Citigroup (NYSE:C) Raised to Strong-Buy at Jefferies Financial Group

Citigroup (NYSE:C) was upgraded by equities researchers at Jefferies Financial Group to a “strong-buy” rating in a report issued on Wednesday,Zacks.com reports.

A number of other analysts have also weighed in on the stock. Barclays raised their price objective on shares of Citigroup from $115.00 to $146.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, January 5th. HSBC restated a “buy” rating and issued a $87.00 price objective on shares of Citigroup in a report on Wednesday, January 7th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their target price on Citigroup from $113.00 to $127.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. Morgan Stanley set a $152.00 price target on Citigroup in a report on Tuesday, February 17th. Finally, Wolfe Research reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $141.00 price objective on shares of Citigroup in a report on Wednesday, January 7th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have given a Buy rating and five have issued a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $127.71.

Citigroup Stock Down 1.9%

Shares of NYSE:C opened at $112.32 on Wednesday. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $113.11 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $107.97. The stock has a market capitalization of $196.49 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.12, a PEG ratio of 0.73 and a beta of 1.17. Citigroup has a 12-month low of $55.51 and a 12-month high of $125.16. The company has a current ratio of 1.00, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.63.

Citigroup (NYSE:C) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, January 14th. The company reported $1.81 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.65 by $0.16. Citigroup had a return on equity of 8.28% and a net margin of 8.50%.The firm had revenue of $19.87 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $20.99 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.34 earnings per share. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 2.1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts anticipate that Citigroup will post 7.53 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Citigroup news, insider Cantu Ernesto Torres sold 43,173 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $111.09, for a total value of $4,796,088.57. Following the transaction, the insider owned 45,835 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $5,091,810.15. This represents a 48.50% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.08% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Citigroup

Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Brookstone Capital Management raised its position in Citigroup by 31.5% during the third quarter. Brookstone Capital Management now owns 75,914 shares of the company’s stock valued at $7,705,000 after acquiring an additional 18,176 shares in the last quarter. Permanent Capital Management LP acquired a new stake in shares of Citigroup during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $1,238,000. Donaldson Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Citigroup in the 3rd quarter valued at $58,994,000. Penobscot Investment Management Company Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Citigroup by 61.5% in the 3rd quarter. Penobscot Investment Management Company Inc. now owns 57,033 shares of the company’s stock valued at $5,789,000 after purchasing an additional 21,720 shares during the period. Finally, Perigon Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in Citigroup by 27.2% during the third quarter. Perigon Wealth Management LLC now owns 75,566 shares of the company’s stock worth $7,670,000 after buying an additional 16,171 shares in the last quarter. 71.72% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Key Stories Impacting Citigroup

Here are the key news stories impacting Citigroup this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Jefferies initiated coverage of Citigroup with a Buy rating and a $135 price target (~20% upside from recent levels), which can attract demand and institutional interest. Jefferies initiates coverage of Citigroup (C) with buy recommendation
• Positive Sentiment: Market note: Citigroup was cited in coverage saying the stock jumped after securing a BlackRock ETF-related mandate and following recent U.S. dollar & RMB bond issuances — this signals revenue upside from asset-servicing/middle‑office work and steady funding execution. Citigroup (C) Is Up 5.6% After BlackRock ETF Mandate And Bond Issuances
• Positive Sentiment: Citigroup is pursuing payments initiatives and advancing its payments business (including crypto/FX rails and product development), which could expand fee income over time if execution continues. Citi pursues payments advances
• Neutral Sentiment: Citibank announced the redemption of $2B of fixed‑rate notes and $1B of floating‑rate notes due 2026 — a liability management step that reduces near‑term debt but is largely a financing/cash‑management action. Citibank Announces $2 Billion Redemption of 5.438% Notes Due 2026 and $1 Billion Redemption of Floating Rate Notes Due 2026
• Neutral Sentiment: Citi research/commentary is active in crypto policy coverage — e.g., notes that proposed limits on stablecoin rewards may slow USDC growth — demonstrating the bank’s involvement in payments and digital‑asset policy but with limited immediate P&L impact. Citigroup: Stablecoin Rewards Limits May Slow USDC Growth
• Negative Sentiment: Senior departure: Citigroup’s top Asia banker/co‑head of Asia investment banking (Metzger) has left for Standard Chartered — investor concern could arise over regional leadership turnover and potential client/coverage disruption. Citigroup top Asia banker Metzger leaves role at StanChart

Citigroup Company 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.