Kendall Capital Management Sells 16,395 Shares of Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:ACI)

Kendall Capital Management lowered its stake in Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:ACI) by 29.2% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 39,770 shares of the company’s stock after selling 16,395 shares during the quarter. Kendall Capital Management’s holdings in Albertsons Companies were worth $781,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Albertsons Companies by 108.4% during the 4th quarter. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC now owns 1,346 shares of the company’s stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 700 shares during the last quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC grew its stake in Albertsons Companies by 225.1% during the 4th quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC now owns 1,385 shares of the company’s stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 959 shares during the last quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Albertsons Companies by 91.0% in the 4th quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 8,610 shares of the company’s stock valued at $169,000 after buying an additional 4,101 shares during the period. R Squared Ltd acquired a new position in shares of Albertsons Companies in the 4th quarter valued at about $179,000. Finally, Jones Financial Companies Lllp lifted its holdings in shares of Albertsons Companies by 204.7% in the 4th quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 10,731 shares of the company’s stock valued at $211,000 after buying an additional 7,209 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 71.35% of the company’s stock.

Albertsons Companies Stock Performance

NYSE ACI opened at $21.46 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.93, a quick ratio of 0.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.31. The business’s 50 day moving average is $20.31 and its two-hundred day moving average is $19.48. Albertsons Companies, Inc. has a 12-month low of $17.00 and a 12-month high of $21.67. The stock has a market capitalization of $12.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.05, a PEG ratio of 1.92 and a beta of 0.50.

Albertsons Companies (NYSE:ACI) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, January 8th. The company reported $0.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.64 by $0.07. Albertsons Companies had a return on equity of 44.70% and a net margin of 1.30%. The company had revenue of $18.77 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $18.82 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.79 EPS. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts expect that Albertsons Companies, Inc. will post 2.14 EPS for the current year.

Albertsons Companies Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 7th. Investors of record on Friday, January 24th were paid a $0.15 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, January 24th. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.80%. This is a positive change from Albertsons Companies’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.12. Albertsons Companies’s dividend payout ratio is presently 33.71%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Evercore ISI boosted their price objective on Albertsons Companies from $18.00 to $19.00 and gave the company an “in-line” rating in a report on Tuesday, December 3rd. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on Albertsons Companies from $24.00 to $19.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. Citigroup assumed coverage on Albertsons Companies in a report on Friday, January 24th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $26.00 price target for the company. Telsey Advisory Group reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and issued a $26.00 price target on shares of Albertsons Companies in a report on Tuesday, March 4th. Finally, Bank of America started coverage on Albertsons Companies in a report on Friday, December 13th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $22.00 target price for the company. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Albertsons Companies presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $23.21.

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.