Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) Shares Up 0.1% - Should You Buy?

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE - Get Free Report) rose 0.1% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $26.08 and last traded at $25.92. Approximately 6,681,545 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 82% from the average daily volume of 37,093,660 shares. The stock had previously closed at $25.89.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on PFE shares. UBS Group decreased their price objective 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. Citigroup dropped their target price on shares of Pfizer from $30.00 to $29.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 28th. StockNews.com lowered shares of Pfizer from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 20th. Guggenheim reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a $33.00 price objective on shares of Pfizer in a research note on Monday, February 10th. Finally, Wolfe Research started coverage on Pfizer in a report on Friday, November 15th. They set an "underperform" rating and a $25.00 price objective on the stock. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given 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, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $31.92.

Pfizer Price Performance

The stock has a market cap of $149.14 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.66, a PEG ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 0.64. 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's fifty day moving average price is $26.30 and its 200-day moving average price is $27.41.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data 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 return on equity of 19.47% and a net margin of 12.62%. The firm had revenue of $17.76 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $17.26 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.10 EPS. The business's quarterly revenue was up 24.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts forecast that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.95 earnings per share for the current year.

Pfizer Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 7th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 24th will be given a $0.43 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 24th. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.54%. This is a positive change from Pfizer's previous quarterly dividend of $0.42. Pfizer's dividend payout ratio is currently 121.99%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Pfizer

In other news, Director Ronald E. Blaylock acquired 19,457 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 13th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $25.65 per share, with a total value of $499,072.05. Following the transaction, the director now owns 27,707 shares of the company's stock, valued at $710,684.55. This trade represents a 235.84 % increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 0.06% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Pfizer in the 4th quarter worth approximately $2,328,986,000. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its holdings 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 worth $4,124,330,000 after purchasing an additional 25,315,159 shares in the last quarter. Starboard Value LP purchased a new position in shares of Pfizer in the fourth quarter worth $407,730,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Pfizer in the fourth quarter worth $274,694,000. Finally, UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Pfizer by 22.4% during the third 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 in the last quarter. 68.36% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other 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.