Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) Earns "Outperform" Rating from BMO Capital Markets

BMO Capital Markets reiterated their outperform rating on shares of Pfizer (NYSE:PFE - Free Report) in a research report released on Thursday morning, Benzinga reports. They currently have a $36.00 target price on the biopharmaceutical company's stock, up from their previous target price of $33.00.

A number of other research analysts have also recently commented on PFE. Argus cut Pfizer from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, March 22nd. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an overweight rating and set a $45.00 price objective on shares of Pfizer in a research report on Monday, April 15th. TD Cowen lowered shares of Pfizer from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and set a $32.00 target price for the company. in a research report on Thursday, January 4th. Finally, Guggenheim started coverage on shares of Pfizer in a report on Friday, February 23rd. They issued a buy rating and a $36.00 price target on the stock. Eleven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Pfizer presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $36.00.

Pfizer Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE PFE traded up $0.52 during trading on Thursday, hitting $27.70. The company had a trading volume of 63,855,289 shares, compared to its average volume of 42,875,957. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $26.88 and a 200 day simple moving average of $28.25. The firm has a market capitalization of $156.85 billion, a P/E ratio of 76.94, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 0.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 0.69 and a current ratio of 0.91. Pfizer has a 12 month low of $25.20 and a 12 month high of $40.37.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, May 1st. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.82 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.56 by $0.26. The company had revenue of $14.88 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $13.87 billion. Pfizer had a net margin of 3.62% and a return on equity of 10.88%. The firm's revenue was down 19.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.23 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that Pfizer will post 2.24 earnings per share for the current year.

Pfizer Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 14th. Investors of record on Friday, May 10th will be given a $0.42 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 9th. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.06%. Pfizer's dividend payout ratio is currently 466.67%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Pfizer

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of PFE. Briaud Financial Planning Inc purchased a new stake in Pfizer in the 3rd quarter worth about $30,000. GoalVest Advisory LLC grew its stake in shares of Pfizer by 304.9% during the fourth quarter. GoalVest Advisory LLC now owns 1,077 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 811 shares during the last quarter. Creekmur Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Pfizer in the fourth quarter worth approximately $32,000. Trivant Custom Portfolio Group LLC lifted its stake in shares of Pfizer by 100.0% during the 1st quarter. Trivant Custom Portfolio Group LLC now owns 1,200 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 600 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mizuho Securities Co. Ltd. purchased a new position in Pfizer during the 3rd quarter valued at $34,000. Institutional investors own 68.36% of the company's stock.

About Pfizer

Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products in the United States, Europe, and internationally. The company offers medicines and vaccines in various therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular metabolic, migraine, and women's health under the Eliquis, Nurtec ODT/Vydura, Zavzpret, and the Premarin family brands; infectious diseases with unmet medical needs under the Prevnar family, Abrysvo, Nimenrix, FSME/IMMUN-TicoVac, and Trumenba brands; and COVID-19 prevention and treatment, and potential future mRNA and antiviral products under the Comirnaty and Paxlovid brands.