Atlas Capital Advisors Inc. Increases Stock Position in Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS)

Atlas Capital Advisors Inc. raised its position in Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS - Free Report) by 519.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 4,532 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 3,800 shares during the quarter. Atlas Capital Advisors Inc.'s holdings in Novartis were worth $441,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Human Investing LLC acquired a new position in Novartis in the fourth quarter valued at $25,000. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA purchased a new stake in Novartis during the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in Novartis in the third quarter valued at $28,000. Kestra Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Novartis in the 4th quarter worth approximately $47,000. Finally, Clearstead Trust LLC bought a new position in Novartis in the fourth quarter worth about $51,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 13.12% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on NVS shares. UBS Group reiterated a "neutral" rating on shares of Novartis in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. StockNews.com raised Novartis from a "buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Saturday, February 8th. Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on shares of Novartis in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. They issued an "underweight" rating for the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded Novartis from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. Finally, Barclays reiterated an "underweight" rating on shares of Novartis in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating, one has assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $123.38.

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Novartis Price Performance

Shares of NVS traded down $2.02 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $101.83. The stock had a trading volume of 1,593,765 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,536,070. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a current ratio of 1.04. Novartis AG has a 12 month low of $92.35 and a 12 month high of $120.92. The stock has a market capitalization of $208.13 billion, a PE ratio of 17.34, a PEG ratio of 1.70 and a beta of 0.56. The company's 50-day moving average is $108.95 and its two-hundred day moving average is $106.59.

Novartis (NYSE:NVS - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 31st. The company reported $1.98 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.80 by $0.18. Novartis had a return on equity of 37.24% and a net margin of 23.56%. Research analysts expect that Novartis AG will post 8.45 EPS for the current year.

Novartis Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 12th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 12th were given a dividend of $3.8695 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, March 12th. Novartis's dividend payout ratio is currently 42.69%.

Novartis Profile

Novartis AG engages in the research, development, manufacture, and marketing of healthcare products in Switzerland and internationally. The company offers prescription medicines for patients and physicians. It focuses on therapeutic areas, such as cardiovascular, renal and metabolic, immunology, neuroscience, and oncology, as well as ophthalmology and hematology.