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

Apollo Global Management, Inc. (NYSE:APO) saw some unusual options trading on Friday. Stock traders bought 21,603 call options on the company. This represents an increase of approximately 48% compared to the typical volume of 14,556 call options.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on APO shares. Evercore ISI upped their price target on Apollo Global Management from $150.00 to $174.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of Apollo Global Management from $111.00 to $137.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 10th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price objective on shares of Apollo Global Management from $141.00 to $155.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. BMO Capital Markets raised their target price on shares of Apollo Global Management from $138.00 to $157.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 6th. Finally, Wolfe Research assumed coverage on Apollo Global Management in a research note on Wednesday, September 25th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $139.00 price target on the stock. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and sixteen have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $155.05.

Apollo Global Management Stock Performance

APO stock opened at $167.50 on Friday. 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 has a 1 year low of $88.58 and a 1 year high of $169.58. The company has a market cap of $94.77 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.50, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.74 and a beta of 1.59. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $143.02 and its 200-day moving average price is $124.45.

Apollo Global Management Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, November 29th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 18th will be paid a dividend of $0.463 per share. This is an increase from Apollo Global Management’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.46. This represents a $1.85 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.11%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, November 18th. Apollo Global Management’s payout ratio is currently 19.33%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Apollo Global Management

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Apollo Global Management during the 2nd quarter worth $35,000. Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA bought a new stake in Apollo Global Management during the third quarter valued at about $35,000. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV increased its position in Apollo Global Management by 293.2% in the second quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 464 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $55,000 after buying an additional 346 shares in the last quarter. Prospera Private Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in Apollo Global Management in the third quarter worth about $80,000. Finally, Mather Group LLC. raised its stake in shares of Apollo Global Management by 826.9% in the second quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 723 shares of the financial services provider’s stock worth $81,000 after buying an additional 645 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 77.06% of the company’s stock.

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.