Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS) Shares Sold by SG Americas Securities LLC

SG Americas Securities LLC decreased its holdings in shares of Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS - Free Report) by 51.4% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 10,348 shares of the company's stock after selling 10,948 shares during the period. SG Americas Securities LLC's holdings in Novartis were worth $1,007,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of NVS. Steigerwald Gordon & Koch Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Novartis by 4.8% in the third quarter. Steigerwald Gordon & Koch Inc. now owns 2,091 shares of the company's stock worth $241,000 after buying an additional 95 shares during the last quarter. Centaurus Financial Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Novartis by 1.7% in the third quarter. Centaurus Financial Inc. now owns 5,728 shares of the company's stock valued at $659,000 after purchasing an additional 98 shares during the period. FLC Capital Advisors raised its stake in shares of Novartis by 4.4% in the third quarter. FLC Capital Advisors now owns 2,366 shares of the company's stock worth $272,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Clear Harbor Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Novartis by 2.3% during the third quarter. Clear Harbor Asset Management LLC now owns 4,423 shares of the company's stock worth $509,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the period. Finally, Allen Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in Novartis by 1.8% in the third quarter. Allen Wealth Management LLC now owns 5,788 shares of the company's stock valued at $666,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. 13.12% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have commented on the stock. HSBC cut shares of Novartis from a "hold" rating to a "reduce" rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 4th. Erste Group Bank restated a "hold" rating on shares of Novartis in a research report on Tuesday, November 19th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets increased their price target on Novartis from $118.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock a "market perform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and six have assigned a hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $123.38.

Novartis Price Performance

Shares of NVS stock traded up $1.25 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $103.09. 2,375,144 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,739,364. Novartis AG has a 52-week low of $92.35 and a 52-week high of $120.92. The company has a quick ratio of 0.90, a current ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55. The company has a market cap of $210.72 billion, a PE ratio of 11.97, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 0.57. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $100.07 and a 200 day moving average of $108.57.

Novartis (NYSE:NVS - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 29th. The company reported $2.06 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.94 by $0.12. The company had revenue of $12.82 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $12.62 billion. Novartis had a return on equity of 34.80% and a net margin of 35.96%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.74 earnings per share. Research analysts anticipate that Novartis AG will post 7.62 earnings per share for the current year.

About Novartis

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.