GSK plc (NYSE:GSK) Receives $40.58 Average Target Price from Analysts

Shares of GSK plc (NYSE:GSK - Get Free Report) have earned an average recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from the eleven brokerages that are covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12 month target price among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $40.58.

A number of analysts have issued reports on the company. BNP Paribas assumed coverage on GSK in a report on Tuesday. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $35.25 target price on the stock. Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on shares of GSK in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. They issued an "equal weight" rating for the company. Finally, StockNews.com cut shares of GSK from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday.

Institutional Trading of GSK

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Stock Yards Bank & Trust Co. acquired a new position in GSK in the third quarter worth $210,000. World Investment Advisors LLC bought a new stake in GSK during the 3rd quarter worth about $421,000. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB bought a new position in shares of GSK in the third quarter worth about $787,000. Optimist Retirement Group LLC lifted its position in shares of GSK by 3.7% during the third quarter. Optimist Retirement Group LLC now owns 49,554 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock worth $2,026,000 after purchasing an additional 1,790 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Franklin Resources Inc. increased its holdings in shares of GSK by 8.6% in the third quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 235,348 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock valued at $9,052,000 after purchasing an additional 18,539 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 15.74% of the company's stock.

GSK Stock Up 1.5 %

NYSE GSK traded up $0.55 on Thursday, reaching $35.92. The stock had a trading volume of 4,812,738 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,650,435. GSK has a 1 year low of $31.72 and a 1 year high of $45.93. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $37.43 and a 200 day moving average price of $36.11. The company has a current ratio of 0.78, a quick ratio of 0.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.12. The company has a market capitalization of $74.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.59, a P/E/G ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 0.56.

GSK (NYSE:GSK - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The pharmaceutical company reported $0.59 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.44 by $0.15. GSK had a return on equity of 48.59% and a net margin of 8.13%. On average, analysts forecast that GSK will post 4.14 EPS for the current fiscal year.

GSK Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, April 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 21st were paid a $0.3932 dividend. This represents a $1.57 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.38%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 21st. This is an increase from GSK's previous quarterly dividend of $0.39. GSK's payout ratio is currently 100.63%.

About GSK

GSK plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the research, development, and manufacture of vaccines, and specialty and general medicines to prevent and treat disease in the United Kingdom, the United States, and internationally. It operates through two segments, Commercial Operations and Total R&D.