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Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM), the $245 billion tobacco giant whose stock has surged nearly 80% over the past year, saw a significant stock transaction by one of its executives, Andolina Massimo, the President of the Europe Region. According to a recent SEC filing, Massimo sold 17,500 shares of common stock on February 24, 2025, at a weighted average price of $156.05 per share, near the stock’s 52-week high of $156.63. This transaction, totaling approximately $2.73 million, was made to cover annual Swiss tax obligations. InvestingPro analysis indicates the stock is currently trading at an elevated P/E ratio of 34.7x, with technical indicators suggesting overbought conditions.
The shares were sold in multiple transactions, with prices ranging from $155.99 to $156.12. Following this sale, Massimo retains ownership of 86,737 shares, which includes 20,350 Restricted Share Units. This sale represents a portion of Massimo’s holdings in the company, and the transaction was executed to manage personal tax liabilities. For more detailed valuation metrics and 18 additional exclusive insights about Philip Morris, visit InvestingPro.
In other recent news, Philip Morris International has seen multiple developments that could interest investors. Citi analysts raised their price target for Philip Morris shares from $147 to $163, maintaining a Buy rating. This adjustment follows the company’s strong performance at the end of 2024 and a positive outlook for 2025, with anticipated growth in heated tobacco unit volumes and nicotine pouch volumes. Meanwhile, Stifel analysts also increased their price target for Philip Morris to $160 from $145, citing a 10% constant currency growth in earnings per share (EPS) during the fourth quarter, which exceeded their estimates. Stifel noted the company’s optimistic guidance for 2025, projecting 6-8% organic sales growth and 10.5-12.5% EPS growth.
Additionally, Philip Morris’s shares saw a 1% increase following the withdrawal of a proposed menthol cigarette ban by the Trump administration. This decision alleviates a significant regulatory risk for the company, as menthol cigarettes represent a substantial portion of the market. The FDA had previously proposed the ban to address public health concerns, but its removal has been positively received by the market. These recent developments reflect ongoing confidence in Philip Morris’s financial health and growth prospects, particularly in the smoke-free product segment.
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