Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) Stock Price Up 0.7% – Should You Buy?

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) was up 0.7% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $25.58 and last traded at $25.66. Approximately 6,768,297 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 82% from the average daily volume of 37,329,668 shares. The stock had previously closed at $25.47.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have recently commented on PFE. Sanford C. Bernstein assumed coverage on shares of Pfizer in a report on Thursday, October 17th. They set a “market perform” rating and a $32.00 price objective for the company. Truist Financial dropped their target price on shares of Pfizer from $36.00 to $32.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, December 18th. Wolfe Research initiated coverage on shares of Pfizer in a research note on Friday, November 15th. They issued an “underperform” rating and a $25.00 target price for the company. Evercore ISI upgraded shares of Pfizer to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, Bank of America reiterated a “neutral” rating and set a $29.00 price target on shares of Pfizer in a research report on Tuesday, December 10th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Pfizer has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $31.92.

Pfizer Stock Up 0.8 %

The company has a market capitalization of $145.44 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.20, a PEG ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 0.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a current ratio of 1.00. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $26.28 and a 200 day moving average price of $27.63.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 4th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.63 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.48 by $0.15. Pfizer had a net margin of 12.62% and a return on equity of 19.47%. The business had revenue of $17.76 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $17.26 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.10 earnings per share. The company’s revenue was up 24.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts forecast that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Pfizer Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 7th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 24th will be paid a dividend of $0.43 per share. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.70%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 24th. This is a positive change from Pfizer’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.42. Pfizer’s dividend payout ratio is 121.99%.

Institutional Trading of Pfizer

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in PFE. Inlight Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Pfizer in the fourth quarter worth $3,236,000. Quinn Opportunity Partners LLC increased its holdings in Pfizer by 23.1% in the 4th quarter. Quinn Opportunity Partners LLC now owns 557,728 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $14,797,000 after buying an additional 104,818 shares in the last quarter. Heritage Trust Co bought a new stake in Pfizer in the 4th quarter worth about $2,261,000. Jaffetilchin Investment Partners LLC increased its holdings in Pfizer by 217.6% in the 4th quarter. Jaffetilchin Investment Partners LLC now owns 100,764 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $2,673,000 after buying an additional 69,035 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Summit Financial Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its position in Pfizer by 36.8% in the fourth quarter. Summit Financial Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 107,012 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $2,804,000 after purchasing an additional 28,815 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.36% of the company’s stock.

About Pfizer

Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products in the United States, Europe, and internationally. The company offers medicines and vaccines in various therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular metabolic, migraine, and women's health under the Eliquis, Nurtec ODT/Vydura, Zavzpret, and the Premarin family brands; infectious diseases with unmet medical needs under the Prevnar family, Abrysvo, Nimenrix, FSME/IMMUN-TicoVac, and Trumenba brands; and COVID-19 prevention and treatment, and potential future mRNA and antiviral products under the Comirnaty and Paxlovid brands.