Virtu Financial LLC Buys 7,510 Shares of Royalty Pharma PLC (NASDAQ:RPRX)

Key Points

• Virtu Financial LLC increased its stake in Royalty Pharma PLC by 41% during the 1st quarter, now holding 25,830 shares valued at approximately $804,000.
• Royalty Pharma recently announced a $0.22 quarterly dividend, representing an annualized yield of 2.5%, with a payout ratio of 50.87%.
• Analysts have upgraded Royalty Pharma's stock ratings, with Citigroup and Morgan Stanley lifting their price targets, suggesting strong confidence in the company's performance.

Virtu Financial LLC boosted its position in Royalty Pharma PLC (NASDAQ:RPRX - Free Report) by 41.0% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 25,830 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock after buying an additional 7,510 shares during the quarter. Virtu Financial LLC's holdings in Royalty Pharma were worth $804,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Louisbourg Investments Inc. bought a new position in shares of Royalty Pharma during the first quarter valued at approximately $28,000. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB grew its holdings in shares of Royalty Pharma by 76.4% during the first quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 956 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 414 shares during the last quarter. Allworth Financial LP grew its holdings in shares of Royalty Pharma by 41.6% during the first quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 1,539 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $49,000 after purchasing an additional 452 shares during the last quarter. Transce3nd LLC bought a new position in shares of Royalty Pharma during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $61,000. Finally, Friedenthal Financial acquired a new position in shares of Royalty Pharma during the first quarter worth approximately $77,000. 54.35% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Royalty Pharma Stock Down 0.4%

Shares of NASDAQ RPRX traded down $0.15 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $36.35. The company had a trading volume of 2,936,706 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,897,648. Royalty Pharma PLC has a twelve month low of $24.05 and a twelve month high of $38.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a quick ratio of 1.26 and a current ratio of 1.26. The stock has a market capitalization of $20.44 billion, a PE ratio of 21.01, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.38 and a beta of 0.55. The stock's 50 day moving average is $35.97 and its 200-day moving average is $33.74.

Royalty Pharma (NASDAQ:RPRX - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 6th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.10 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $578.67 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $750.06 million. Royalty Pharma had a net margin of 44.23% and a return on equity of 25.54%. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Royalty Pharma PLC will post 4.49 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Royalty Pharma Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 10th. Investors of record on Friday, August 15th will be issued a $0.22 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 15th. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.4%. Royalty Pharma's dividend payout ratio is currently 50.87%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on RPRX shares. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on Royalty Pharma from $51.00 to $54.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 10th. Wall Street Zen upgraded Royalty Pharma from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Saturday, August 9th. Finally, Citigroup upped their target price on Royalty Pharma from $40.00 to $42.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 22nd.

Royalty Pharma Profile

Royalty Pharma plc operates as a buyer of biopharmaceutical royalties and a funder of innovations in the biopharmaceutical industry in the United States. It is also involved in the identification, evaluation, and acquisition of royalties on various biopharmaceutical therapies. In addition, the company collaborates with innovators from academic institutions, research hospitals and not-for-profits, small and mid-cap biotechnology companies, and pharmaceutical companies.