Foresight Global Investors Inc. Has $22.61 Million Stock Holdings in Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS)

Foresight Global Investors Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS) by 3.4% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 232,366 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 7,550 shares during the period. Novartis accounts for 16.5% of Foresight Global Investors Inc.’s holdings, making the stock its 3rd biggest position. Foresight Global Investors Inc.’s holdings in Novartis were worth $22,612,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Novartis by 26.9% in the fourth quarter. Foundations Investment Advisors LLC now owns 89,074 shares of the company’s stock valued at $8,668,000 after purchasing an additional 18,894 shares during the period. CWA Asset Management Group LLC lifted its position in Novartis by 20.1% during the fourth quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC now owns 30,840 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,001,000 after acquiring an additional 5,164 shares during the last quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP boosted its holdings in shares of Novartis by 135.5% during the third quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP now owns 39,976 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,598,000 after acquiring an additional 22,998 shares during the period. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Novartis in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $239,000. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Novartis by 13.7% during the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 157,256 shares of the company’s stock worth $18,088,000 after purchasing an additional 18,990 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 13.12% of the company’s stock.

Novartis Price Performance

NVS stock opened at $112.23 on Wednesday. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $105.92 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $107.48. The firm has a market cap of $229.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.09, a P/E/G ratio of 1.70 and a beta of 0.53. The company has a quick ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48. Novartis AG has a 12 month low of $92.35 and a 12 month high of $120.92.

Novartis (NYSE:NVS) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 31st. The company reported $1.98 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.80 by $0.18. Novartis had a net margin of 23.56% and a return on equity of 37.24%. On average, analysts anticipate that Novartis AG will post 8.45 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Novartis Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 12th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 12th were issued a dividend of $3.8695 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, March 12th. Novartis’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 42.69%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts recently issued reports on the company. Barclays restated an “underweight” rating on shares of Novartis in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Erste Group Bank restated a “hold” rating on shares of Novartis in a research note on Tuesday, November 19th. Morgan Stanley assumed coverage on shares of Novartis in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. They issued an “underweight” rating for the company. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Novartis from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Saturday, February 8th. Finally, UBS Group reiterated a “neutral” rating on shares of Novartis in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating, one has given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Novartis has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $123.38.

Novartis Profile

Novartis AG engages in the research, development, manufacture, and marketing of healthcare products in Switzerland and internationally. The company offers prescription medicines for patients and physicians. It focuses on therapeutic areas, such as cardiovascular, renal and metabolic, immunology, neuroscience, and oncology, as well as ophthalmology and hematology.