Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) Given Consensus Recommendation of "Hold" by Brokerages

Key Points

• Analyst sentiment is mixed, with Pfizer receiving a consensus “Hold” rating from 22 brokerages. The average 1-year price target is about $28.84, while recent calls have ranged from sell to strong buy.
• Pfizer posted a solid quarterly beat, reporting $0.75 EPS on revenue of $14.45 billion, both above expectations. Revenue rose 5.4% year over year, and the company reaffirmed its FY 2026 EPS guidance of $2.80 to $3.00.
• The company continues to support investors with a high dividend, declaring a quarterly payout of $0.43 per share, or $1.72 annualized, for a yield of 6.8%. However, the payout ratio is elevated at 131.3%, and Pfizer still faces headwinds from declining COVID sales and patent expirations.

Shares of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE - Get Free Report) have received a consensus recommendation of "Hold" from the twenty-two ratings firms that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, twelve have issued a hold recommendation, six have given a buy recommendation and one has given a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year price target among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $28.8421.

A number of research firms have recently issued reports on PFE. BMO Capital Markets reissued an "outperform" rating and issued a $30.00 target price on shares of Pfizer in a report on Monday, March 9th. HSBC boosted their target price on Pfizer from $29.00 to $32.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, March 17th. Argus raised Pfizer from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $35.00 price objective on the stock in a report on Monday, March 2nd. CICC Research began coverage on Pfizer in a report on Thursday, April 16th. They set an "outperform" rating and a $33.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, UBS Group upped their price objective on Pfizer from $25.00 to $27.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Monday, April 13th.

Key Pfizer News

Here are the key news stories impacting Pfizer this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Pfizer announced a Europe label expansion for its hemophilia therapy Hympavzi, which could broaden the drug’s commercial opportunity and support long-term revenue growth.
• Positive Sentiment: Multiple updates highlighted ongoing clinical and development activity, including a new Korea migraine study for Nurtec ODT, a Phase 1 food-effect study for PF-07799933, a prazosin site-transfer trial, and a planned Japan RSV vaccine trial. These reinforce Pfizer’s pipeline and global expansion efforts.
• Positive Sentiment: Recent commentary around Pfizer’s Q1 earnings pointed to improving momentum in new and acquired products, especially oncology and migraine treatments, as well as progress from the Seagen integration and legal settlements that may improve clarity around future cash flow.
• Neutral Sentiment: Media coverage also noted that investor sentiment remains mixed, with some analysts and commentators arguing Pfizer still lacks strong earnings momentum and is being supported more by its dividend and defensive valuation than by a clear near-term growth catalyst.
• Negative Sentiment: Pfizer continues to face concerns about declining COVID-related sales and looming patent expirations, which have weighed on the stock even after earnings beat expectations.

Pfizer Trading Down 0.1%

NYSE:PFE opened at $25.31 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $144.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.32 and a beta of 0.35. The company has a current ratio of 1.25, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. The stock's 50 day simple moving average is $26.98 and its 200-day simple moving average is $26.20. Pfizer has a 12-month low of $22.45 and a 12-month high of $28.75.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, May 5th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.72 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $14.45 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $13.84 billion. Pfizer had a return on equity of 19.44% and a net margin of 11.83%.The company's revenue for the quarter was up 5.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.92 earnings per share. Pfizer has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.800-3.000 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that Pfizer will post 2.99 EPS for the current year.

Pfizer Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 12th. Investors of record on Friday, May 8th will be issued a dividend of $0.43 per share. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.8%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, May 8th. Pfizer's dividend payout ratio is currently 131.30%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. grew its holdings in Pfizer by 132.2% during the first quarter. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. now owns 994 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 566 shares during the period. Horizon Financial Services LLC boosted its position in Pfizer by 174.8% during the fourth quarter. Horizon Financial Services LLC now owns 1,014 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 645 shares in the last quarter. Godfrey Financial Associates Inc. purchased a new stake in Pfizer during the fourth quarter worth $26,000. YANKCOM Partnership purchased a new stake in Pfizer during the fourth quarter worth $28,000. Finally, Grey Fox Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Pfizer during the third quarter worth $29,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 68.36% of the company's stock.

About Pfizer

Pfizer Inc NYSE: PFE is a multinational biopharmaceutical company headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1849 by Charles Pfizer and Charles Erhart, the company researches, develops, manufactures and commercializes a broad range of medicines and vaccines for human health. Its activities span discovery research, clinical development, regulatory affairs, manufacturing and global commercial distribution across multiple therapeutic areas.

Pfizer's portfolio and pipeline cover oncology, immunology, cardiology, endocrinology, rare diseases, hospital acute care and anti-infectives, along with a substantial vaccine business.

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