Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX) Receives Average Rating of “Hold” from Brokerages

Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX) has been given an average rating of “Hold” by the nine analysts that are covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price objective among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $39.44.

BAX has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. StockNews.com cut Baxter International from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, November 11th. Citigroup reduced their price target on Baxter International from $37.00 to $35.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price target on Baxter International from $46.00 to $38.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 11th.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Baxter International

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in BAX. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in Baxter International by 1.4% during the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 12,156,660 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $460,022,000 after purchasing an additional 170,776 shares during the last quarter. Entropy Technologies LP lifted its position in shares of Baxter International by 213.5% during the 3rd quarter. Entropy Technologies LP now owns 23,192 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $881,000 after acquiring an additional 15,794 shares during the last quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank boosted its stake in shares of Baxter International by 15.4% during the 3rd quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 170,855 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $6,487,000 after acquiring an additional 22,787 shares in the last quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Baxter International by 10.2% in the 4th quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 97,990 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $2,874,000 after acquiring an additional 9,054 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sivik Global Healthcare LLC raised its position in shares of Baxter International by 50.0% during the third quarter. Sivik Global Healthcare LLC now owns 150,000 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $5,696,000 after purchasing an additional 50,000 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 90.19% of the company’s stock.

Baxter International Trading Down 0.7 %

Shares of NYSE:BAX opened at $30.61 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.09, a current ratio of 1.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.31. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $30.70 and its 200 day moving average price is $34.38. The company has a market cap of $15.63 billion, a PE ratio of 153.03, a P/E/G ratio of 9.83 and a beta of 0.61. Baxter International has a fifty-two week low of $28.33 and a fifty-two week high of $44.01.

Baxter International Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be given a $0.17 dividend. This represents a $0.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.22%. Baxter International’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 340.02%.

About Baxter International

Baxter International Inc, through its subsidiaries, develops and provides a portfolio of healthcare products worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Medical Products and Therapies, Healthcare Systems and Technologies, Pharmaceuticals, and Kidney Care. The company offers sterile intravenous (IV) solutions; infusion systems and devices; parenteral nutrition therapies; generic injectable pharmaceuticals; surgical hemostat and sealant products, advanced surgical equipment; smart bed systems; patient monitoring and diagnostic technologies; and respiratory health devices, as well as advanced equipment for the surgical space, including surgical video technologies, precision positioning devices, and other accessories.