Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM) Shares Acquired by Lone Pine Capital LLC

Lone Pine Capital LLC lifted its stake in shares of Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM - Free Report) by 44.4% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 6,468,372 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 1,987,716 shares during the period. Philip Morris International accounts for approximately 5.8% of Lone Pine Capital LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 3rd biggest holding. Lone Pine Capital LLC owned 0.42% of Philip Morris International worth $778,469,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in PM. Candlestick Capital Management LP lifted its stake in shares of Philip Morris International by 123.6% during the 4th quarter. Candlestick Capital Management LP now owns 535,075 shares of the company's stock worth $64,396,000 after purchasing an additional 295,735 shares during the period. Northern Trust Corp lifted its position in Philip Morris International by 11.0% during the fourth quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 13,630,177 shares of the company's stock worth $1,640,392,000 after buying an additional 1,347,503 shares during the period. Quarry LP boosted its stake in Philip Morris International by 89.1% in the 4th quarter. Quarry LP now owns 3,305 shares of the company's stock worth $398,000 after buying an additional 1,557 shares during the last quarter. Whalerock Point Partners LLC grew its holdings in Philip Morris International by 1.8% in the 4th quarter. Whalerock Point Partners LLC now owns 11,066 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,332,000 after buying an additional 200 shares during the period. Finally, Berger Financial Group Inc increased its stake in shares of Philip Morris International by 53.7% during the 4th quarter. Berger Financial Group Inc now owns 5,000 shares of the company's stock valued at $602,000 after acquiring an additional 1,746 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.63% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms recently issued reports on PM. Citigroup raised their target price on shares of Philip Morris International from $163.00 to $180.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 16th. Argus raised shares of Philip Morris International from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, March 14th. Morgan Stanley reiterated an "overweight" rating and issued a $182.00 target price (up previously from $156.00) on shares of Philip Morris International in a report on Thursday, April 24th. UBS Group upgraded Philip Morris International from a "sell" rating to a "neutral" rating and upped their price target for the stock from $130.00 to $170.00 in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on Philip Morris International from $168.00 to $186.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, April 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $166.33.

Insider Transactions at Philip Morris International

In related news, SVP Yann Guerin sold 2,500 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $151.28, for a total transaction of $378,200.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 30,308 shares in the company, valued at $4,584,994.24. This trade represents a 7.62 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Lars Dahlgren sold 3,679 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $152.96, for a total transaction of $562,739.84. Following the sale, the insider now owns 26,828 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $4,103,610.88. The trade was a 12.06 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 131,822 shares of company stock valued at $19,655,585. Insiders own 0.13% of the company's stock.

Philip Morris International Price Performance

Philip Morris International stock traded up $0.81 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $170.86. 4,450,580 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,558,132. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 1 year low of $95.88 and a 1 year high of $172.03. The firm has a market cap of $265.95 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.88, a P/E/G ratio of 2.65 and a beta of 0.46. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $156.90 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $138.96.

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

Philip Morris International Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, April 10th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 20th were paid a dividend of $1.35 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 20th. This represents a $5.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.16%. Philip Morris International's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 111.34%.

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.