GSK (NYSE:GSK) Stock Price Crosses Above 200-Day Moving Average - Should You Sell?

Key Points

• GSK stock crossed above its 200-day moving average, trading as high as $52.69 versus a 200-day MA of $48.94 and last at about $51.95, signaling a potential technical uptrend.
• Analysts are cautious: the consensus rating is "Reduce" with one Buy, seven Hold and three Sell reports and a consensus target price of $44.13, below current levels.
• Dividend increase: GSK raised its quarterly payout to $0.4856 (annualized $1.94), a 3.7% yield and a payout ratio around 51.6%, payable April 9 with an ex-dividend date of Feb. 20.

Shares of GSK PLC Sponsored ADR (NYSE:GSK - Get Free Report) passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $48.94 and traded as high as $52.69. GSK shares last traded at $51.9540, with a volume of 4,333,574 shares traded.

Analyst Ratings Changes

GSK has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Citigroup reiterated a "neutral" rating on shares of GSK in a research report on Monday, February 9th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a "hold" rating on shares of GSK in a research note on Friday, January 16th. Barclays reiterated an "underweight" rating on shares of GSK in a report on Friday, February 20th. Morgan Stanley reissued an "underweight" rating on shares of GSK in a research report on Wednesday, January 14th. Finally, Bank of America upgraded shares of GSK from an "underperform" rating to a "neutral" rating in a report on Tuesday, November 25th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Reduce" and a consensus target price of $44.13.

GSK Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.92, a current ratio of 0.82 and a quick ratio of 0.54. The company has a market cap of $105.79 billion, a PE ratio of 14.04, a P/E/G ratio of 3.13 and a beta of 0.44. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $54.74 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $48.94.

GSK Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 9th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 20th will be issued a dividend of $0.4856 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 20th. This represents a $1.94 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.7%. This is a boost from GSK's previous quarterly dividend of $0.42. GSK's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 51.62%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On GSK

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of GSK. Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of GSK in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $25,000. First Horizon Corp lifted its stake in GSK by 78.7% during the fourth quarter. First Horizon Corp now owns 536 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 236 shares during the last quarter. Elyxium Wealth LLC acquired a new position in GSK in the fourth quarter worth $30,000. CNB Bank acquired a new position in GSK in the third quarter worth $31,000. Finally, CoreFirst Bank & Trust bought a new stake in GSK during the second quarter valued at $33,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 15.74% of the company's stock.

About GSK

GSK (GlaxoSmithKline plc) is a London-headquartered, multinational pharmaceutical and healthcare company formed through the 2000 merger of Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKline Beecham. The company is dual-listed and operates globally, developing, manufacturing and commercializing prescription medicines, vaccines and specialty treatments. Over its history GSK has evolved through portfolio reshaping and strategic transactions to focus on science-led pharmaceuticals and vaccines.

GSK's core activities include research and development of therapies and vaccines across a range of therapeutic areas, commercial manufacturing, and global marketing.

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