Guardian Pharmacy Services, Inc. (NYSE:GRDN) Given Average Recommendation of "Moderate Buy" by Analysts

Key Points

• Analysts remain bullish on Guardian Pharmacy Services: Eight of nine analysts rate the stock a buy and one rates it a hold, producing a “Moderate Buy” consensus. The average 12-month price target is $43.83, below the stock’s reported $45.02 price.
• Recent earnings exceeded expectations: Guardian reported quarterly EPS of $0.29 versus the $0.26 consensus estimate, while revenue reached $351.77 million compared with expectations of $340.45 million.
• Institutional interest has increased: Several investment firms expanded or initiated positions, including Jennison Associates, which increased its holdings by 609.5%. The stock has traded as high as $48.33 over the past year.

Guardian Pharmacy Services, Inc. (NYSE:GRDN - Get Free Report) has been given an average rating of "Moderate Buy" by the nine research firms that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold recommendation and eight have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $43.8333.

Several analysts have commented on the company. Wall Street Zen downgraded Guardian Pharmacy Services from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Saturday. Oppenheimer increased their price objective on Guardian Pharmacy Services from $43.00 to $49.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, August 7th. Weiss Ratings upgraded Guardian Pharmacy Services from a "hold (c+)" rating to a "buy (b-)" rating in a report on Thursday, August 20th. Bank of America boosted their target price on Guardian Pharmacy Services from $42.00 to $47.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 17th. Finally, Truist Financial upped their target price on shares of Guardian Pharmacy Services from $43.00 to $47.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, June 17th.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Jennison Associates LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Guardian Pharmacy Services by 609.5% during the 1st quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 822,784 shares of the company's stock valued at $30,986,000 after buying an additional 706,823 shares during the period. Braun Stacey Associates Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Guardian Pharmacy Services in the second quarter worth $14,234,000. Ranger Investment Management L.P. bought a new stake in shares of Guardian Pharmacy Services in the second quarter worth $7,263,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its position in Guardian Pharmacy Services by 200.0% during the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 208,594 shares of the company's stock valued at $7,855,000 after acquiring an additional 139,070 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sei Investments Co. increased its position in Guardian Pharmacy Services by 40.5% during the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 358,181 shares of the company's stock valued at $13,489,000 after acquiring an additional 103,177 shares during the last quarter.

Guardian Pharmacy Services Price Performance

GRDN opened at $45.02 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $2.24 billion, a PE ratio of 43.71, a P/E/G ratio of 2.33 and a beta of 0.06. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $40.48 and a 200-day moving average price of $38.92. Guardian Pharmacy Services has a 1 year low of $23.14 and a 1 year high of $48.33.

Guardian Pharmacy Services (NYSE:GRDN - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, August 6th. The company reported $0.29 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.26 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $351.77 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $340.45 million. Guardian Pharmacy Services had a net margin of 4.50% and a return on equity of 29.97%. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Guardian Pharmacy Services will post 1.19 EPS for the current year.

About Guardian Pharmacy Services

Guardian Pharmacy Services, Inc is a long-term care pharmacy company that provides prescription medications and related pharmacy services to residents of assisted living communities, skilled nursing facilities, memory care centers and other institutional care settings.

The company's services include medication dispensing and packaging, prescription delivery, medication management, pharmacy consulting and clinical support. Guardian works with care providers, residents and their families to help coordinate medication regimens, improve adherence and support the ongoing pharmacy needs of patients who may require complex or recurring treatments.

Guardian Pharmacy Services operates through a network of community-based pharmacies serving long-term care customers in multiple U.S.

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