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Jacek Olczak, the Chief Executive Officer of Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM), recently sold 40,000 shares of the company’s common stock. The transaction, which took place on February 20, 2025, was valued at approximately $5.95 million, with shares sold at a weighted average price of $148.87. This sale was conducted to cover annual Swiss tax obligations, according to the filing. The transaction comes as Philip Morris, now a $239 billion market cap company, trades near its 52-week high of $152.53. InvestingPro analysis indicates the stock is currently trading above its Fair Value.
In a separate transaction on February 19, 2025, Olczak disposed of 4,433 shares to satisfy tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of Restricted Share Units and Performance Stock Units. This transaction was valued at $659,364, with shares priced at $148.74 each.
Following these transactions, Olczak holds 547,426 shares of Philip Morris, which include 146,320 Restricted Share Units.
In other recent news, Philip Morris International has been the focus of several analyst updates following its strong financial performance and outlook. Citi analysts raised their price target for Philip Morris to $163, maintaining a Buy rating, after the company reported robust revenue and margin growth in both its combustible and smokeless product lines. They anticipate continued growth in heated tobacco unit volumes and nicotine pouch sales, aligning with the company’s optimistic projections for 2025. Similarly, Stifel analysts increased their price target to $160, also maintaining a Buy rating, citing the company’s 10% growth in earnings per share (EPS) and a 140 basis points margin expansion in the fourth quarter.
The company’s projections for 2025 include 6-8% organic sales growth and 10.5-12.5% EPS growth on a constant currency basis. Stifel highlighted the company’s strong momentum in smoke-free products, which now account for a significant portion of its revenue and gross profit. In other developments, Philip Morris shares rose 1% alongside other tobacco companies after the Trump administration withdrew a proposal to ban menthol cigarettes, removing a significant regulatory risk. This decision was viewed positively by investors, reflecting relief over the potential impact such a ban could have had on the company’s market share.
Additionally, defensive stocks, including Philip Morris, saw gains amid a market shift away from tech stocks due to concerns over China’s DeepSeek AI model. The shift towards safer investments has benefited sectors like consumer staples, where Philip Morris is a key player. These recent developments underscore the strong financial health and growth prospects of Philip Morris International as it continues to expand its presence in the smoke-free product market.
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