Handelsbanken Fonder AB Purchases 23,218 Shares of Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX)

Handelsbanken Fonder AB increased its position in shares of Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX - Free Report) by 8.0% in the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 314,320 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock after buying an additional 23,218 shares during the period. Handelsbanken Fonder AB owned 0.06% of Baxter International worth $10,759,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of BAX. SG Americas Securities LLC grew its position in Baxter International by 352.6% in the 1st quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 74,094 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $2,536,000 after purchasing an additional 57,723 shares in the last quarter. Home Federal Bank of Tennessee increased its holdings in shares of Baxter International by 2.5% in the 1st quarter. Home Federal Bank of Tennessee now owns 22,600 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $774,000 after buying an additional 550 shares during the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Baxter International by 248.3% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 11,326 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $388,000 after acquiring an additional 8,074 shares during the last quarter. Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC boosted its stake in shares of Baxter International by 35.2% during the first quarter. Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC now owns 3,546 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $121,000 after purchasing an additional 924 shares during the period. Finally, Farther Finance Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Baxter International by 84.4% in the first quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 7,487 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $255,000 after purchasing an additional 3,427 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 90.19% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages recently issued reports on BAX. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on shares of Baxter International from $30.00 to $28.00 and set an "underweight" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, May 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price objective on Baxter International from $38.00 to $36.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 21st. Barclays increased 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. The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on shares of Baxter International in a report on Wednesday, February 26th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $42.00 target price for the company. Finally, Argus raised shares of Baxter International from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Monday, February 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $37.25.

Baxter International Trading Down 2.4%

Shares of BAX traded down $0.76 during trading on Friday, reaching $30.60. 2,890,177 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,414,844. The stock has a market cap of $15.70 billion, a PE ratio of -23.91, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.93 and a beta of 0.61. The company has a quick ratio of 1.09, a current ratio of 1.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.31. Baxter International Inc. has a twelve month low of $26.25 and a twelve month high of $40.49. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $30.16 and a 200-day simple moving average of $31.38.

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

Baxter International Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, July 1st. Investors of record on Friday, May 30th will be paid a $0.17 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 30th. This represents a $0.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.22%. Baxter International's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -61.82%.

Baxter International 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.