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Frederic De Wilde, an officer at Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM), recently sold 15,000 shares of the company’s common stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $144.54, resulting in a total transaction value of approximately $2.17 million. The sale comes as PM trades near its 52-week high of $146.78, with the stock showing remarkable strength, gaining over 66% in the past year. According to InvestingPro analysis, the stock appears to be trading above its Fair Value.
In addition to the sale, De Wilde acquired 18,292 shares of common stock on February 5, 2025, as a result of performance stock units awarded in 2022. These shares were acquired at no cost. On February 6, 2025, De Wilde further acquired 12,170 restricted share units at an average price of $124.85, as part of the company’s 2022 Performance Incentive Plan. The total value of these acquisitions amounted to approximately $1.52 million. The tobacco giant, now valued at $226 billion, has shown impressive momentum with an 11.6% gain in the past week alone.
Following these transactions, De Wilde holds a total of 128,909 shares, which includes 43,540 restricted share units. Want deeper insights into PM’s insider trading patterns and valuation metrics? InvestingPro subscribers have access to 18 additional ProTips and comprehensive financial analysis.
In other recent news, Philip Morris International has been the subject of several analyst notes. Citi analysts led by Simon Hales raised their price target for the company from $147 to $163, maintaining a buy rating. This comes after the company’s strong performance in 2024 and positive outlook for 2025, with expectations of a 10.1% growth in heated tobacco unit volume and a projected 11.2% increase in organic operating income for 2025.
Simultaneously, Stifel analysts led by Matthew Smith increased their price target on Philip Morris shares to $160 from $145, also reiterating a buy rating. This adjustment follows the company’s fourth-quarter earnings, which showcased a 10% constant currency growth in earnings per share (EPS) to $1.55.
In other developments, the company’s shares experienced an upward movement following the Trump administration’s decision to withdraw a proposal that would have banned menthol cigarettes. Philip Morris, along with other tobacco companies, saw a positive response in the market to this regulatory reprieve.
These are recent developments, and it’s important for investors to stay informed of such changes. Analysts’ perspectives and regulatory changes can significantly impact a company’s outlook and investor sentiment.
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