Wedbush Securities Inc. Sells 433 Shares of Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS)

Wedbush Securities Inc. lessened its stake in Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS) by 11.8% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 3,223 shares of the company’s stock after selling 433 shares during the period. Wedbush Securities Inc.’s holdings in Novartis were worth $314,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Human Investing LLC acquired a new stake in Novartis during the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA bought a new stake in Novartis during the 4th quarter worth about $27,000. Kestra Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in Novartis during the 4th quarter worth about $47,000. Clearstead Trust LLC bought a new stake in Novartis during the 4th quarter worth about $51,000. Finally, Brooklyn Investment Group bought a new stake in shares of Novartis in the 4th quarter valued at about $55,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 13.12% of the company’s stock.

Novartis Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:NVS opened at $104.04 on Thursday. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $108.95 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $106.59. Novartis AG has a 12-month low of $92.35 and a 12-month high of $120.92. The firm has a market cap of $212.66 billion, a PE ratio of 17.69, a PEG ratio of 1.70 and a beta of 0.56. 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 (NYSE:NVS) last announced its earnings results on Friday, January 31st. The company reported $1.98 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.80 by $0.18. Novartis had a net margin of 23.56% and a return on equity of 37.24%. Equities research analysts predict that Novartis AG will post 8.45 earnings per share for the current year.

Novartis Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 12th. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 12th were given a dividend of $3.8695 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, March 12th. Novartis’s dividend payout ratio is 42.69%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. StockNews.com raised shares of Novartis from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Saturday, February 8th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of Novartis from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. Barclays reiterated an “underweight” rating on shares of Novartis in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Morgan Stanley began coverage on shares of Novartis in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. They issued an “underweight” rating on the stock. Finally, UBS Group reiterated a “neutral” rating on shares of Novartis in a research note on Thursday, February 13th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating, one has issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $123.38.

Novartis Company 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.