Groupe la Francaise Buys 35,437 Shares of Apollo Global Management Inc. $APO

Groupe la Francaise increased its stake in Apollo Global Management Inc. (NYSE:APO) by 1,862.2% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 37,340 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 35,437 shares during the period. Groupe la Francaise’s holdings in Apollo Global Management were worth $5,274,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in APO. Stock Yards Bank & Trust Co. bought a new stake in shares of Apollo Global Management in the second quarter worth $709,000. Hsbc Holdings PLC increased its holdings in Apollo Global Management by 39.2% during the second quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 842,391 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $119,482,000 after buying an additional 237,180 shares during the last quarter. True North Advisors LLC bought a new position in Apollo Global Management in the first quarter worth approximately $2,097,000. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Apollo Global Management by 24.6% during the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 3,581,732 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $490,482,000 after acquiring an additional 706,181 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Woodline Partners LP increased its stake in shares of Apollo Global Management by 40.7% in the 1st quarter. Woodline Partners LP now owns 37,764 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $5,171,000 after purchasing an additional 10,920 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 77.06% of the company’s stock.

Apollo Global Management Price Performance

Shares of Apollo Global Management stock opened at $134.51 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $78.07 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.66, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.30 and a beta of 1.61. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a quick ratio of 1.49 and a current ratio of 1.49. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $128.14 and a 200-day moving average price of $135.50. Apollo Global Management Inc. has a one year low of $102.58 and a one year high of $189.49.

Apollo Global Management Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 28th. Investors of record on Monday, November 17th were paid a dividend of $0.51 per share. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 17th. Apollo Global Management’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 29.82%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have recently commented on APO. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Apollo Global Management in a research note on Monday, November 24th. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a “buy” rating and issued a $155.00 price objective on shares of Apollo Global Management in a research report on Tuesday, November 25th. Citigroup dropped their price objective on Apollo Global Management from $170.00 to $150.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, October 13th. Morgan Stanley upgraded shares of Apollo Global Management from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and upped their target price for the stock from $151.00 to $180.00 in a research report on Thursday, November 20th. Finally, Evercore ISI lifted their price target on shares of Apollo Global Management from $145.00 to $155.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 5th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eleven have issued a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Apollo Global Management presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $162.85.

Insider Transactions at Apollo Global Management

In other news, CFO Martin Kelly sold 6,000 shares of Apollo Global Management stock in a transaction on Monday, December 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $131.41, for a total transaction of $788,460.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 325,604 shares in the company, valued at approximately $42,787,621.64. This trade represents a 1.81% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 8.50% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Apollo Global Management Profile

Apollo Global Management, Inc is a private equity firm specializing in investments in credit, private equity, infrastructure, secondaries and real estate markets. The firm prefers to invest in private and public markets. The firm’s private equity investments include traditional buyouts, recapitalization, distressed buyouts and debt investments in real estate, corporate partner buyouts, distressed asset, corporate carve-outs, middle market, growth, venture capital, turnaround, bridge, corporate restructuring, special situation, acquisition, and industry consolidation transactions.