Summit Trail Advisors LLC, a prominent institutional investor, has recently disclosed an increase in its stake in Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI). According to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Summit Trail Advisors LLC raised its stake by 61.7% during the second quarter of this year. This move resulted in the acquisition of an additional 2,007 shares of Activision Blizzard’s stock, bringing their total holdings to 5,262 shares.
As of the end of the last reporting period, Summit Trail Advisors LLC’s holdings were valued at $444,000. This demonstrates the significant confidence placed by the institutional investor in Activision Blizzard’s growth potential and long-term prospects.
It is noteworthy that Activision Blizzard declared an annual dividend which was paid on August 17th. Shareholders who were recorded as having ownership on August 2nd received a dividend of $0.99 per share. The ex-dividend date for this payment was on August 1st. With an impressive dividend yield of 1.07%, this signifies a remarkable increase compared to Activision Blizzard’s previous annual dividend payout of $0.47 per share.
The current dividend payout ratio for Activision Blizzard stands at approximately 36.26%. This indicator highlights that a portion of its earnings is being distributed to shareholders as dividends while retaining a significant percentage for business operations and future investments.
Investors can monitor such developments closely to assess the financial stability and growth trajectory of Activision Blizzard. The company has been recognized globally as one of the leading interactive entertainment and gaming companies, developing and publishing acclaimed video games across various platforms.
By increasing its position in Activision Blizzard, Summit Trail Advisors LLC has showcased its trust in the company’s performance and emphasized belief in generating substantial returns on investment over time.
Please refer below for our latest research report on Activision Blizzard to gain further insight into the company’s operations, financials, and future prospects.
[bs_slider_forecast ticker=”CCJ”]
Ownership Changes and Research Reports Shape the Future for Activision Blizzard
October 8, 2023 – Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI) has recently seen changes in its ownership structure as several institutional investors and hedge funds have adjusted their positions in the company. Migdal Insurance & Financial Holdings Ltd., for example, saw a significant increase of 186.4% in its holdings of Activision Blizzard during the first quarter of this year. Its additional acquisition of 220 shares brings its total holdings to 338 shares valued at $29,000. Front Row Advisors LLC also increased its stake by 140.4% during the same period, now owning 351 shares valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 205 shares.
Pin Oak Investment Advisors Inc., Ameritas Advisory Services LLC, and Activest Wealth Management all acquired new stakes in Activision Blizzard during the first and second quarters of this year. With investments worth approximately $35,000, $38,000, and $40,000 respectively, these institutional investors now contribute to the ownership landscape of the company. Altogether, institutional investors own a whopping 81.93% of Activision Blizzard’s stock.
In addition to these notable ownership changes, research reports have also shed some light on Activision Blizzard’s performance in recent months. Stifel Nicolaus downgraded its rating from “buy” to “hold” while increasing its target price from $88.00 to $95.00 in July this year. Edward Jones also lowered shares from “buy” to “hold,” further establishing a neutral view on the company.
Jefferies Financial Group echoed this sentiment with a downgrade from “buy” to “hold” and set a target price of $95.00 for Activision Blizzard as well. Furthermore, UBS Group changed their rating from “buy” to “neutral,” raising their target price from $95.00 to $96.00 during the same period.
Atlantic Securities joined the list, providing a neutral rating and setting a price target of $95.00 for the company. These recent research reports indicate that sixteen investment analysts currently hold a “hold” rating on Activision Blizzard stock, while five maintain a more optimistic “buy” rating. According to Bloomberg’s data, the consensus rating for Activision Blizzard is presently “Hold,” with an average price target of $94.32.
Trading at $94.24 on Friday, ATVI shares continue to fluctuate within their 12-month range of $70.94 to $94.26. With a quick ratio and current ratio holding steady at 4.66, the company showcases strong liquidity to meet short-term obligations. Its debt-to-equity ratio stands at a modest 0.17, positively reflecting its financial stability.
Boasting a market capitalization of approximately $74.15 billion, Activision Blizzard maintains a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.52 and a reasonable PEG (price/earnings to growth) ratio of 2.59, highlighting its potential for future growth despite the recent evaluations made by research analysts.
For the second quarter ending June 30th, Activision Blizzard reported earnings per share (EPS) of $0.95, surpassing estimations by $0.17. With an impressive net margin of 24.87% and return on equity of 14.87%, it demonstrated solid performance during this period as well.
The company generated revenue totaling $2.46 billion in Q2 2023, slightly beating analyst estimates which projected revenue at $2.44 billion for the same period.
As the fiscal year progresses, equities analysts project that Activision Blizzard will achieve earnings per share of about 3.75 in total.
In conclusion, recent developments within Activision Blizzard’s ownership structure and research reports provide insight into its competitive position in the market. While institutional investors increase their stakes, analysts offer mixed views on the company’s future prospects. As Activision Blizzard continues to demonstrate steady financials and solid performance, investors will closely monitor its progress in the coming months.