LSV Asset Management Sells 378,700 Shares of Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX)

LSV Asset Management decreased its holdings in shares of Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX - Free Report) by 6.5% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 5,485,600 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock after selling 378,700 shares during the quarter. LSV Asset Management owned about 1.07% of Baxter International worth $159,960,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. CoreFirst Bank & Trust purchased a new position in Baxter International in the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. Riverview Trust Co grew its stake in Baxter International by 5,488.2% during the 4th quarter. Riverview Trust Co now owns 950 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 933 shares in the last quarter. LRI Investments LLC raised its position in shares of Baxter International by 60.8% in the 3rd quarter. LRI Investments LLC now owns 1,560 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $59,000 after purchasing an additional 590 shares in the last quarter. Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC increased its position in shares of Baxter International by 247.3% in the 4th quarter. Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC now owns 2,622 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $76,000 after purchasing an additional 1,867 shares during the last quarter. Finally, CKW Financial Group grew its position in shares of Baxter International by 19.3% in the 4th quarter. CKW Financial Group now owns 2,625 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $77,000 after acquiring an additional 425 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.19% of the company's stock.

Baxter International Trading Down 2.5 %

NYSE BAX traded down $0.72 on Tuesday, hitting $27.66. 1,060,319 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,487,588. Baxter International Inc. has a twelve month low of $26.25 and a twelve month high of $41.18. The company's 50 day moving average price is $32.67 and its 200-day moving average price is $32.84. The firm has a market capitalization of $14.19 billion, a P/E ratio of -21.61, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.93 and a beta of 0.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.31, a current ratio of 1.43 and a quick ratio of 1.09.

Baxter International (NYSE:BAX - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 20th. The medical instruments supplier reported $0.58 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.52 by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $2.75 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.67 billion. Baxter International had a negative net margin of 5.05% and a positive return on equity of 16.67%. Analysts predict that Baxter International Inc. will post 2.48 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Baxter International Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th were given a dividend of $0.17 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 28th. This represents a $0.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.46%. Baxter International's payout ratio is presently -53.13%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on shares of Baxter International from $38.00 to $36.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 21st. The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on Baxter International in a research report on Wednesday, February 26th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $42.00 target price on the stock. Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of Baxter International from $39.00 to $41.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Monday, March 10th. Finally, Argus raised shares of Baxter International from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, February 24th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $38.56.

Baxter International Company Profile

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.