on shares of Albertsons Companies in a report on Friday, April 11th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a "buy" rating and set a $26.00 target price on shares of Albertsons Companies in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. Evercore ISI decreased their price target on shares of Albertsons Companies from $23.00 to $22.00 and set an "in-line" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 17th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on Albertsons Companies from $24.00 to $31.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, May 1st. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Albertsons Companies currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $24.36.

Insider Buying and Selling at Albertsons Companies

In other news, EVP Omer Gajial sold 47,303 shares of the business's 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 transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 162,569 shares in the company, valued at $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 available through this link. 1.26% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Albertsons Companies Profile

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.