Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) Stock Price Down 0.1% - What's Next?

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE - Get Free Report)'s share price dropped 0.1% on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as $25.17 and last traded at $25.50. Approximately 8,702,593 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 77% from the average daily volume of 37,577,535 shares. The stock had previously closed at $25.53.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

PFE has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an "overweight" rating and set a $45.00 price objective on shares of Pfizer in a research note on Wednesday, October 23rd. Wolfe Research started coverage on shares of Pfizer in a research note on Friday, November 15th. They issued an "underperform" rating and a $25.00 price target on the stock. Evercore ISI upgraded shares of Pfizer to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Truist Financial decreased their price target on shares of Pfizer from $36.00 to $32.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, December 18th. Finally, Guggenheim reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a $33.00 price target on shares of Pfizer in a research note on Monday, February 10th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Pfizer has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $31.92.

Pfizer Stock Performance

The stock's 50-day simple moving average is $26.28 and its 200-day simple moving average is $27.58. The stock has a market cap of $144.48 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 0.64. The company has a current ratio of 1.00, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63.

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

Pfizer Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 7th. Investors of record on Friday, January 24th will be given a dividend of $0.43 per share. This is a positive change from Pfizer's previous quarterly dividend of $0.42. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 24th. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.75%. Pfizer's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 121.99%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Ronald E. Blaylock acquired 19,457 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 13th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $25.65 per share, with a total value 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 ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 0.06% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Pfizer

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Wells Trecaso Financial Group LLC lifted its stake in 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 last quarter. Washington Trust Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in Pfizer by 0.7% in the 3rd quarter. Washington Trust Advisors Inc. now owns 49,216 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $1,424,000 after purchasing an additional 360 shares during the last quarter. PSI Advisors LLC lifted its stake in 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 purchasing an additional 385 shares during the last quarter. Western Pacific Wealth Management LP lifted its stake in Pfizer by 10.5% in the 3rd quarter. Western Pacific Wealth Management LP now owns 4,073 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $118,000 after purchasing an additional 386 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Waddell & Associates LLC lifted its stake in Pfizer by 1.6% in the 3rd quarter. Waddell & Associates LLC now owns 24,978 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $723,000 after purchasing an additional 388 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 68.36% of the company's stock.

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.