Portolan Capital Management LLC Makes New $9.62 Million Investment in Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:ACI)

Portolan Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:ACI - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor bought 489,980 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $9,623,000. Portolan Capital Management LLC owned approximately 0.08% of Albertsons Companies at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of Albertsons Companies during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $298,302,000. FMR LLC lifted its stake in shares of Albertsons Companies by 55.3% during the 4th quarter. FMR LLC now owns 26,150,522 shares of the company's stock worth $513,596,000 after purchasing an additional 9,308,940 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Albertsons Companies by 6.9% during the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 36,310,122 shares of the company's stock worth $713,131,000 after purchasing an additional 2,347,875 shares during the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA grew its position in shares of Albertsons Companies by 21.0% in the fourth quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 7,465,449 shares of the company's stock valued at $146,621,000 after purchasing an additional 1,294,848 shares during the period. Finally, Trium Capital LLP acquired a new position in Albertsons Companies in the fourth quarter valued at $23,678,000. 71.35% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Albertsons Companies Stock Up 2.4 %

NYSE:ACI traded up $0.51 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $21.66. The stock had a trading volume of 10,042,907 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,307,437. The company has a market cap of $12.55 billion, a PE ratio of 12.17, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.92 and a beta of 0.47. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $21.19 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $19.97. Albertsons Companies, Inc. has a 1-year low of $17.00 and a 1-year high of $23.20. The company has a current ratio of 0.93, a quick ratio of 0.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.31.

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

Albertsons Companies Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 9th. Investors of record on Friday, April 25th will be paid a $0.15 dividend. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.77%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 25th. Albertsons Companies's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 36.59%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have commented on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a "buy" rating and issued a $26.00 price target on shares of Albertsons Companies in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and set a $23.00 price target on shares of Albertsons Companies in a research note on Wednesday. Telsey Advisory Group reissued an "outperform" rating and set a $26.00 price objective on shares of Albertsons Companies in a research note on Friday, April 11th. Citigroup started coverage on Albertsons Companies in a research report on Friday, January 24th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $26.00 target price on the stock. Finally, UBS Group lowered their price target on Albertsons Companies from $24.00 to $22.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $23.36.

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.