Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) Trading 0.7% Higher - Should You Buy?

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE - Get Free Report) shares were up 0.7% during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $26.18 and last traded at $25.92. Approximately 10,568,725 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 73% from the average daily volume of 38,627,828 shares. The stock had previously closed at $25.75.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

PFE has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Citigroup cut their target price on Pfizer from $30.00 to $29.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, January 28th. Truist Financial dropped 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. Wolfe Research initiated coverage on Pfizer in a research report on Friday, November 15th. They set an "underperform" rating and a $25.00 price objective for the company. StockNews.com cut Pfizer from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 20th. Finally, UBS Group reduced their price target on Pfizer from $31.00 to $29.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $31.92.

Pfizer Stock Performance

The company's 50-day simple moving average is $26.32 and its 200-day simple moving average is $27.28. The stock has a market cap of $146.87 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.39, a price-to-earnings-growth 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.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.63 earnings per share (EPS) 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 business had revenue of $17.76 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $17.26 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.10 EPS. The company's quarterly revenue was up 24.7% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts predict that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Pfizer Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 7th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 24th will be paid a $0.43 dividend. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.64%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 24th. 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

In related news, Director Ronald E. Blaylock acquired 19,457 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 13th. The shares were acquired at an average price of $25.65 per share, for a total transaction of $499,072.05. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now owns 27,707 shares in the company, valued at approximately $710,684.55. The trade was a 235.84 % 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 currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in PFE. Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC acquired a new position in Pfizer in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Rialto Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Pfizer in the fourth quarter valued at $26,000. Clarity Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Pfizer during the fourth quarter worth $27,000. Gould Capital LLC increased its holdings in Pfizer by 97.2% in the 4th quarter. Gould Capital LLC now owns 1,000 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 493 shares during the period. Finally, Gladius Capital Management LP raised its stake in shares of Pfizer by 102.8% in the 3rd quarter. Gladius Capital Management LP now owns 1,043 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 38,015 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 68.36% of the company's stock.

Pfizer Company 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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