Citigroup Gets a Boost from Canadian Wallet
Snack-Sized Version:
OMERS ADMINISTRATION Corp boosted its Citigroup stake by 50.9% in Q4, grabbing an extra 33,532 shares worth nearly $7 million. This investment move reflects a growing appetite among institutions to bank on Citigroup’s resilience. Other firms like Core Alternative Capital and Runnymede Capital Advisors also jumped into the Citigroup pool, adding smaller stakes. Analysts gave Citigroup a mixed bag of reviews—some cheered, others shrugged—but the average rating stuck to a ‘Moderate Buy.’ Earnings looked solid, with the company beating EPS expectations and reporting $21.60 billion in revenue. Citigroup sweetened the deal with a quarterly dividend of $0.56 and a healthy payout ratio of 35.39%. A minor insider sale in April might raise eyebrows, but it wasn’t enough to dent market optimism, especially with the stock trading steadily and hovering near its 52-week high.
Read the Full Meal:
OMERS ADMINISTRATION Corp significantly increased its position in Citigroup during the fourth quarter, adding 33,532 shares and bringing its total to 99,377 shares. This 50.9% boost reflects a strong institutional confidence in Citigroup’s performance and future prospects. The move places OMERS among a growing list of investors who see value in Citigroup stock despite market volatility and a rapidly evolving banking landscape.
Other smaller institutional investors also made their entrance. Core Alternative Capital nearly doubled its holdings, while Webster Bank tripled its share count. New players like Creative Capital Management and Sierra Ocean also joined in, establishing modest positions. While these are small numbers compared to OMERS’ investment, they signal broader sentiment favoring Citigroup. Overall, 71.72% of Citigroup’s stock is now held by institutional investors and hedge funds—a solid sign of backing from the big money crowd.
Analysts are watching closely. A few firms like Oppenheimer raised their target prices, keeping an “outperform” rating, while others like JPMorgan shaved down expectations with a “neutral” outlook. The consensus leans toward a “Moderate Buy,” with an average price target of $83.97. These assessments follow Citigroup’s Q1 earnings beat, where it posted an EPS of $1.96 versus the expected $1.84 and hauled in $21.60 billion in revenue. That’s the financial equivalent of showing up to a bake sale with a five-tier cake.
The cherry on top? Citigroup announced a quarterly dividend of $0.56, translating into an annual yield of 2.95%. Investors on record by May 5th will collect the payout on May 23rd. Meanwhile, a board member, John Cunningham Dugan, sold 4,417 shares, representing over 25% of his stake. While insider selling might raise a few cautious eyebrows, it hasn’t stopped Citigroup stock from nudging upward, now hovering just shy of $76 and boasting a strong market cap of $141.85 billion.