Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) Downgraded by Wall Street Zen to "Hold"

Key Points

• Wall Street Zen downgraded Pfizer to “Hold” from “Buy,” while the broader analyst consensus remains “Hold,” with 14 Hold ratings and an average price target of $28.28.
• Pfizer reported quarterly results above expectations, posting $0.77 in adjusted EPS versus the $0.68 consensus and revenue of $15.03 billion versus $14.40 billion expected.
• Shares opened at $28.42 near their 12-month high, while institutional investors own 68.36% of the stock; analysts cite vaccine approval and obesity-drug development as opportunities, but note limited valuation upside and ongoing post-pandemic earnings pressure.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE - Get Free Report) was downgraded by equities researchers at Wall Street Zen from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Saturday, Wall Street Zen reports.

Other analysts also recently issued reports about the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on Pfizer from $30.00 to $28.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, July 8th. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Pfizer from a "hold (c-)" rating to a "hold (c)" rating in a research note on Monday. Guggenheim dropped their target price on Pfizer from $35.00 to $31.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, August 7th. BMO Capital Markets lowered their price target on shares of Pfizer from $34.00 to $30.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, July 13th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada raised shares of Pfizer from an "underperform" rating to a "sector perform" rating and set a $25.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, June 9th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have given a Buy rating, fourteen have issued a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $28.28.

Pfizer Price Performance

Shares of Pfizer stock opened at $28.42 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $161.98 billion, a PE ratio of 37.40, a PEG ratio of 1.93 and a beta of 0.34. Pfizer has a 12 month low of $23.58 and a 12 month high of $29.21. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $25.98 and a 200 day moving average of $26.34. The company has a current ratio of 1.27, a quick ratio of 0.96 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, August 4th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.77 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.68 by $0.09. Pfizer had a return on equity of 19.63% and a net margin of 6.80%.The firm had revenue of $15.03 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.40 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.78 EPS. The company's quarterly revenue was up 2.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Pfizer has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.800-3.000 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that Pfizer will post 2.98 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Trading of Pfizer

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. BlackRock Inc. increased its stake in shares of Pfizer by 6.3% in the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 529,670,433 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $12,754,464,000 after acquiring an additional 31,412,883 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its holdings in shares of Pfizer by 0.5% in the fourth quarter. State Street Corp now owns 300,445,164 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $7,481,085,000 after purchasing an additional 1,357,756 shares in the last quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System increased its position in shares of Pfizer by 2,320.6% during the second quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 217,981,455 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $5,248,993,000 after acquiring an additional 208,976,273 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in Pfizer by 0.9% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 130,192,081 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $3,235,642,000 after purchasing an additional 1,184,728 shares during the period. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised its holdings in Pfizer by 19.2% in the fourth quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 89,113,604 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $2,218,929,000 after acquiring an additional 14,342,946 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.36% of the company's stock.

Pfizer News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Pfizer this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Pfizer received FDA approval for the 2026–2027 COMIRNATY XFG COVID-19 vaccine formulation for high-risk age groups. The approval supports continued vaccine revenue and adds to the company’s recent positive news flow. Pfizer After FDA Vaccine Approval Faces A Fair Value Reality Check
• Positive Sentiment: Pfizer launched the VESPER-JM Phase 3 study of berobenatide in Japan, strengthening its effort to compete in the obesity-drug market. Successful development could provide a meaningful long-term growth opportunity beginning later this decade. Pfizer Steps Up in Obesity Race With New Phase 3 Berobenatide Trial in Japan
• Positive Sentiment: Pfizer’s broader pipeline remains focused on obesity and oncology, with berobenatide and next-generation cancer treatments viewed as potential growth drivers from 2028 onward. Pfizer’s Pipeline Strategy Centers on Obesity and Oncology
• Positive Sentiment: Pfizer licensed its early-stage CD228V antibody-drug conjugate to Medicus Pharma in a deal valued at up to $1 billion plus royalties. The agreement could generate milestone and royalty income while sharing development responsibilities. Medicus Pharma Inks Global Licensing Deal with Pfizer Worth Over $1 Billion
• Neutral Sentiment: Pfizer completed a Phase 1 migraine-tablet study and is conducting a Phase 3 trial of tilrekimig for eczema. These updates demonstrate pipeline activity, but they do not yet provide confirmed commercial revenue. Pfizer’s Tilrekimig Eczema Trial
• Negative Sentiment: After gaining roughly 25% over the past year and trading near recent highs, valuation-based upside appears more limited. Investors are also weighing Pfizer’s elevated dividend yield and management’s commitment to maintaining the payout against ongoing post-pandemic earnings pressure.

About Pfizer

Pfizer Inc NYSE: PFE is a multinational biopharmaceutical company headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1849 by Charles Pfizer and Charles Erhart, the company researches, develops, manufactures and commercializes a broad range of medicines and vaccines for human health. Its activities span discovery research, clinical development, regulatory affairs, manufacturing and global commercial distribution across multiple therapeutic areas.

Pfizer's portfolio and pipeline cover oncology, immunology, cardiology, endocrinology, rare diseases, hospital acute care and anti-infectives, along with a substantial vaccine business.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.

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