Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG) Sees Strong Trading Volume After Strong Earnings

The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG - Get Free Report) saw unusually-high trading volume on Friday after the company announced better than expected quarterly earnings. Approximately 2,230,964 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 67% from the previous session's volume of 6,802,599 shares.The stock last traded at $154.47 and had previously closed at $157.29.

The company reported $1.52 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.42 by $0.10. Procter & Gamble had a return on equity of 34.04% and a net margin of 17.60%. The firm had revenue of $20.20 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $20.43 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.37 EPS. The business's revenue for the quarter was up .6% compared to the same quarter last year.

Procter & Gamble Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 15th. Investors of record on Friday, April 19th will be paid a dividend of $1.0065 per share. This represents a $4.03 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.55%. This is a positive change from Procter & Gamble's previous quarterly dividend of $0.94. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 18th. Procter & Gamble's payout ratio is presently 67.34%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms recently issued reports on PG. The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on Procter & Gamble in a research note on Friday, March 1st. They set a "neutral" rating and a $168.00 price objective on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on Procter & Gamble from $162.00 to $170.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 24th. UBS Group boosted their price objective on Procter & Gamble from $172.00 to $178.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 24th. Stifel Nicolaus upped their target price on Procter & Gamble from $155.00 to $157.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 24th. Finally, Truist Financial upgraded Procter & Gamble from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and upped their target price for the stock from $160.00 to $175.00 in a research note on Monday, March 11th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Procter & Gamble currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $168.53.

Insider Activity

In related news, CEO Ma. Fatima Francisco sold 74,443 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $153.30, for a total transaction of $11,412,111.90. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 973 shares in the company, valued at approximately $149,160.90. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In related news, insider Marc S. Pritchard sold 101,704 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $153.57, for a total transaction of $15,618,683.28. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 163,428 shares in the company, valued at approximately $25,097,637.96. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO Ma. Fatima Francisco sold 74,443 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $153.30, for a total value of $11,412,111.90. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 973 shares of the company's stock, valued at $149,160.90. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 279,063 shares of company stock worth $43,187,745. 0.17% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Procter & Gamble

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Advantage Trust Co purchased a new stake in Procter & Gamble in the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Naples Money Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Procter & Gamble in the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Wyrmwood Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Procter & Gamble in the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Transcendent Capital Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Procter & Gamble in the 4th quarter worth approximately $31,000. Finally, MeadowBrook Investment Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Procter & Gamble in the 4th quarter worth approximately $33,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 65.77% of the company's stock.

Procter & Gamble Price Performance

The stock has a market cap of $371.82 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.21 and a beta of 0.44. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $159.13 and a 200-day moving average price of $152.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a quick ratio of 0.44 and a current ratio of 0.64.

About Procter & Gamble

The Procter & Gamble Company provides branded consumer packaged goods worldwide. It operates through five segments: Beauty; Grooming; Health Care; Fabric & Home Care; and Baby, Feminine & Family Care. The Beauty segment offers conditioners, shampoos, styling aids, and treatments under the Head & Shoulders, Herbal Essences, Pantene, and Rejoice brands; and antiperspirants and deodorants, personal cleansing, and skin care products under the Olay, Old Spice, Safeguard, Secret, and SK-II brands.