Baxter International (NYSE:BAX) Sets New 12-Month Low - Here's Why

Shares of Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX - Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as low as $27.12 and last traded at $27.28, with a volume of 345356 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $28.79.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have commented on BAX shares. The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on Baxter International in a research report on Wednesday, February 26th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $42.00 price objective for the company. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Baxter International from $39.00 to $41.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Monday, March 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price objective on shares of Baxter International from $38.00 to $36.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 21st. Finally, Argus upgraded shares of Baxter International from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, February 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $38.56.

Baxter International Stock Performance

The firm's 50-day moving average price is $32.74 and its 200 day moving average price is $32.96. The company has a market cap of $14.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -21.80, a PEG ratio of 0.93 and a beta of 0.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.31, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a current ratio of 1.43.

Baxter International (NYSE:BAX - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 20th. The medical instruments supplier reported $0.58 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.52 by $0.06. Baxter International had a positive return on equity of 16.67% and a negative net margin of 5.05%. The business had revenue of $2.75 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.67 billion. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Baxter International Inc. will post 2.48 EPS for the current year.

Baxter International Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th were issued a $0.17 dividend. This represents a $0.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.44%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 28th. Baxter International's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -53.13%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Baxter International

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of BAX. CKW Financial Group grew its holdings in shares of Baxter International by 19.3% in the 4th quarter. CKW Financial Group now owns 2,625 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $77,000 after acquiring an additional 425 shares in the last quarter. Rothschild Investment LLC boosted its position in Baxter International by 3.4% during the first quarter. Rothschild Investment LLC now owns 14,479 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $496,000 after purchasing an additional 481 shares during the last quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB grew its stake in Baxter International by 48.1% in the first quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 2,021 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $69,000 after purchasing an additional 656 shares in the last quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. increased its position in shares of Baxter International by 5.8% during the 4th quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. now owns 13,618 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $397,000 after purchasing an additional 752 shares during the last quarter. Finally, CoreFirst Bank & Trust bought a new stake in shares of Baxter International during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.19% of the company's stock.

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.