Clearbridge Investments LLC Lowers Stock Position in Citigroup Inc. $C

Clearbridge Investments LLC cut its holdings in shares of Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C) by 35.6% during the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 452,595 shares of the company’s stock after selling 249,757 shares during the quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC’s holdings in Citigroup were worth $52,813,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of C. Truist Financial Corp grew its position in Citigroup by 4.7% in the 4th quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 375,977 shares of the company’s stock valued at $43,873,000 after buying an additional 16,744 shares during the last quarter. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC grew its position in Citigroup by 17.3% in the 3rd quarter. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC now owns 663,416 shares of the company’s stock valued at $67,337,000 after buying an additional 98,082 shares during the last quarter. Gunderson Capital Management Inc. purchased a new position in Citigroup in the 4th quarter valued at $7,165,000. Brighton Jones LLC grew its position in Citigroup by 166.9% in the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 19,990 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,407,000 after buying an additional 12,499 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Co grew its position in Citigroup by 21.9% in the 3rd quarter. Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Co now owns 341,876 shares of the company’s stock valued at $34,700,000 after buying an additional 61,500 shares during the last quarter. 71.72% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms recently weighed in on C. Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of Citigroup from $146.00 to $154.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 15th. Zacks Research lowered shares of Citigroup from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, February 20th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on shares of Citigroup from $160.00 to $162.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 29th. Piper Sandler reissued an “overweight” rating and issued a $145.00 target price (up from $125.00) on shares of Citigroup in a report on Wednesday, April 15th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on Citigroup in a report on Thursday, March 26th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $135.00 target price for the company. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have given a Buy rating and five have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $137.62.

Key Stories Impacting Citigroup

Here are the key news stories impacting Citigroup this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Citigroup strategists raised their year-end S&P 500 target to 8,100, saying strong earnings growth and continued AI-related spending are outweighing macroeconomic risks. That signals confidence in the broader market backdrop and Citi’s view that equities still have room to run. The Stock Market Just Got Crushed. Why Citi Is Raising Its S&P 500 Target.
• Positive Sentiment: Citigroup also highlighted an improving earnings outlook for its core banking business, saying it expects 5% to 6% year-over-year net interest income growth in 2026 as loan demand rises and deposit costs stabilize. That supports the case for stronger profitability ahead. Citigroup’s Path to 5-6% NII Rise in 2026: What’s Driving the Upside?
• Positive Sentiment: The bank is participating in a tokenized deposit network with other major lenders, a move that could help Citi compete in faster, blockchain-based payments as stablecoin adoption grows. Big Banks Eye Tokenized Deposits as Stablecoin Competition Heats Up
• Neutral Sentiment: Citigroup appointed Mehta as head of portfolio management in its Treasury unit, a routine leadership move that appears aimed at strengthening internal risk and liquidity oversight rather than signaling a major strategic shift. Mehta Joins Citigroup’s Treasury as Head of Portfolio Management
• Neutral Sentiment: Citigroup announced the full redemption of $3.15 billion in 2027-dated notes, which reduces outstanding debt but is mainly a normal capital-structure management action. Citigroup (C) Announces Full Redemption of $3.15B in Notes Due 2027
• Neutral Sentiment: Citigroup’s market commentary also reflected a more constructive stance on AI-driven equity spending and resilience in earnings, which is supportive for sentiment but not a direct operating update for the company itself. The Stock Market Just Got Crushed. Why Citi Is Raising Its S&P 500 Target.

Insider Transactions at Citigroup

In related news, insider Edward Skyler sold 25,000 shares of Citigroup stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, April 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $131.41, for a total transaction of $3,285,250.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 182,022 shares in the company, valued at approximately $23,919,511.02. This trade represents a 12.08% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director John Cunningham Dugan sold 2,117 shares of Citigroup stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $125.30, for a total value of $265,260.10. Following the sale, the director owned 12,194 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,527,908.20. This represents a 14.79% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Company insiders own 0.11% of the company’s stock.

Citigroup Trading Up 0.7%

NYSE:C opened at $133.34 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $227.42 billion, a PE ratio of 16.52, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.59 and a beta of 1.12. The company has a quick ratio of 0.99, a current ratio of 0.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.59. Citigroup Inc. has a 52-week low of $76.11 and a 52-week high of $135.82. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $125.29 and a 200-day simple moving average of $117.13.

Citigroup (NYSE:C) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 14th. The company reported $3.06 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.63 by $0.43. The business had revenue of $24.63 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $22.96 billion. Citigroup had a return on equity of 9.19% and a net margin of 9.35%.The business’s revenue was up 14.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.96 EPS. On average, equities research analysts expect that Citigroup Inc. will post 10.68 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Citigroup Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 22nd. Investors of record on Monday, May 4th were given a dividend of $0.60 per share. This represents a $2.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.8%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, May 4th. Citigroup’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 29.74%.

Citigroup announced that its board has approved a share repurchase program on Thursday, May 7th that authorizes the company to buyback $30.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the company to buy up to 13.7% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are generally an indication that the company’s management believes its stock is undervalued.

Citigroup Profile

Citigroup Inc is a global financial services company headquartered in New York City with roots tracing back to the City Bank of New York, founded in 1812. The modern Citigroup was created through the 1998 merger of Citicorp and Travelers Group and has since operated as a diversified bank holding company that provides a broad range of banking and financial products and services to consumers, corporations, governments and institutions worldwide.

Citi’s principal businesses include retail and commercial banking, credit card and consumer lending products, wealth management and private banking, and a full suite of institutional services.