Verity Asset Management Inc. Raises Stock Holdings in Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE)

Verity Asset Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE - Free Report) by 108.0% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 76,276 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock after acquiring an additional 39,608 shares during the quarter. Pfizer comprises about 0.8% of Verity Asset Management Inc.'s investment portfolio, making the stock its 29th biggest holding. Verity Asset Management Inc.'s holdings in Pfizer were worth $1,933,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Bessemer Group Inc. boosted its position in Pfizer by 11.1% in the first quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 132,478 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $3,358,000 after purchasing an additional 13,228 shares during the last quarter. Sage Mountain Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Pfizer by 7.3% in the 4th quarter. Sage Mountain Advisors LLC now owns 20,587 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $546,000 after purchasing an additional 1,404 shares during the period. Penobscot Investment Management Company Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Pfizer by 2.7% in the first quarter. Penobscot Investment Management Company Inc. now owns 95,301 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $2,415,000 after buying an additional 2,527 shares during the last quarter. Brighton Jones LLC grew its position in Pfizer by 1,282.4% during the fourth quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 666,318 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $17,677,000 after buying an additional 618,117 shares during the period. Finally, Acorn Financial Advisory Services Inc. ADV increased its holdings in Pfizer by 32.8% during the fourth quarter. Acorn Financial Advisory Services Inc. ADV now owns 9,288 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $246,000 after buying an additional 2,292 shares during the last quarter. 68.36% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Pfizer Trading Down 0.2%

Shares of PFE opened at $24.20 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $137.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.53, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.88 and a beta of 0.57. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 1.26 and a quick ratio of 0.96. Pfizer Inc. has a 1 year low of $20.92 and a 1 year high of $31.54. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $23.46 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $24.84.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, April 29th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.92 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.67 by $0.25. The company had revenue of $13.72 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $14.43 billion. Pfizer had a net margin of 12.62% and a return on equity of 20.33%. Pfizer's quarterly revenue was down 7.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.82 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts expect that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Pfizer Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 2nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 25th will be paid a $0.43 dividend. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 7.11%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 25th. Pfizer's payout ratio is 124.64%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

PFE has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Citigroup reissued a "neutral" rating on shares of Pfizer in a research report on Thursday, March 27th. Cantor Fitzgerald began coverage on Pfizer in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. They set a "neutral" rating and a $24.00 price target for the company. The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and issued a $25.00 price objective (down previously from $32.00) on shares of Pfizer in a research note on Tuesday, April 8th. Hsbc Global Res raised Pfizer to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Monday, March 10th. Finally, Guggenheim reissued a "buy" rating on shares of Pfizer in a report on Tuesday, March 18th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating, four have issued a buy rating and three have given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Pfizer has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $29.17.

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.

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