Grifols (NASDAQ:GRFS) Sees Unusually-High Trading Volume - Here's Why

Key Points

• Grifols saw a significant increase in trading volume, with approximately 2.34 million shares traded, marking a 139% rise from the previous session's volume.
• Several analysts upgraded their ratings on Grifols, with Wall Street Zen moving the stock from a "buy" to a "strong-buy" rating.
• The company announced a dividend of $0.1404 per share, scheduled for payment on August 20th, with a dividend payout ratio of 11.97%.

Shares of Grifols, S.A. (NASDAQ:GRFS - Get Free Report) saw unusually-strong trading volume on Thursday . Approximately 2,342,783 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 139% from the previous session's volume of 981,096 shares.The stock last traded at $10.69 and had previously closed at $10.64.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Grifols from a "buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Monday, July 7th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a "hold" rating on shares of Grifols in a report on Tuesday, August 5th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on Grifols from $7.60 to $10.30 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Tuesday, June 17th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, one has given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $10.30.

Grifols Price Performance

The firm has a market capitalization of $7.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.25, a P/E/G ratio of 0.36 and a beta of 0.56. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $9.57 and its 200 day simple moving average is $8.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20, a current ratio of 2.64 and a quick ratio of 0.95.

Grifols Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a -- dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 20th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, August 12th will be issued a dividend of $0.1404 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, August 12th. Grifols's dividend payout ratio is currently 11.97%.

Institutional Trading of Grifols

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in GRFS. Brandes Investment Partners LP raised its stake in Grifols by 8.9% in the 2nd quarter. Brandes Investment Partners LP now owns 28,035,461 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $253,441,000 after acquiring an additional 2,294,113 shares during the last quarter. Capital World Investors lifted its holdings in shares of Grifols by 0.7% in the 4th quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 21,134,230 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $157,239,000 after buying an additional 154,358 shares during the period. Soleus Capital Management L.P. lifted its holdings in Grifols by 46.1% in the fourth quarter. Soleus Capital Management L.P. now owns 6,605,425 shares of the biotechnology company's stock valued at $49,144,000 after acquiring an additional 2,083,722 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. boosted its position in Grifols by 1.9% in the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 4,212,032 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $29,948,000 after purchasing an additional 80,507 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Janus Henderson Group PLC grew its stake in shares of Grifols by 11.9% during the 4th quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 3,045,260 shares of the biotechnology company's stock worth $22,642,000 after purchasing an additional 324,869 shares during the period.

Grifols Company Profile

Grifols, SA operates as a plasma therapeutic company in Spain, the United States, Canada, and internationally. The company provides immunoglobulin to treat immunodeficiencies; albumin used to restore circulatory volume and protein loss in pathophysiological conditions, such as liver cirrhosis, cardiocirculatory failure, trauma and severe burns; alpha-1 proteinase inhibitor, a plasma protein, used to treat a genetic disease known as alpha-1; factorVIII/von Willerbrand factor and factor IX, clotting factors for the treatment of hemophilia A and von Willebrand's disease, as well as hemophilia B; antithrombin III to treat hereditary antithrombin deficiency; Fostamatinib, a spleen tyrosine kinase inhibitor; combination of fibrinogen and enzyme thrombin that acts as a biological sealant to control surgical bleeding; and plasma exchange with albumin used to treat Alzheimer's disease.

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