Lazard Asset Management LLC Sells 1,500,673 Shares of Pfizer Inc. $PFE

Lazard Asset Management LLC lessened its stake in shares of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) by 81.5% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 340,255 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock after selling 1,500,673 shares during the period. Lazard Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Pfizer were worth $9,554,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Vermillion Wealth Management Inc. increased its stake in Pfizer by 19.4% in the first quarter. Vermillion Wealth Management Inc. now owns 2,352 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $66,000 after purchasing an additional 382 shares in the last quarter. Triad Wealth Partners LLC increased its position in Pfizer by 1.9% in the 4th quarter. Triad Wealth Partners LLC now owns 20,466 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $510,000 after buying an additional 386 shares in the last quarter. Eagle Capital Management LLC raised its stake in Pfizer by 0.3% during the 1st quarter. Eagle Capital Management LLC now owns 126,573 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $3,554,000 after buying an additional 390 shares during the period. ETF Store Inc. grew its stake in Pfizer by 3.8% in the fourth quarter. ETF Store Inc. now owns 10,913 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $272,000 after acquiring an additional 396 shares during the period. Finally, Delta Financial Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Pfizer by 1.6% during the first quarter. Delta Financial Advisors LLC now owns 25,266 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $709,000 after acquiring an additional 398 shares in the last quarter. 68.36% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Pfizer Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:PFE opened at $25.16 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $143.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.21 and a beta of 0.35. The company’s 50-day moving average is $25.08 and its 200 day moving average is $26.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a current ratio of 1.25. Pfizer Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $23.11 and a fifty-two week high of $28.75.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, May 5th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.72 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $14.45 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $13.84 billion. Pfizer had a return on equity of 19.44% and a net margin of 11.83%.The business’s revenue was up 5.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.92 earnings per share. Pfizer has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.800-3.000 EPS. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.96 earnings per share for the current year.

Pfizer Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 1st. Investors of record on Friday, July 24th will be issued a dividend of $0.43 per share. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 24th. Pfizer’s dividend payout ratio is 131.30%.

Key Stories Impacting Pfizer

Here are the key news stories impacting Pfizer this week:

• Positive Sentiment: The European Commission granted marketing authorization for Pfizer and BioNTech’s XFG-adapted COVID-19 vaccine for the 2026–2027 season. The approval supports continued seasonal vaccine revenue, although demand remains difficult to forecast. BioNTech and Pfizer Secure EU Approval for XFG-Adapted COVID-19 Vaccine for 2026-2027 Season
• Positive Sentiment: Québec selected Pfizer’s PREVNAR 20 for its publicly funded pediatric pneumococcal immunization program. The decision could expand vaccine adoption and provide recurring sales support in the Canadian market. Pfizer’s PREVNAR 20 Selected for Québec’s Publicly Funded Pediatric Pneumococcal Immunization Program
• Positive Sentiment: Erste Group Bank raised its fiscal 2027 Pfizer earnings estimate to $2.86 per share from $2.84. The increase, though modest, signals slightly improved confidence in the company’s future earnings trajectory. Pfizer FY2027 Earnings Estimate Update
• Neutral Sentiment: Pfizer completed a Phase 1 study evaluating formulation and dosing for ibuzatrelvir, an oral antiviral candidate. The update advances development but offers no evidence yet of efficacy or commercial approval. Pfizer Fine Tunes Ibuzatrelvir Tablet in Completed Phase 1 Study
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysts expect Pfizer to potentially beat second-quarter earnings estimates, supported by key products and cost or operational improvements. Investors are focused on whether management maintains its full-year 2026 earnings guidance of $2.80–$3.00 per share and addresses COVID-related revenue declines. Pfizer Expected to Beat Earnings Estimates
• Negative Sentiment: Investors remain cautious ahead of the earnings release because Pfizer must offset declining COVID-related sales and demonstrate progress in cancer, obesity and other growth areas. Uncertainty around guidance and the pace of its business reset may be limiting buying interest.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have commented on PFE shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on shares of Pfizer from $30.00 to $28.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, July 8th. CICC Research assumed coverage on shares of Pfizer in a report on Thursday, April 16th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $33.00 target price on the stock. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on Pfizer from $27.00 to $28.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, April 10th. Royal Bank Of Canada raised Pfizer from an “underperform” rating to a “sector perform” rating and set a $25.00 price objective for the company in a report on Tuesday, June 9th. Finally, Citigroup raised their target price on Pfizer from $26.00 to $27.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, April 29th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have given a Buy rating, fourteen have given a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $28.50.

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.