EagleClaw Capital Managment LLC Acquires 2,700 Shares of Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS)

EagleClaw Capital Managment LLC grew its stake in Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS - Free Report) by 12.0% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 25,134 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 2,700 shares during the quarter. EagleClaw Capital Managment LLC's holdings in Novartis were worth $2,446,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in NVS. Fisher Asset Management LLC raised its position in shares of Novartis by 17.4% in the 4th quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 2,002,959 shares of the company's stock valued at $194,908,000 after acquiring an additional 296,950 shares during the period. FMR LLC raised its holdings in Novartis by 5.5% in the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 1,353,412 shares of the company's stock worth $155,669,000 after purchasing an additional 70,314 shares during the period. Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLC boosted its position in shares of Novartis by 4.7% during the fourth quarter. Chevy Chase Trust Holdings LLC now owns 1,161,139 shares of the company's stock worth $112,990,000 after purchasing an additional 52,044 shares in the last quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Novartis by 2.9% in the 3rd quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC now owns 938,844 shares of the company's stock valued at $107,986,000 after buying an additional 26,317 shares during the period. Finally, Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Novartis in the 4th quarter valued at $88,339,000. Institutional investors own 13.12% of the company's stock.

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Novartis Stock Down 3.5 %

Shares of NVS traded down $3.99 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $111.48. 2,021,182 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,066,343. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $104.38 and a 200 day simple moving average of $107.87. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a current ratio of 1.04 and a quick ratio of 0.84. The company has a market cap of $227.87 billion, a PE ratio of 18.96, a P/E/G ratio of 1.70 and a beta of 0.53. Novartis AG has a 52 week low of $92.35 and a 52 week high of $120.92.

Novartis (NYSE:NVS - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Friday, January 31st. The company reported $1.98 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.80 by $0.18. Novartis had a net margin of 23.56% and a return on equity of 37.24%. On average, research analysts forecast that Novartis AG will post 8.45 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have weighed in on the company. Erste Group Bank reiterated a "hold" rating on shares of Novartis in a report on Tuesday, November 19th. Barclays reiterated an "underweight" rating on shares of Novartis in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised Novartis from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. UBS Group reaffirmed a "neutral" rating on shares of Novartis in a research note on Thursday, February 13th. Finally, HSBC downgraded shares of Novartis from a "hold" rating to a "reduce" rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 4th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating, one has assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $123.38.

Novartis Profile

Novartis AG engages in the research, development, manufacture, and marketing of healthcare products in Switzerland and internationally. The company offers prescription medicines for patients and physicians. It focuses on therapeutic areas, such as cardiovascular, renal and metabolic, immunology, neuroscience, and oncology, as well as ophthalmology and hematology.