GSK PLC Sponsored ADR (NYSE:GSK) Given Average Recommendation of "Reduce" by Brokerages

Key Points

• Analysts have assigned GSK a consensus recommendation of "Reduce" based on 10 analysts (3 sell, 6 hold, 1 buy), with an average 12‑month price target of $53.00.
• GSK increased its quarterly dividend to $0.4856 (annualized $1.94), implying a yield of about 3.6% and a payout ratio near 50.8%.
• Shares opened at $54.43 with a 12‑month range of $35.45–$61.69; the company has a market cap of $110.44 billion, a PE ratio of 14.71 and a beta of 0.46.

Shares of GSK PLC Sponsored ADR (NYSE:GSK - Get Free Report) have been assigned a consensus recommendation of "Reduce" from the ten analysts that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, six have issued a hold recommendation and one has issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 1 year price target among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $53.00.

GSK has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. TD Cowen reaffirmed a "hold" rating on shares of GSK in a report on Monday, February 9th. Barclays reaffirmed an "underweight" rating on shares of GSK in a research note on Friday, February 20th. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an "underweight" rating on shares of GSK in a research note on Wednesday, January 14th. Citigroup reaffirmed a "neutral" rating on shares of GSK in a research note on Monday, February 9th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a "hold" rating on shares of GSK in a research note on Friday, January 16th.

GSK Trading Down 0.0%

Shares of GSK stock opened at $54.43 on Monday. GSK has a 12-month low of $35.45 and a 12-month high of $61.69. The company has a current ratio of 0.82, a quick ratio of 0.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.92. The stock has a market cap of $110.44 billion, a PE ratio of 14.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.20 and a beta of 0.46. The company has a 50-day moving average of $56.37 and a two-hundred day moving average of $51.46.

GSK Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, April 9th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 20th were paid a dividend of $0.4856 per share. This is a boost from GSK's previous quarterly dividend of $0.42. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 20th. This represents a $1.94 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.6%. GSK's dividend payout ratio is presently 50.81%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Venturi Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in shares of GSK by 16.7% during the 1st quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 5,346 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock worth $295,000 after buying an additional 764 shares during the last quarter. Atlas Brown Inc. acquired a new position in shares of GSK during the 1st quarter worth $224,000. Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV raised its stake in shares of GSK by 11.3% during the 1st quarter. Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV now owns 14,400 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock worth $795,000 after buying an additional 1,458 shares during the last quarter. Union Savings Bank acquired a new position in shares of GSK during the 4th quarter worth $140,000. Finally, DGS Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of GSK by 9.9% during the 4th quarter. DGS Capital Management LLC now owns 39,934 shares of the pharmaceutical company's stock worth $1,958,000 after buying an additional 3,592 shares during the last quarter. 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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