Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX) Receives $40.45 Consensus Price Target from Analysts

Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX - Get Free Report) has earned a consensus recommendation of "Hold" from the eleven analysts that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, seven have given a hold recommendation and three have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year target price among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $40.45.

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the company. StockNews.com cut Baxter International from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Monday, November 11th. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price objective on shares of Baxter International from $46.00 to $38.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 11th. Finally, Citigroup cut their target price on shares of Baxter International from $37.00 to $35.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th.

Baxter International Trading Up 2.6 %

Shares of BAX traded up $0.78 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $30.99. 6,862,403 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,864,319. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $31.24 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $34.73. 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 stock has a market capitalization of $15.82 billion, a PE ratio of 154.96, a PEG ratio of 9.38 and a beta of 0.59. Baxter International has a 52 week low of $28.33 and a 52 week high of $44.01.

Baxter International (NYSE:BAX - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, November 8th. The medical instruments supplier reported $0.80 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.78 by $0.02. Baxter International had a net margin of 0.77% and a return on equity of 18.30%. The business had revenue of $3.85 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.85 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.68 earnings per share. Baxter International's quarterly revenue was up 3.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts predict that Baxter International will post 1.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Baxter International Cuts Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 29th were paid 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 2.19%. Baxter International's payout ratio is 340.02%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in BAX. West Oak Capital LLC boosted its stake in shares of Baxter International by 345.3% in the 4th quarter. West Oak Capital LLC now owns 3,785 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $110,000 after buying an additional 2,935 shares during the last quarter. Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC boosted its position in Baxter International by 247.3% in the fourth quarter. Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC now owns 2,622 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $76,000 after purchasing an additional 1,867 shares during the last quarter. A. D. Beadell Investment Counsel Inc. bought a new position in Baxter International in the 4th quarter valued at $294,000. PVG Asset Management Corp purchased a new stake in shares of Baxter International during the 3rd quarter valued at $429,000. Finally, TD Private Client Wealth LLC raised its stake in shares of Baxter International by 29.5% during the 3rd quarter. TD Private Client Wealth LLC now owns 41,027 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $1,558,000 after purchasing an additional 9,357 shares during the period. 90.19% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Baxter International Company Profile

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.