Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) Trading 2.1% Higher – Should You Buy?

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) shares traded up 2.1% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $27.73 and last traded at $27.61. 43,662,023 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 18% from the average session volume of 53,105,105 shares. The stock had previously closed at $27.05.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have weighed in on PFE shares. Cantor Fitzgerald restated a “neutral” rating and set a $27.00 price objective on shares of Pfizer in a research note on Wednesday, February 4th. Zacks Research cut Pfizer from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a research report on Monday, January 26th. UBS Group initiated coverage on Pfizer in a research note on Tuesday, January 6th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $25.00 price target for the company. Guggenheim reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Pfizer in a report on Wednesday, December 17th. Finally, Citigroup started coverage on shares of Pfizer in a report on Tuesday, December 2nd. They set a “neutral” rating and a $26.00 price target on the stock. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have given a Buy rating, twelve have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $28.06.

Pfizer Price Performance

The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $25.65 and a 200-day simple moving average of $25.11. The firm has a market cap of $156.98 billion, a PE ratio of 20.30 and a beta of 0.47. The company has a current ratio of 1.28, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) last posted its 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 analysts’ expectations of $16.93 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.63 earnings per share. Pfizer’s quarterly revenue was down 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts anticipate that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Pfizer Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 6th. Investors of record on Friday, January 23rd will be given a $0.43 dividend. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 23rd. Pfizer’s dividend payout ratio is 126.47%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Pfizer

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Horizon Financial Services LLC lifted its stake in Pfizer by 174.8% in the fourth quarter. Horizon Financial Services LLC now owns 1,014 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 645 shares during the period. Godfrey Financial Associates Inc. purchased a new position in Pfizer during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Curio Wealth LLC raised its stake in Pfizer by 36,600.0% in the second quarter. Curio Wealth LLC now owns 1,101 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 1,098 shares in the last quarter. YANKCOM Partnership bought a new position in Pfizer in the fourth quarter worth approximately $28,000. Finally, HFM Investment Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Pfizer by 61.0% during the fourth quarter. HFM Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,127 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 427 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 68.36% of the company’s stock.

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.