Hunter Associates Investment Management LLC Sells 13,796 Shares of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE)

Hunter Associates Investment Management LLC trimmed its stake in shares of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE - Free Report) by 10.2% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 121,976 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock after selling 13,796 shares during the quarter. Hunter Associates Investment Management LLC's holdings in Pfizer were worth $3,240,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Wells Trecaso Financial Group LLC lifted its stake in shares of Pfizer by 2.5% in the 3rd quarter. Wells Trecaso Financial Group LLC now owns 14,361 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $416,000 after purchasing an additional 350 shares during the period. Washington Trust Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Pfizer by 0.7% during the 3rd quarter. Washington Trust Advisors Inc. now owns 49,216 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $1,424,000 after buying an additional 360 shares in the last quarter. Cullen Investment Group LTD. grew its position in shares of Pfizer by 0.9% during the 3rd quarter. Cullen Investment Group LTD. now owns 42,677 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $1,235,000 after buying an additional 377 shares during the period. PSI Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Pfizer by 1.4% in the 4th quarter. PSI Advisors LLC now owns 27,823 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $738,000 after acquiring an additional 385 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Western Pacific Wealth Management LP lifted its position in shares of Pfizer by 10.5% during the 3rd quarter. Western Pacific Wealth Management LP now owns 4,073 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $118,000 after acquiring an additional 386 shares during the period. 68.36% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Pfizer Price Performance

NYSE PFE opened at $26.89 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 1.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63. The company has a market cap of $152.41 billion, a PE ratio of 36.34, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 0.64. Pfizer Inc. has a 52 week low of $24.48 and a 52 week high of $31.54. The firm's 50-day simple moving average is $26.22 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $27.90.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 29th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.06 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.64 by $0.42. Pfizer had a net margin of 7.07% and a return on equity of 16.28%. The company had revenue of $17.70 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.92 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned ($0.17) EPS. Pfizer's revenue for the quarter was up 31.2% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts predict that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.96 earnings per share for the current year.

Pfizer Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 7th. Investors of record on Friday, January 24th will be paid a dividend of $0.43 per share. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.40%. This is a positive change from Pfizer's previous quarterly dividend of $0.42. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 24th. Pfizer's payout ratio is presently 232.44%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on PFE shares. Truist Financial dropped their price target on Pfizer from $36.00 to $32.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, December 18th. UBS Group reduced their price target on shares of Pfizer from $31.00 to $29.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Sanford C. Bernstein assumed coverage on shares of Pfizer in a report on Thursday, October 17th. They set a "market perform" rating and a $32.00 price objective on the stock. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an "overweight" rating and set a $45.00 price objective on shares of Pfizer in a report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Finally, Wolfe Research started coverage on shares of Pfizer in a report on Friday, November 15th. They issued an "underperform" rating and a $25.00 target price on the stock. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $31.92.

Pfizer Profile

Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products in the United States, Europe, and internationally. The company offers medicines and vaccines in various therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular metabolic, migraine, and women's health under the Eliquis, Nurtec ODT/Vydura, Zavzpret, and the Premarin family brands; infectious diseases with unmet medical needs under the Prevnar family, Abrysvo, Nimenrix, FSME/IMMUN-TicoVac, and Trumenba brands; and COVID-19 prevention and treatment, and potential future mRNA and antiviral products under the Comirnaty and Paxlovid brands.

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