Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) Trading Down 0.6% - Time to Sell?

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE - Get Free Report)'s stock price dropped 0.6% during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as $26.22 and last traded at $26.33. Approximately 9,563,980 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 69% from the average daily volume of 31,057,445 shares. The stock had previously closed at $26.49.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

PFE has been the topic of several recent research reports. Wolfe Research assumed coverage on Pfizer in a report on Friday, November 15th. They set an "underperform" rating and a $25.00 target price on the stock. StockNews.com lowered Pfizer from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 20th. Citigroup assumed coverage on shares of Pfizer in a research report on Friday, October 25th. They set a "neutral" rating and a $30.00 target price for the company. 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 report on Wednesday, December 18th. Finally, Evercore ISI upgraded shares of Pfizer to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $32.00.

Pfizer Trading Down 0.7 %

The firm has a market cap of $149.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.55, a P/E/G ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 0.64. The firm's 50-day moving average is $26.08 and its 200-day moving average is $27.99. 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 issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 29th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.06 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.64 by $0.42. Pfizer had a net margin of 7.07% and a return on equity of 16.28%. The firm had revenue of $17.70 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $14.92 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned ($0.17) earnings per share. The business's revenue was up 31.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.94 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. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 24th will be paid a $0.43 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 24th. This is an increase from Pfizer's previous quarterly dividend of $0.42. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.54%. Pfizer's dividend payout ratio is 232.43%.

Insider Activity

In other 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 cost of $28.24 per share, for a total transaction of $28,240.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 10,000 shares in the company, valued at $282,400. This trade represents a 11.11 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Corporate insiders own 0.06% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Pfizer

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC purchased a new position in shares of Pfizer in the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. Gladius Capital Management LP boosted its stake in Pfizer by 102.8% in the third quarter. Gladius Capital Management LP now owns 1,043 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 38,015 shares during the last quarter. Quarry LP purchased a new position in Pfizer in the second quarter valued at about $31,000. Teachers Insurance & Annuity Association of America bought a new position in shares of Pfizer during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Finally, Joseph Group Capital Management increased its stake in shares of Pfizer by 168.3% during the 3rd quarter. Joseph Group Capital Management now owns 1,229 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 771 shares during 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.