Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) Shares Up 1.5% - Should You Buy?

Key Points

• Pfizer shares rose 1.5% in Wednesday trading, with the stock reaching as high as $26.54 after strong recent market activity.
• Recent news has been mostly positive for Pfizer’s pipeline and growth outlook, including progress on a next-generation infant pneumococcal vaccine trial and a new Phase 3 obesity study, while BofA also lifted its price target to $27 after solid first-quarter results.
• Despite the upbeat updates, patent-cliff risk remains a major concern for investors, as analysts continue to worry about replacing $15 billion to $20 billion in revenue as major products lose exclusivity over the coming years.

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE - Get Free Report) shot up 1.5% during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $26.54 and last traded at $26.24. 38,537,859 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 8% from the average session volume of 41,688,742 shares. The stock had previously closed at $25.85.

Pfizer News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Pfizer this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Pfizer advanced several late-stage pipeline programs, including a next-generation infant pneumococcal vaccine trial and a new Phase 3 obesity study, giving investors more reasons to watch for future growth catalysts. Article Title
• Positive Sentiment: BofA raised its price target on Pfizer to $27 from $26 after the company’s strong first-quarter results, citing improved revenue and earnings expectations. Article Title
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts continue to point to Pfizer’s new launches, acquired Seagen assets, and ongoing pipeline progress as key offsets to future patent-cliff pressure. Article Title
• Neutral Sentiment: Pfizer’s investment narrative is increasingly split: some Wall Street models see upside from pipeline potential and exclusivity, while others focus on the looming $15 billion to $20 billion revenue cliff from loss of exclusivity. Article Title
• Neutral Sentiment: Recent articles also highlighted broader interest in Pfizer as a defensive dividend stock and a possible value pick, but these pieces were more commentary than direct catalysts. Article Title
• Negative Sentiment: Long-term patent-expiration concerns remain a drag on sentiment, with investors still focused on how Pfizer will replace revenue as major products lose exclusivity over the next several years. Article Title

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

PFE has been the subject of several recent research reports. HSBC boosted their price target on Pfizer from $29.00 to $32.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 17th. Bank of America reduced their price target on Pfizer from $27.00 to $26.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 9th. Wolfe Research restated an "underperform" rating and issued a $26.00 price target on shares of Pfizer in a research note on Thursday, May 14th. Weiss Ratings upgraded Pfizer from a "hold (c-)" rating to a "hold (c)" rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 6th. Finally, CICC Research started coverage on shares of Pfizer in a research report on Thursday, April 16th. They set an "outperform" rating and a $33.00 target price on the stock. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have given a Buy rating, twelve have issued a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $28.61.

Pfizer Trading Up 1.5%

The business has a 50-day moving average price of $26.82 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $26.26. The stock has a market capitalization of $149.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.03 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.

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

Pfizer Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 12th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 8th will be given a dividend of $0.43 per share. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.6%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 8th. Pfizer's dividend payout ratio is presently 131.30%.

Institutional Trading of Pfizer

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Vermillion Wealth Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of Pfizer by 19.4% during the 1st quarter. Vermillion Wealth Management Inc. now owns 2,352 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $66,000 after buying an additional 382 shares during the last quarter. Triad Wealth Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of Pfizer by 1.9% during the 4th quarter. Triad Wealth Partners LLC now owns 20,466 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $510,000 after buying an additional 386 shares during the last quarter. Eagle Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Pfizer by 0.3% during the 1st quarter. Eagle Capital Management LLC now owns 126,573 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $3,554,000 after buying an additional 390 shares during the last quarter. ETF Store Inc. lifted its position in shares of Pfizer by 3.8% during the 4th quarter. ETF Store Inc. now owns 10,913 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $272,000 after buying an additional 396 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Delta Financial Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Pfizer by 1.6% during the 1st quarter. Delta Financial Advisors LLC now owns 25,266 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $709,000 after buying an additional 398 shares during the last quarter. 68.36% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Pfizer Company Profile

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.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.