Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) Stock Price Down 3.1% - Time to Sell?

Key Points

• Pfizer shares fell 3.1% on Friday, closing at $25.65 after trading as low as $25.60, with volume below its daily average.
• Recent news on the pipeline was mixed: while analysts highlighted Pfizer’s Q1 beat, stronger sales, and oncology progress, the company also halted or ended two early-stage cancer-related trials, which could weigh on sentiment around its drug pipeline.
• Analyst views remain cautious but generally supportive, with the stock carrying an average “Hold” rating and a consensus price target of $28.74; meanwhile, Pfizer continues to offer a high dividend yield of about 6.7% after its latest quarterly payout announcement.

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE - Get Free Report) was down 3.1% during trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as $25.60 and last traded at $25.6470. Approximately 37,252,178 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 13% from the average daily volume of 42,896,605 shares. The stock had previously closed at $26.48.

More Pfizer News

Here are the key news stories impacting Pfizer this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Scotiabank initiated a Buy view on Pfizer, adding to recent analyst confidence in the stock. Pfizer (PFE) Receives a Buy from Scotiabank
• Positive Sentiment: Erste Group slightly raised its FY2026 EPS estimate for Pfizer, reinforcing expectations that earnings remain stable and in line with consensus.
• Positive Sentiment: Recent coverage highlighted Pfizer’s Q1 beat, better-than-expected sales, and progress in its oncology pipeline, suggesting the company’s newer drugs are becoming more important to the investment story. How Pfizer’s Q1 Beat, Oncology Wins and Patent Deals At Pfizer (PFE) Has Changed Its Investment Story
• Positive Sentiment: Pfizer’s dividend remains a major draw for income investors, and a recent article argued that the high yield is still supported by management’s execution and cash flow. Pfizer's 6.5% Dividend Yield Looked Too Good to Be True -- but Management Just Silenced the Skeptics
• Neutral Sentiment: Pfizer is continuing to advance a new Phase 1 cancer trial, which signals ongoing investment in oncology but is still too early to materially change near-term financial results. Pfizer’s New Phase 1 Cancer Trial Signals Fresh Oncology Push for PFE Investors
• Neutral Sentiment: Pfizer was also mentioned in a cancer-care industry recognition announcement, but the item is mostly reputational and unlikely to move the stock on its own.
• Negative Sentiment: Pfizer halted an early-stage cancer study, and investors may view the termination as a small setback for its oncology pipeline, even if the financial impact is limited. Pfizer Terminates Early-Stage Cancer Trial: What It Means for PFE Investors
• Negative Sentiment: Pfizer ended another early-stage lymphoma combination trial, which adds to concerns that some pipeline programs may not advance as hoped. Pfizer Ends Early-Stage Lymphoma Combo Trial, Trimming a Small Piece of Its Oncology Upside

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have recently issued reports on PFE. Weiss Ratings raised shares of Pfizer from a "hold (c-)" rating to a "hold (c)" rating in a research report on Wednesday. Citigroup raised their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $26.00 to $27.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday, April 29th. HSBC lifted their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $29.00 to $32.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 17th. CICC Research assumed coverage on Pfizer in a research report on Thursday, April 16th. They set an "outperform" rating and a $33.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Barclays started coverage on Pfizer in a report on Thursday, February 19th. They issued an "underweight" rating and a $25.00 price target for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have assigned a Buy rating, twelve have issued a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $28.74.

Pfizer Trading Down 3.1%

The stock has a market cap of $146.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.58 and a beta of 0.35. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 0.87 and a current ratio of 1.25. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $27.14 and a 200-day moving average price of $26.16.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 5th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.75 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.72 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $14.45 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $13.84 billion. Pfizer had a net margin of 11.83% and a return on equity of 19.44%. Pfizer's revenue for the quarter was up 5.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.92 earnings per share. Pfizer has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.800-3.000 EPS. On average, equities research analysts expect that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.98 EPS for the current year.

Pfizer Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed 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. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 8th. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.7%. Pfizer's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 131.30%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Horizon Financial Services LLC raised its holdings in shares of Pfizer by 174.8% during the 4th quarter. Horizon Financial Services LLC now owns 1,014 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 645 shares in the last quarter. Godfrey Financial Associates Inc. purchased a new stake in Pfizer in the fourth quarter worth approximately $26,000. YANKCOM Partnership bought a new position in Pfizer during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. HFM Investment Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Pfizer by 61.0% during the fourth quarter. HFM Investment Advisors LLC now owns 1,127 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 427 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Evolution Wealth Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Pfizer by 132.2% in the 1st 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 last quarter. Institutional investors own 68.36% of the company's stock.

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.

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