Baxter International (NYSE:BAX) Sets New 52-Week Low - What's Next?

Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX - Get Free Report)'s stock price hit a new 52-week low during trading on Monday . The stock traded as low as $28.43 and last traded at $28.45, with a volume of 411105 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $29.20.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

BAX has been the topic of a number of research reports. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price target on Baxter International from $46.00 to $38.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 11th. StockNews.com downgraded Baxter International from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Monday, November 11th. Finally, Citigroup dropped their price target 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 equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Baxter International presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $40.45.

Baxter International Trading Down 2.0 %

The stock has a market cap of $14.62 billion, a PE ratio of 143.16, a PEG ratio of 12.74 and a beta of 0.57. 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 business has a 50-day moving average of $32.78 and a 200 day moving average of $35.09.

Baxter International (NYSE:BAX - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, November 8th. The medical instruments supplier reported $0.80 earnings per share for the quarter, beating 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 analyst estimates of $3.85 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.68 earnings per share. The company's revenue was up 3.8% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts predict that Baxter International Inc. will post 1.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Baxter International Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 29th will be given a $0.17 dividend. This represents a $0.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.38%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 29th. Baxter International's dividend payout ratio is currently 340.00%.

Institutional Trading of Baxter International

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. First PREMIER Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Baxter International during the 3rd quarter valued at $25,000. Fortitude Family Office LLC purchased a new stake in Baxter International during the third quarter valued at about $38,000. LRI Investments LLC increased its stake in Baxter International by 60.8% during the third quarter. LRI Investments LLC now owns 1,560 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $59,000 after acquiring an additional 590 shares during the last quarter. Cromwell Holdings LLC purchased a new position in shares of Baxter International in the 3rd quarter worth about $62,000. Finally, Archer Investment Corp lifted its stake in shares of Baxter International by 20.8% in the 2nd quarter. Archer Investment Corp now owns 2,235 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $75,000 after purchasing an additional 385 shares in the last quarter. 90.19% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.