Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC Reduces Stock Position in Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE)

Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC lessened its position in shares of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE - Free Report) by 53.1% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 171,994 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock after selling 194,696 shares during the period. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC's holdings in Pfizer were worth $4,563,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Pfizer by 0.4% during the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 518,535,151 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $13,756,738,000 after acquiring an additional 2,285,276 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Pfizer by 19.5% in the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 155,459,101 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $4,124,330,000 after purchasing an additional 25,315,159 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Pfizer by 2.5% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 120,589,782 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $3,190,131,000 after purchasing an additional 2,923,537 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Pfizer in the 4th quarter worth $2,328,986,000. Finally, Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA lifted its stake in Pfizer by 7.5% in the fourth quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 76,502,238 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $2,029,604,000 after purchasing an additional 5,350,381 shares during the last quarter. 68.36% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director Ronald E. Blaylock purchased 19,457 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 13th. The shares were bought at an average price of $25.65 per share, for a total transaction of $499,072.05. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 27,707 shares in the company, valued at approximately $710,684.55. This trade represents a 235.84 % increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 0.06% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Pfizer Trading Up 0.7 %

NYSE PFE opened at $22.95 on Monday. The stock's 50 day moving average is $24.58 and its 200 day moving average is $25.92. 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 firm has a market capitalization of $130.16 billion, a PE ratio of 16.28, a P/E/G ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 0.67. Pfizer Inc. has a twelve month low of $20.92 and a twelve month high of $31.54.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.63 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.48 by $0.15. Pfizer had a net margin of 12.62% and a return on equity of 19.47%. The firm had revenue of $17.76 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $17.26 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.10 EPS. The company's revenue was up 24.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts forecast that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Pfizer Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 13th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 9th will be given a $0.43 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 9th. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 7.49%. Pfizer's dividend payout ratio is currently 121.99%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

PFE has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and set a $25.00 price objective (down from $32.00) on shares of Pfizer in a research note on Tuesday, April 8th. Cantor Fitzgerald assumed coverage on Pfizer in a research report on Tuesday, April 22nd. They set a "neutral" rating and a $24.00 price target on the stock. Hsbc Global Res raised Pfizer to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Monday, March 10th. UBS Group decreased their target price on shares of Pfizer from $28.00 to $24.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, April 8th. Finally, Guggenheim reissued a "buy" rating on shares of Pfizer in a research report on Tuesday, March 18th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and three have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Pfizer currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $29.57.

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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