Baxter International (BAX) to Release Quarterly Earnings on Thursday

Baxter International (NYSE:BAX - Get Free Report) is anticipated to post its quarterly earnings results before the market opens on Thursday, February 13th. Analysts expect Baxter International to post earnings of $0.52 per share and revenue of $2.67 billion for the quarter. Individual that are interested in registering for the company's earnings conference call can do so using this link.

Baxter International (NYSE:BAX - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, November 8th. The medical instruments supplier reported $0.80 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.78 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $3.85 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.85 billion. Baxter International had a return on equity of 18.30% and a net margin of 0.77%. The business's revenue was up 3.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.68 EPS. On average, analysts expect Baxter International to post $2 EPS for the current fiscal year and $2 EPS for the next fiscal year.

Baxter International Price Performance

NYSE BAX traded down $0.18 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $30.63. The company's stock had a trading volume of 2,894,301 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,554,846. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.31, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a current ratio of 1.43. The company's 50-day moving average is $30.76 and its two-hundred day moving average is $34.42. Baxter International has a fifty-two week low of $28.33 and a fifty-two week high of $44.01. The stock has a market cap of $15.64 billion, a PE ratio of 153.16, a PEG ratio of 9.83 and a beta of 0.61.

Baxter International Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 29th were given a $0.17 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 29th. This represents a $0.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.22%. Baxter International's dividend payout ratio is presently 340.00%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on the company. StockNews.com lowered Baxter International from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Monday, November 11th. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their price objective on Baxter International from $46.00 to $38.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, November 11th. Finally, Citigroup dropped their price objective on Baxter International from $37.00 to $35.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $40.90.

About Baxter International

Baxter International Inc, through its subsidiaries, develops and provides a portfolio of healthcare products worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Medical Products and Therapies, Healthcare Systems and Technologies, Pharmaceuticals, and Kidney Care. The company offers sterile intravenous (IV) solutions; infusion systems and devices; parenteral nutrition therapies; generic injectable pharmaceuticals; surgical hemostat and sealant products, advanced surgical equipment; smart bed systems; patient monitoring and diagnostic technologies; and respiratory health devices, as well as advanced equipment for the surgical space, including surgical video technologies, precision positioning devices, and other accessories.