P&G Shrinks in Portfolios, But Dividends Grow

P&G Shrinks in Portfolios, But Dividends Grow

Snack-Sized Version:

Procter & Gamble saw a significant shakeup in shareholder activity, especially as Ossiam slashed its holdings by more than half. Ossiam sold off 56.4% of its shares in Procter & Gamble during the fourth quarter, reducing its position to 66,866 shares. Meanwhile, other investment giants like Norges Bank and Bank Julius Baer loaded up on shares, clearly seeing opportunity where others saw a sell-off. Norges Bank made a splash with a new $5.24 billion position, turning heads faster than a shampoo commercial. Despite the churn, P&G’s financials remain solid with increased revenue, higher dividend payouts, and a modest earnings beat. The company upped its quarterly dividend and continues to draw analyst confidence, even if stock prices took a minor dip. Procter & Gamble reported a $1.88 EPS, topping expectations and proving it still knows how to clean up earnings. Insider activity also drew attention, with some hefty stock sales adding to the buzz.

Read the Full Meal:

Ossiam decided to significantly reduce its stake in Procter & Gamble, cutting loose 86,459 shares—an eyebrow-raising 56.4% drop. Despite that sharp decline, they still held onto a respectable 66,866 shares valued at $11.2 million. Apparently, they’re not totally breaking up with the soap giant, just taking some space.

While Ossiam was trimming the fat, other heavyweight investors went on a Procter & Gamble shopping spree. Norges Bank strutted in with a new $5.24 billion position like it owned the laundry aisle. Bank Julius Baer made headlines with an eye-popping 1,195% surge in P&G shares, now holding more than 3.2 million of them. Capital Research and APG Asset Management also bulked up their portfolios, suggesting that P&G is still the go-to in the consumer staples section for many big players.

Financially, the company isn’t exactly crying in the dish soap aisle. P&G posted a $1.88 earnings per share, just above analyst estimates. Revenue clocked in at $21.88 billion—modest growth, but growth nonetheless. Analysts are cautiously optimistic with ratings leaning “moderate buy,” though the average price target is shy of enthusiastic. Still, this isn’t a company unraveling; it’s just getting its seams tightened. Oh, and did we mention the dividend hike? That’s right—P&G increased its quarterly dividend to $1.0568 per share, giving investors a little extra rinse for their loyalty.

Insiders made moves too. CEO Gary Coombe and marketing boss Marc Pritchard both cashed in large chunks of stock. Their sales raised eyebrows, but insiders still hold plenty of shares, so this isn’t a full exodus. The company’s performance metrics remain sturdy, with decent liquidity, stable leverage, and a beta so low it’s practically meditating.

All in all, while some are trimming and others are piling on, P&G continues to wash its hands clean—and then sell you the soap.

Author

Ed Don

Ed is a writer who is passionate about all financial topics. After starting out in the​ traditional long-form style of online article writing, Ed shifted focus and began contributing snack-sized articles. After the first few articles, Ed's excitement for shorter-length content grew. Today, he's a daily contributor on InvestingSnacks.com.