Analysts Set GSK PLC Sponsored ADR (NYSE:GSK) Target Price at $44.13

Shares of GSK PLC Sponsored ADR (NYSE:GSK) have earned an average recommendation of “Reduce” from the eleven analysts that are covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, seven have issued a hold recommendation and one has assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $44.1250.

GSK has been the subject of several research reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a “hold” rating on shares of GSK in a research note on Friday, January 16th. TD Cowen restated a “hold” rating on shares of GSK in a report on Monday, February 9th. HSBC reaffirmed a “reduce” rating on shares of GSK in a research note on Wednesday, December 10th. Barclays reissued an “underweight” rating on shares of GSK in a research report on Friday, February 20th. Finally, Morgan Stanley restated an “underweight” rating on shares of GSK in a research note on Wednesday, January 14th.

GSK Price Performance

GSK opened at $56.64 on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 0.82, a quick ratio of 0.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.92. The company has a market cap of $115.05 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.43 and a beta of 0.46. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $55.83 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $49.79. GSK has a 12-month low of $32.38 and a 12-month high of $61.69.

GSK Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 9th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 20th will be paid a $0.4856 dividend. This is an increase from GSK’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.42. This represents a $1.94 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 20th. GSK’s payout ratio is currently 51.62%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On GSK

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of GSK. IHT Wealth Management LLC grew its position in GSK by 1.3% during the 4th quarter. IHT Wealth Management LLC now owns 15,010 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $736,000 after purchasing an additional 188 shares during the last quarter. Coston McIsaac & Partners raised its holdings in GSK by 17.3% in the fourth quarter. Coston McIsaac & Partners now owns 1,395 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock worth $68,000 after buying an additional 206 shares during the last quarter. First Horizon Corp raised its holdings in GSK by 78.7% in the fourth quarter. First Horizon Corp now owns 536 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 236 shares during the last quarter. TOWER TRUST & INVESTMENT Co lifted its stake in shares of GSK by 1.3% in the third quarter. TOWER TRUST & INVESTMENT Co now owns 23,195 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock worth $1,001,000 after buying an additional 293 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Peoples Bank KS lifted its stake in shares of GSK by 6.3% in the fourth quarter. Peoples Bank KS now owns 5,030 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock worth $247,000 after buying an additional 300 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 15.74% of the company’s stock.

About GSK

GSK (GlaxoSmithKline plc) is a London-headquartered, multinational pharmaceutical and healthcare company formed through the 2000 merger of Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKline Beecham. The company is dual-listed and operates globally, developing, manufacturing and commercializing prescription medicines, vaccines and specialty treatments. Over its history GSK has evolved through portfolio reshaping and strategic transactions to focus on science-led pharmaceuticals and vaccines.

GSK’s core activities include research and development of therapies and vaccines across a range of therapeutic areas, commercial manufacturing, and global marketing.