Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) Shares Purchased by CenterBook Partners LP

Key Points

• CenterBook Partners LP significantly increased its stake in Pfizer Inc. by 306.7% during the first quarter, holding 252,141 shares valued at approximately $6.39 million.
• Pfizer reported a quarterly earnings per share of $0.78, surpassing analyst expectations of $0.58, while also experiencing a 10.3% increase in revenue year-over-year.
• The company's recent quarterly dividend of $0.43 per share corresponds to a 7.2% yield, reflecting a payout ratio of 124.64%.

CenterBook Partners LP grew its holdings in Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE - Free Report) by 306.7% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 252,141 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock after buying an additional 190,144 shares during the period. CenterBook Partners LP's holdings in Pfizer were worth $6,389,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in PFE. Clarity Asset Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Pfizer in the fourth quarter worth about $27,000. Gould Capital LLC raised its position in shares of Pfizer by 97.2% in the 4th quarter. Gould Capital LLC now owns 1,000 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 493 shares in the last quarter. North Capital Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Pfizer during the first quarter valued at about $28,000. Bayforest Capital Ltd acquired a new stake in Pfizer in the first quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Finally, Bernard Wealth Management Corp. acquired a new stake in shares of Pfizer in the 4th quarter worth $30,000. 68.36% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Pfizer Trading Up 1.3%

Pfizer stock traded up $0.32 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $24.25. The company's stock had a trading volume of 45,468,611 shares, compared to its average volume of 46,190,364. The stock's fifty day moving average is $24.42 and its two-hundred day moving average is $24.52. The company has a current ratio of 1.16, a quick ratio of 0.96 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. The firm has a market capitalization of $137.84 billion, a PE ratio of 12.90, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.87 and a beta of 0.52. Pfizer Inc. has a 1 year low of $20.92 and a 1 year high of $30.43.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 5th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.78 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.58 by $0.20. The business had revenue of $14.65 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $13.43 billion. Pfizer had a return on equity of 21.42% and a net margin of 16.84%. The company's quarterly revenue was up 10.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.60 earnings per share. On average, analysts anticipate that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.95 EPS for the current year.

Pfizer Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 2nd. Investors of record on Friday, July 25th will be issued a $0.43 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 25th. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 7.1%. Pfizer's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 91.49%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts recently commented on the stock. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on shares of Pfizer from $32.00 to $33.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Wednesday. BMO Capital Markets dropped their target price on Pfizer from $36.00 to $30.00 in a report on Thursday, April 17th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price objective on Pfizer from $25.00 to $27.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 30th. Berenberg Bank lowered their target price on shares of Pfizer from $28.00 to $25.00 and set a "hold" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, May 29th. Finally, Citigroup lifted their price target on shares of Pfizer from $25.00 to $26.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Wednesday. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have assigned a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and three have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $28.44.

Pfizer Company Profile

Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products in the United States, Europe, and internationally. The company offers medicines and vaccines in various therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular metabolic, migraine, and women's health under the Eliquis, Nurtec ODT/Vydura, Zavzpret, and the Premarin family brands; infectious diseases with unmet medical needs under the Prevnar family, Abrysvo, Nimenrix, FSME/IMMUN-TicoVac, and Trumenba brands; and COVID-19 prevention and treatment, and potential future mRNA and antiviral products under the Comirnaty and Paxlovid brands.