Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO) Shares Sold by Hikari Power Ltd

Hikari Power Ltd decreased its stake in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO - Free Report) by 13.3% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 146,050 shares of the company's stock after selling 22,350 shares during the period. Novo Nordisk A/S comprises 1.4% of Hikari Power Ltd's portfolio, making the stock its 16th largest holding. Hikari Power Ltd's holdings in Novo Nordisk A/S were worth $15,109,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Pacific Center for Financial Services raised its position in Novo Nordisk A/S by 100.0% in the third quarter. Pacific Center for Financial Services now owns 270 shares of the company's stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 135 shares during the period. Copeland Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 100.0% during the 3rd quarter. Copeland Capital Management LLC now owns 282 shares of the company's stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 141 shares during the period. Bell Investment Advisors Inc raised its position in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 79.9% during the 3rd quarter. Bell Investment Advisors Inc now owns 286 shares of the company's stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 127 shares during the period. Citizens National Bank Trust Department raised its position in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 100.0% during the 3rd quarter. Citizens National Bank Trust Department now owns 300 shares of the company's stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 150 shares during the period. Finally, Tyler Stone Wealth Management raised its position in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S by 100.0% during the 3rd quarter. Tyler Stone Wealth Management now owns 292 shares of the company's stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 146 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 11.54% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have recently commented on NVO. Morgan Stanley assumed coverage on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in a research report on Tuesday, January 23rd. They set an "overweight" rating and a $120.00 price objective on the stock. UBS Group assumed coverage on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in a research note on Tuesday, January 16th. They set a "neutral" rating for the company. BMO Capital Markets assumed coverage on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in a research note on Friday, April 12th. They set an "outperform" rating and a $163.00 target price for the company. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an "overweight" rating and set a $160.00 target price on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in a research note on Monday, April 1st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $133.60.

Novo Nordisk A/S Trading Up 0.9 %

NVO traded up $1.10 on Wednesday, reaching $124.55. 3,073,453 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,908,956. The company has a market cap of $558.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 46.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.06 and a beta of 0.41. Novo Nordisk A/S has a one year low of $75.56 and a one year high of $138.28. The company has a quick ratio of 0.64, a current ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $126.28 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $110.42.

Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, January 31st. The company reported $0.71 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.66 by $0.05. The company had revenue of $9.51 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.14 billion. Novo Nordisk A/S had a net margin of 36.03% and a return on equity of 90.36%. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Novo Nordisk A/S will post 3.33 earnings per share for the current year.

Novo Nordisk A/S Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a Semi-Annual dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 2nd. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 25th were issued a $0.664 dividend. This is an increase from Novo Nordisk A/S's previous Semi-Annual dividend of $0.22. This represents a dividend yield of 0.9%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 22nd. Novo Nordisk A/S's dividend payout ratio is 48.89%.

About Novo Nordisk A/S

Novo Nordisk A/S, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the research and development, manufacture, and distribution of pharmaceutical products in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, North America, and internationally. It operates in two segments, Diabetes and Obesity Care, and Rare Disease.