Haleon (NYSE:HLN) Downgraded by Jefferies Financial Group to "Hold"

Key Points

• Jefferies downgraded Haleon from “Buy” to “Hold.”
• Despite the downgrade, analyst sentiment remains “Moderate Buy” overall, with an average price target of $4.90; recommendations include two Strong Buys, two Buys, five Holds and one Sell.
• Haleon shares opened at $8.85, within a 52-week range of $8.38 to $11.28. Institutional investors own 6.67% of the stock.

Haleon (NYSE:HLN - Get Free Report) was downgraded by Jefferies Financial Group from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report released on Wednesday, MarketBeat reports.

Several other equities analysts also recently weighed in on HLN. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a "hold (c)" rating on shares of Haleon in a report on Friday, September 25th. Berenberg Bank reiterated a "buy" rating on shares of Haleon in a research note on Wednesday, August 5th. Zacks Research cut Haleon from a "hold" rating to a "strong sell" rating in a report on Thursday, October 22nd. Morgan Stanley restated an "overweight" rating on shares of Haleon in a research report on Thursday, August 6th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded Haleon from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, October 30th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have issued a Buy rating, five have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $4.90.

Haleon Stock Performance

NYSE:HLN opened at $8.85 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38, a quick ratio of 0.52 and a current ratio of 0.69. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $9.49 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $9.76. The firm has a market capitalization of $38.95 billion, a PE ratio of 22.68, a P/E/G ratio of 2.05 and a beta of 0.15. Haleon has a 52-week low of $8.38 and a 52-week high of $11.28.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Haleon

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of HLN. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio boosted its position in shares of Haleon by 136.4% during the 1st quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 222,708 shares of the company's stock valued at $2,229,000 after acquiring an additional 128,493 shares during the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE grew its holdings in shares of Haleon by 17.0% in the first quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 10,934,228 shares of the company's stock valued at $109,452,000 after purchasing an additional 1,586,230 shares in the last quarter. Mondrian Investment Partners LTD bought a new stake in Haleon in the third quarter worth $158,737,000. Squarepoint Ops LLC bought a new stake in Haleon in the second quarter worth $1,186,000. Finally, Engineers Gate Manager LP bought a new stake in Haleon in the second quarter worth $1,869,000. 6.67% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Haleon

Haleon plc NYSE: HLN is a global consumer health company that develops, manufactures and markets over-the-counter medicines, oral health products, vitamins and supplements. Its portfolio is organized around categories including pain relief, respiratory health, digestive health, therapeutic oral care, everyday oral care, vitamins and minerals, and skin health.

Haleon's well-known brands include Sensodyne, Polident, parodontax, Centrum, Advil, Voltaren, Panadol, Otrivin and Theraflu. The company's products are sold through pharmacies, supermarkets, retailers and e-commerce channels, serving consumers in markets around the world.

Haleon was established as an independent consumer health business following its demerger from GSK in July 2022.

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