Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) Shares Climb 1.8% – Here’s Why

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE)’s share price shot up 1.8% during trading on Thursday. The company traded as high as $30.44 and last traded at $30.3950. 27,525,237 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 31% from the average daily volume of 39,913,023 shares. The stock had previously closed at $29.85.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Cantor Fitzgerald upped their price objective on Pfizer from $27.00 to $28.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 8th. HSBC boosted their target price on Pfizer from $28.00 to $30.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, September 10th. Guggenheim reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Pfizer in a research report on Tuesday, October 13th. Bank of America reduced their price target on Pfizer from $27.00 to $26.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, July 10th. Finally, Scotiabank lifted their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $30.00 to $33.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 6th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fourteen have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $28.72.

Pfizer Trading Up 1.8%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 1.27 and a quick ratio of 0.96. The business has a 50-day moving average of $28.26 and a 200-day moving average of $26.61. The firm has a market cap of $173.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 39.99, a P/E/G ratio of 2.04 and a beta of 0.32.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 4th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.77 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.68 by $0.09. The firm had revenue of $15.03 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.40 billion. Pfizer had a return on equity of 19.63% and a net margin of 6.80%. The business’s revenue was up 2.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.78 earnings per share. Pfizer has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.800-3.000 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.95 EPS for the current year.

Pfizer Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 7th. Investors of record on Friday, November 6th will be paid a $0.43 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 6th. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.7%. Pfizer’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 226.32%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Pfizer

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Russell Investments Group Ltd. raised its holdings in shares of Pfizer by 15.7% in the 2nd quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 5,482,863 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $132,365,000 after purchasing an additional 745,213 shares during the period. Handelsbanken Fonder AB grew its holdings in Pfizer by 10.4% during the second quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB now owns 2,462,431 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $59,295,000 after purchasing an additional 232,528 shares during the period. Leuthold Group LLC bought a new position in Pfizer during the second quarter worth about $4,887,000. Park National Corp OH grew its holdings in Pfizer by 332.1% during the second quarter. Park National Corp OH now owns 242,081 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $5,829,000 after purchasing an additional 186,053 shares during the period. Finally, 111 Capital acquired a new position in Pfizer during the second quarter worth approximately $3,706,000. 68.36% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Pfizer

Pfizer Inc is a global biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, manufactures and commercializes prescription medicines and vaccines. Its research activities span areas including oncology, internal medicine, inflammation and immunology, hospital care, infectious diseases and rare diseases.

The company’s portfolio includes medicines such as Eliquis, Ibrance, Prevnar and Vyndaqel, as well as vaccines including Comirnaty, Abrysvo and Prevnar. Pfizer also develops treatments through internal research, licensing agreements and collaborations with other pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.

Founded in Brooklyn, New York, in 1849 by Charles Pfizer and Charles Erhart, Pfizer has grown into an international healthcare company serving patients and healthcare providers in markets around the world.