Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) Shares Up 1.4% – Should You Buy?

Shares of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) were up 1.4% on Monday . The company traded as high as $27.11 and last traded at $27.0350. Approximately 34,035,114 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 32% from the average daily volume of 49,923,309 shares. The stock had previously closed at $26.65.

Pfizer News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Pfizer this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Erste Group raised its earnings estimates for Pfizer, which supports higher forward earnings expectations and helps justify current valuations. Erste Group Bank Increases Earnings Estimates for Pfizer
• Positive Sentiment: Telescope Innovations announced installation of a second Self-Driving Laboratory at Pfizer — a signal that Pfizer is investing in automated R&D platforms that could accelerate drug discovery efficiency (small direct revenue impact but positive for long-term R&D productivity). Telescope Innovations Installs Second Self-Driving Lab at Pfizer
• Positive Sentiment: Pfizer appears on dividend-focused stock lists (e.g., The Motley Fool), which can boost demand from income-oriented investors. My 5 Favorite Dividend Stocks to Buy Right Now
• Neutral Sentiment: Pfizer invited the public to listen to CEO Albert Bourla’s presentation at the TD Cowen Health Care Conference on March 2 — an event that could move the stock if management provides new guidance or program updates. Pfizer Invites Public to Listen to Webcast of Pfizer Discussion at Healthcare Conference
• Neutral Sentiment: Coverage pieces (Zacks / Yahoo) note heightened investor attention on PFE; these articles can increase trading interest but don’t by themselves change fundamentals. Pfizer Inc. (PFE) is Attracting Investor Attention: Here is What You Should Know
• Neutral Sentiment: Neutrolis appointed former Pfizer R&D chief Mikael Dolsten to its board — notable industry movement but not a direct driver for Pfizer’s near-term results. Neutrolis Appoints Mikael Dolsten, M.D., Ph.D., to Board of Directors as Executive Director

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on Pfizer from $32.00 to $28.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, December 12th. Bank of America lowered their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $29.00 to $28.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, December 15th. The Goldman Sachs Group reiterated a “neutral” rating and set a $26.00 price objective on shares of Pfizer in a report on Wednesday, November 5th. Sanford C. Bernstein restated a “market perform” rating and issued a $30.00 target price on shares of Pfizer in a report on Friday, October 31st. Finally, Wolfe Research set a $24.00 price target on shares of Pfizer and gave the company an “underperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 17th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have assigned a Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $27.84.

Pfizer Price Performance

The stock has a market cap of $153.71 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.88 and a beta of 0.47. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $25.95 and a 200-day simple moving average of $25.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a current ratio of 1.28.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 3rd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.66 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.57 by $0.09. Pfizer had a net margin of 12.42% and a return on equity of 20.25%. The company had revenue of $17.56 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $16.93 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.63 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.95 EPS for the current year.

Pfizer Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 6th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 23rd will be paid a dividend of $0.43 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 23rd. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.4%. Pfizer’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 126.47%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Pfizer

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of PFE. Virtu Financial LLC raised its stake in shares of Pfizer by 87.5% in the fourth quarter. Virtu Financial LLC now owns 477,207 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $11,882,000 after buying an additional 222,761 shares during the period. Blue Capital Inc. purchased a new stake in Pfizer in the 4th quarter worth about $216,000. MV Capital Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Pfizer in the 4th quarter worth about $287,000. Cambient Family Office LLC bought a new stake in Pfizer in the 4th quarter valued at about $531,000. Finally, White Knight Strategic Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Pfizer by 68.5% during the fourth quarter. White Knight Strategic Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 25,036 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $623,000 after purchasing an additional 10,174 shares during the last quarter. 68.36% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Pfizer Company Profile

Pfizer Inc (NYSE: PFE) is a multinational biopharmaceutical company headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1849 by Charles Pfizer and Charles Erhart, the company researches, develops, manufactures and commercializes a broad range of medicines and vaccines for human health. Its activities span discovery research, clinical development, regulatory affairs, manufacturing and global commercial distribution across multiple therapeutic areas.

Pfizer’s portfolio and pipeline cover oncology, immunology, cardiology, endocrinology, rare diseases, hospital acute care and anti-infectives, along with a substantial vaccine business.