Baxter International Sees Unusually Large Options Volume (NYSE:BAX)

Key Points

• Baxter International Inc. experienced a significant rise in put options trading, with 13,533 options purchased, representing an 85% increase from the average daily volume.
• The company reported a 1.1% decline in share price to $22.90, with a market capitalization of $11.76 billion and a loss in earnings per share compared to analysts' expectations.
• Baxter announced a quarterly dividend of $0.17, yielding 3.0%, while institutional investors own 90.19% of the company's stock.

Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX - Get Free Report) was the target of unusually large options trading activity on Tuesday. Stock investors bought 13,533 put options on the stock. This represents an increase of 85% compared to the average daily volume of 7,324 put options.

Baxter International Stock Down 1.1%

Shares of BAX traded down $0.26 on Tuesday, hitting $22.90. 4,806,597 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 5,494,169. The company has a market capitalization of $11.76 billion, a PE ratio of -76.32, a P/E/G ratio of 0.78 and a beta of 0.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.30, a quick ratio of 1.49 and a current ratio of 2.30. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $23.78 and a 200 day simple moving average of $27.99. Baxter International has a one year low of $21.33 and a one year high of $38.28.

Baxter International (NYSE:BAX - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 31st. The medical instruments supplier reported $0.59 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.60 by ($0.01). Baxter International had a negative net margin of 1.42% and a positive return on equity of 16.96%. The firm had revenue of $2.81 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.82 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.68 EPS. Baxter International's revenue was up 4.3% on a year-over-year basis. Baxter International has set its Q3 2025 guidance at 0.580-0.620 EPS. FY 2025 guidance at 2.420-2.520 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Baxter International will post 2.48 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Baxter International Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, October 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 29th were given a $0.17 dividend. This represents a $0.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, August 29th. Baxter International's payout ratio is -226.67%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Baxter International

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT purchased a new stake in shares of Baxter International in the 1st quarter worth $27,000. CoreFirst Bank & Trust purchased a new stake in shares of Baxter International in the 2nd quarter worth $27,000. Rossby Financial LCC purchased a new stake in shares of Baxter International in the 1st quarter worth $29,000. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV increased its stake in shares of Baxter International by 169.6% in the 2nd quarter. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV now owns 984 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 619 shares in the last quarter. Finally, MTM Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Baxter International in the 2nd quarter worth $30,000. Institutional investors own 90.19% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have commented on BAX shares. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered shares of Baxter International from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $25.00 price objective for the company. in a report on Friday, August 1st. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on shares of Baxter International from $33.00 to $24.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Friday, August 1st. Barclays lowered their price objective on shares of Baxter International from $41.00 to $36.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Monday, August 4th. UBS Group lowered their price objective on shares of Baxter International from $35.00 to $24.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Monday, August 4th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a "sell (d)" rating on shares of Baxter International in a report on Saturday, September 27th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have assigned a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $28.89.

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.

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