National Pension Service Acquires 278,579 Shares of Apollo Global Management, Inc. (NYSE:APO)

National Pension Service raised its holdings in shares of Apollo Global Management, Inc. (NYSE:APO) by 49.2% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 845,108 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 278,579 shares during the period. National Pension Service’s holdings in Apollo Global Management were worth $139,578,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Apollo Global Management by 4.7% in the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 5,717,266 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $713,230,000 after buying an additional 254,268 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its holdings in shares of Apollo Global Management by 42.1% in the 4th quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 2,640,758 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $436,148,000 after buying an additional 782,700 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Apollo Global Management by 27.0% in the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,806,098 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $225,600,000 after buying an additional 383,557 shares during the period. Janus Henderson Group PLC grew its holdings in shares of Apollo Global Management by 0.4% in the 3rd quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 1,339,355 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $167,298,000 after buying an additional 4,892 shares during the period. Finally, Swiss National Bank grew its holdings in shares of Apollo Global Management by 0.4% in the 3rd quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 1,182,214 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $147,670,000 after buying an additional 4,600 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 77.06% of the company’s stock.

Apollo Global Management Trading Up 1.5 %

Shares of NYSE:APO opened at $147.45 on Thursday. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $164.28 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $148.74. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 1.44 and a quick ratio of 1.44. Apollo Global Management, Inc. has a one year low of $95.11 and a one year high of $189.49. The stock has a market capitalization of $83.43 billion, a PE ratio of 20.17, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.17 and a beta of 1.63.

Apollo Global Management Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, February 28th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 18th will be given a dividend of $0.4625 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 18th. This represents a $1.85 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.25%. Apollo Global Management’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 25.31%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their price target on shares of Apollo Global Management from $141.00 to $155.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. UBS Group raised shares of Apollo Global Management to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 13th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their price target on shares of Apollo Global Management from $196.00 to $194.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, February 5th. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on shares of Apollo Global Management from $169.00 to $170.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 11th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of Apollo Global Management from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 10th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and sixteen have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $165.74.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Leon D. Black sold 133,400 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $174.16, for a total value of $23,232,944.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 35,471,373 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,177,694,321.68. This represents a 0.37 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CFO Martin Kelly sold 5,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $158.28, for a total transaction of $791,400.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 377,164 shares in the company, valued at approximately $59,697,517.92. The trade was a 1.31 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 201,600 shares of company stock valued at $34,977,528. 8.50% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

About Apollo Global Management

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.