Seizert Capital Partners LLC Acquires 9,938 Shares of The Cigna Group (NYSE:CI)

Seizert Capital Partners LLC boosted its holdings in shares of The Cigna Group (NYSE:CI) by 7.9% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 135,467 shares of the health services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 9,938 shares during the quarter. The Cigna Group accounts for about 1.7% of Seizert Capital Partners LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 29th largest position. Seizert Capital Partners LLC’s holdings in The Cigna Group were worth $37,408,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Collier Financial acquired a new position in shares of The Cigna Group in the fourth quarter worth approximately $32,000. ORG Wealth Partners LLC bought a new position in The Cigna Group during the 4th quarter worth approximately $34,000. Prospera Private Wealth LLC acquired a new position in shares of The Cigna Group in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $37,000. Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA bought a new stake in shares of The Cigna Group in the 4th quarter valued at $37,000. Finally, Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of The Cigna Group during the third quarter worth $45,000. 86.99% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

The Cigna Group Price Performance

CI stock opened at $308.90 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70, a quick ratio of 0.72 and a current ratio of 0.66. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $290.71 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $318.11. The company has a market capitalization of $85.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.98 and a beta of 0.54. The Cigna Group has a 52-week low of $262.03 and a 52-week high of $370.83.

The Cigna Group (NYSE:CI) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The health services provider reported $6.64 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $7.84 by ($1.20). The Cigna Group had a net margin of 1.39% and a return on equity of 18.61%. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $6.79 EPS. Research analysts expect that The Cigna Group will post 29.77 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The Cigna Group Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 20th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 5th will be paid a $1.51 dividend. This is a positive change from The Cigna Group’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.40. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 5th. This represents a $6.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.96%. The Cigna Group’s dividend payout ratio is presently 49.35%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on shares of The Cigna Group from $370.00 to $341.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. Oppenheimer dropped their price objective on The Cigna Group from $400.00 to $375.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, January 31st. UBS Group decreased their target price on The Cigna Group from $410.00 to $390.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on The Cigna Group from $403.00 to $379.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, January 31st. Finally, Raymond James reaffirmed a “strong-buy” rating and set a $360.00 price objective (down previously from $415.00) on shares of The Cigna Group in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $372.31.

Insider Activity

In other The Cigna Group news, insider Nicole S. Jones sold 4,904 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $308.12, for a total value of $1,511,020.48. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 29,421 shares in the company, valued at $9,065,198.52. This represents a 14.29 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO David Cordani sold 26,527 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $308.12, for a total transaction of $8,173,499.24. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 127,767 shares in the company, valued at $39,367,568.04. This trade represents a 17.19 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.60% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

About The Cigna Group

The Cigna Group, together with its subsidiaries, provides insurance and related products and services in the United States. Its Evernorth Health Services segment provides a range of coordinated and point solution health services, including pharmacy benefits, home delivery pharmacy, specialty pharmacy, distribution, and care delivery and management solutions to health plans, employers, government organizations, and health care providers.