In its most recent 13F filing with the SEC, Albion Financial Group UT disclosed a 4.9% increase in its BlackRock position during the third quarter. The fund acquired an additional 1,289 shares, bringing its total holding to 27,528 shares. At quarter end, this stake represented 1.9% of Albion’s investment portfolio and ranked as its 12th largest holding, with a reported value of $32,094,000.

Several other hedge funds and institutional investors also modified their BlackRock holdings over recent quarters. Pacifica Partners Inc. grew its position by 450%, taking ownership of 22 shares valued at $25,000. Garde Capital Inc. doubled its stake in the second quarter to 27 shares worth $28,000, while Traub Capital Management LLC initiated a new position valued at approximately $28,000. Whipplewood Advisors LLC more than doubled its holdings to 29 shares in the second quarter, and Game Plan Financial Advisors LLC increased its first-quarter stake to 30 shares, valued at $28,000. Collectively, institutional investors now own 80.69% of BlackRock’s outstanding shares.

Seventeen analysts currently carry Buy recommendations on BlackRock shares, with three issuing Hold ratings. Notable actions include Argus raising its price objective from 1,165 to 1,330 and maintaining a Buy rating, and Morgan Stanley increasing its target from 1,486 to 1,514 with an Overweight designation. Goldman Sachs reiterated a Buy rating with a 1,313 target, while JPMorgan upgraded its neutral target to 1,242. The consensus price target across these analysts stands at 1,316.18, reflecting broad optimism about BlackRock’s growth trajectory.

For the third quarter, BlackRock reported earnings per share of 11.55, slightly below consensus estimates of 11.78, on revenue of 6.51 billion, surpassing forecasts of 6.22 billion. Year-over-year, revenue rose 25.2%, and net margin stood at 26.64% with return on equity of 14.80%. The firm also declared a quarterly dividend of 5.21 per share, equating to an annualized distribution of 20.84 and a payout ratio of 53.59%. Additionally, CFO Martin Small and Director Rachel Lord reduced their personal holdings by 16.85% and 62.48%, respectively, through sales disclosed in SEC filings.