Wellington Management Group LLP Invests $6.96 Million in Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:ACI)

Wellington Management Group LLP purchased a new stake in Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:ACI - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 354,490 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $6,962,000. Wellington Management Group LLP owned 0.06% of Albertsons Companies at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC grew its holdings in shares of Albertsons Companies by 68.2% during the fourth quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 83,895 shares of the company's stock worth $1,648,000 after purchasing an additional 34,023 shares during the last quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in Albertsons Companies by 39.1% in the fourth quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 15,820 shares of the company's stock valued at $311,000 after acquiring an additional 4,449 shares during the last quarter. Econ Financial Services Corp bought a new position in Albertsons Companies in the fourth quarter valued at about $499,000. Private Management Group Inc. boosted its holdings in Albertsons Companies by 2.0% in the fourth quarter. Private Management Group Inc. now owns 2,196,484 shares of the company's stock valued at $43,138,000 after acquiring an additional 43,532 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. boosted its holdings in Albertsons Companies by 6.5% in the fourth quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. now owns 714,276 shares of the company's stock valued at $14,028,000 after acquiring an additional 43,554 shares during the last quarter. 71.35% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms recently issued reports on ACI. UBS Group decreased their price target on Albertsons Companies from $24.00 to $22.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 16th. Tigress Financial raised their target price on Albertsons Companies from $27.00 to $28.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, April 24th. Royal Bank of Canada restated an "outperform" rating and set a $23.00 target price on shares of Albertsons Companies in a report on Wednesday, April 16th. Telsey Advisory Group restated an "outperform" rating and set a $26.00 target price on shares of Albertsons Companies in a report on Friday, April 11th. Finally, Evercore ISI reduced their target price on Albertsons Companies from $23.00 to $22.00 and set an "in-line" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 17th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $24.36.

Albertsons Companies Price Performance

Shares of Albertsons Companies stock traded down $0.16 during trading on Friday, reaching $21.41. 2,886,115 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,696,952. Albertsons Companies, Inc. has a 1-year low of $17.00 and a 1-year high of $23.20. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $21.83 and its 200 day moving average price is $20.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.31, a quick ratio of 0.21 and a current ratio of 0.93. The company has a market cap of $12.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.03, a PEG ratio of 1.92 and a beta of 0.47.

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

Albertsons Companies Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 9th. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 25th were paid a $0.15 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, April 25th. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.80%. Albertsons Companies's payout ratio is 36.59%.

Insider Activity at Albertsons Companies

In related news, EVP Omer Gajial sold 47,303 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $21.46, for a total transaction of $1,015,122.38. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 162,569 shares in the company, valued at $3,488,730.74. This represents a 22.54% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 1.26% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

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.