Proficio Capital Partners LLC Takes Position in Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS)

Proficio Capital Partners LLC bought a new stake in Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm bought 2,312 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $225,000.

Other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Bryn Mawr Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Novartis by 0.8% during the fourth quarter. Bryn Mawr Capital Management LLC now owns 12,884 shares of the company's stock worth $1,254,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Rothschild Investment LLC increased its position in Novartis by 0.6% during the fourth quarter. Rothschild Investment LLC now owns 16,682 shares of the company's stock worth $1,623,000 after acquiring an additional 101 shares during the period. Meridian Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in Novartis by 2.6% during the 4th quarter. Meridian Wealth Management LLC now owns 4,161 shares of the company's stock valued at $405,000 after purchasing an additional 106 shares during the last quarter. Angeles Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in Novartis by 3.5% in the 4th quarter. Angeles Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,249 shares of the company's stock valued at $316,000 after purchasing an additional 110 shares during the period. Finally, Heritage Family Offices LLP grew its position in Novartis by 1.9% in the 4th quarter. Heritage Family Offices LLP now owns 6,107 shares of the company's stock worth $594,000 after purchasing an additional 112 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 13.12% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have recently commented on the stock. StockNews.com raised shares of Novartis from a "buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Saturday, February 8th. Barclays reiterated an "underweight" rating on shares of Novartis in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. HSBC lowered Novartis from a "hold" rating to a "reduce" rating in a report on Wednesday, December 4th. UBS Group reaffirmed a "neutral" rating on shares of Novartis in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. Finally, Morgan Stanley started coverage on shares of Novartis in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. They set an "underweight" rating on the stock. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating, one has issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $123.38.

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Novartis Price Performance

NVS stock traded up $1.29 during trading on Friday, hitting $112.69. The company had a trading volume of 2,537,924 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,493,163. Novartis AG has a fifty-two week low of $92.35 and a fifty-two week high of $120.92. The company has a current ratio of 1.04, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $107.92 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $107.19. The company has a market cap of $230.34 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.17, a P/E/G ratio of 1.70 and a beta of 0.53.

Novartis (NYSE:NVS - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 31st. The company reported $1.98 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.80 by $0.18. Novartis had a return on equity of 37.24% and a net margin of 23.56%. Equities research analysts expect that Novartis AG will post 8.45 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Novartis Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 12th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 12th were issued a dividend of $3.8695 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, March 12th. Novartis's dividend payout ratio is currently 42.69%.

Novartis Company Profile

Novartis AG engages in the research, development, manufacture, and marketing of healthcare products in Switzerland and internationally. The company offers prescription medicines for patients and physicians. It focuses on therapeutic areas, such as cardiovascular, renal and metabolic, immunology, neuroscience, and oncology, as well as ophthalmology and hematology.