Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) Shares Up 1.8% - Still a Buy?

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE - Get Free Report)'s share price rose 1.8% during mid-day trading on Friday . The company traded as high as $25.64 and last traded at $25.59. Approximately 8,927,758 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 77% from the average daily volume of 38,337,441 shares. The stock had previously closed at $25.13.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have weighed in on the company. Daiwa America raised Pfizer from a "moderate buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, August 7th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of Pfizer from $28.00 to $30.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 31st. Sanford C. Bernstein started coverage on shares of Pfizer in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. They set a "market perform" rating and a $32.00 target price for the company. UBS Group increased their price target on shares of Pfizer from $30.00 to $31.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 31st. Finally, StockNews.com lowered Pfizer from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $32.92.

Pfizer Price Performance

The business's 50 day moving average price is $28.28 and its 200-day moving average price is $28.58. 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 $145.02 billion, a PE ratio of 34.58, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.80 and a beta of 0.67.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 29th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.06 earnings per share 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 analyst estimates of $14.92 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned ($0.17) EPS. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 31.2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, analysts forecast that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.95 earnings per share for the current year.

Pfizer Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 2nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 8th will be issued a $0.42 dividend. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.57%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 8th. Pfizer's dividend payout ratio is presently 227.03%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Scott Gottlieb purchased 1,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, October 30th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $28.24 per share, with a total value of $28,240.00. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 10,000 shares in the company, valued at approximately $282,400. This trade represents a 11.11 % increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 0.06% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Pfizer

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. State Street Corp increased its stake in Pfizer by 1.2% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 290,460,600 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $8,405,930,000 after buying an additional 3,405,539 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Pfizer by 11.0% during the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 130,143,942 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $3,766,366,000 after acquiring an additional 12,864,343 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Pfizer by 1.6% during the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 117,666,245 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $3,392,342,000 after purchasing an additional 1,855,419 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA lifted its position in Pfizer by 3.2% in the second quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 71,794,056 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $2,008,798,000 after purchasing an additional 2,241,609 shares during the period. Finally, UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC increased its position in shares of Pfizer by 22.4% during the 3rd quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 38,068,879 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $1,101,713,000 after purchasing an additional 6,977,587 shares during the period. 68.36% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About Pfizer

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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