Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) Stock Price Down 1.3% - Should You Sell?

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE - Get Free Report) shares dropped 1.3% on Friday . The stock traded as low as $25.44 and last traded at $25.45. Approximately 7,311,938 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 82% from the average daily volume of 41,709,146 shares. The stock had previously closed at $25.78.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have recently commented on PFE shares. Guggenheim reissued a "buy" rating on shares of Pfizer in a research report on Tuesday, March 18th. BMO Capital Markets cut their price target on shares of Pfizer from $36.00 to $30.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 17th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price objective on Pfizer from $25.00 to $27.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, April 30th. Leerink Partners lowered their price target on Pfizer from $28.00 to $26.00 and set a "market perform" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 30th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald assumed coverage on shares of Pfizer in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. They set a "neutral" rating and a $24.00 target price on the stock. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have given a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and three have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $28.55.

Pfizer Stock Performance

The company has a market cap of $144.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.37, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.93 and a beta of 0.58. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $23.89 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $24.78. The company has a quick ratio of 0.96, a current ratio of 1.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 29th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.92 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.67 by $0.25. The firm had revenue of $13.72 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $14.43 billion. Pfizer had a return on equity of 20.33% and a net margin of 12.62%. The company's quarterly revenue was down 7.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.82 EPS. On average, research analysts predict that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Pfizer Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, July 25th will be issued a dividend of $0.43 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 25th. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.78%. Pfizer's dividend payout ratio is presently 124.64%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Pfizer

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Steigerwald Gordon & Koch Inc. increased its stake in Pfizer by 1.9% during the 2nd quarter. Steigerwald Gordon & Koch Inc. now owns 518,356 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $12,565,000 after acquiring an additional 9,690 shares during the period. CHICAGO TRUST Co NA grew its holdings in shares of Pfizer by 41.0% during the 2nd quarter. CHICAGO TRUST Co NA now owns 59,314 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $1,438,000 after purchasing an additional 17,250 shares in the last quarter. Golden State Equity Partners grew its holdings in shares of Pfizer by 56.1% during the 2nd quarter. Golden State Equity Partners now owns 28,797 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $698,000 after purchasing an additional 10,348 shares in the last quarter. Foster Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Pfizer by 12.7% in the second quarter. Foster Group Inc. now owns 31,409 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $761,000 after purchasing an additional 3,540 shares during the period. Finally, Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. raised its stake in Pfizer by 48.0% in the second quarter. Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. now owns 8,920 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $216,000 after purchasing an additional 2,895 shares in the last quarter. 68.36% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.