Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX) Given Consensus Rating of "Hold" by Analysts

Shares of Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX - Get Free Report) have earned a consensus recommendation of "Hold" from the nine analysts that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, three have assigned a hold recommendation and five have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month target price among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $37.25.

A number of analysts have commented on the stock. Barclays boosted their price target on shares of Baxter International from $39.00 to $41.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Monday, March 10th. Argus upgraded shares of Baxter International from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, February 24th. The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on shares of Baxter International in a report on Wednesday, February 26th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $42.00 target price on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on shares of Baxter International from $38.00 to $36.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 21st. Finally, Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on shares of Baxter International from $30.00 to $28.00 and set an "underweight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, May 5th.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Baxter International

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in BAX. Dodge & Cox raised its holdings in shares of Baxter International by 13.0% during the fourth quarter. Dodge & Cox now owns 50,377,294 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $1,469,002,000 after acquiring an additional 5,779,100 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its holdings in shares of Baxter International by 22.3% during the fourth quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 15,359,040 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $447,870,000 after acquiring an additional 2,803,920 shares during the period. Sound Shore Management Inc. CT acquired a new stake in shares of Baxter International during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $72,450,000. Thompson Siegel & Walmsley LLC raised its holdings in shares of Baxter International by 35.1% during the fourth quarter. Thompson Siegel & Walmsley LLC now owns 2,548,215 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $74,306,000 after acquiring an additional 662,042 shares during the period. Finally, ARGA Investment Management LP raised its holdings in shares of Baxter International by 148.8% during the fourth quarter. ARGA Investment Management LP now owns 870,601 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $25,387,000 after acquiring an additional 520,633 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.19% of the company's stock.

Baxter International Price Performance

Shares of BAX stock traded down $0.11 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $30.16. 2,096,535 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,489,650. Baxter International has a 12 month low of $26.25 and a 12 month high of $40.49. The company has a market cap of $15.48 billion, a P/E ratio of -23.56, a PEG ratio of 0.93 and a beta of 0.63. The company's 50 day moving average price is $30.78 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $31.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.31, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a current ratio of 1.43.

Baxter International (NYSE:BAX - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, May 1st. The medical instruments supplier reported $0.62 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.48 by $0.14. Baxter International had a negative net margin of 5.05% and a positive return on equity of 16.67%. The company had revenue of $2.63 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.59 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.65 EPS. Baxter International's revenue was up 5.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Baxter International will post 2.48 earnings per share for the current year.

Baxter International Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, July 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 30th will be issued a dividend of $0.17 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 30th. This represents a $0.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.25%. Baxter International's dividend payout ratio is currently -61.82%.

About Baxter International

Baxter International Inc, through its subsidiaries, develops and provides a portfolio of healthcare products worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Medical Products and Therapies, Healthcare Systems and Technologies, Pharmaceuticals, and Kidney Care. The company offers sterile intravenous (IV) solutions; infusion systems and devices; parenteral nutrition therapies; generic injectable pharmaceuticals; surgical hemostat and sealant products, advanced surgical equipment; smart bed systems; patient monitoring and diagnostic technologies; and respiratory health devices, as well as advanced equipment for the surgical space, including surgical video technologies, precision positioning devices, and other accessories.