Apollo Global Management Target of Unusually High Options Trading (NYSE:APO)

Apollo Global Management, Inc. (NYSE:APO) was the target of some unusual options trading on Friday. Stock traders acquired 32,807 call options on the stock. This represents an increase of approximately 103% compared to the average volume of 16,148 call options.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Leon D. Black sold 133,400 shares of the firm’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 transaction, the insider now directly owns 35,471,373 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,177,694,321.68. This trade represents a 0.37 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CFO Martin Kelly sold 5,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $172.61, for a total transaction of $863,050.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 320,564 shares in the company, valued at $55,332,552.04. The trade was a 1.54 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 196,600 shares of company stock worth $34,186,128 over the last quarter. 8.50% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Apollo Global Management

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in Apollo Global Management in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $39,000. UMB Bank n.a. raised its holdings in shares of Apollo Global Management by 447.1% in the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 279 shares of the financial services provider’s stock valued at $46,000 after purchasing an additional 228 shares in the last quarter. Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA acquired a new stake in shares of Apollo Global Management in the 3rd quarter valued at $35,000. Versant Capital Management Inc lifted its position in shares of Apollo Global Management by 203.6% during the 4th quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 501 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $83,000 after purchasing an additional 336 shares during the last quarter. Finally, ORG Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Apollo Global Management during the fourth quarter worth $97,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 77.06% of the company’s stock.

Apollo Global Management Stock Up 0.5 %

APO stock traded up $0.89 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $166.81. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 3,580,328 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,568,194. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $169.09 and a 200-day simple moving average of $139.35. The firm has a market capitalization of $94.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.43, a PEG ratio of 1.20 and a beta of 1.63. The company has a quick ratio of 1.44, a current ratio of 1.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33. Apollo Global Management has a 52-week low of $95.11 and a 52-week high of $189.49.

Apollo Global Management Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, November 29th. Investors of record on Monday, November 18th were issued a $0.463 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 18th. This is a positive change from Apollo Global Management’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.46. This represents a $1.85 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.11%. Apollo Global Management’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 19.33%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have weighed in on APO. UBS Group raised Apollo Global Management to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 13th. Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Apollo Global Management from $174.00 to $200.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, December 9th. TD Cowen lifted their target price on shares of Apollo Global Management from $178.00 to $230.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, December 9th. Wolfe Research began coverage on shares of Apollo Global Management in a report on Wednesday, September 25th. They set an “outperform” rating and a $139.00 price target for the company. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on shares of Apollo Global Management from $161.00 to $178.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 19th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and sixteen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Apollo Global Management currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $164.32.

Apollo Global Management Company Profile

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.