Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) Stock Price Up 2.3% After Dividend Announcement

Key Points

• Pfizer shares rose 2.3% after announcing a $0.43 quarterly dividend (record date Jan. 23, payable Mar. 6), which annualizes to $1.72 for a 6.5% yield and reflects a 100% payout ratio.
• The stock traded as high as $26.65 and last at $26.4470 (previous close $25.85) on elevated volume of ~60.1 million shares, about 17% above its average daily volume.
• Analysts' consensus is a Hold with an average price target of $28.22; Pfizer recently beat quarterly EPS ($0.87 vs. $0.79) and set FY2025 guidance of $3.00–$3.15, with a market cap of ~$150.4B and a P/E of 15.38.

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE - Get Free Report) shares were up 2.3% on Monday after the company announced a dividend. The company traded as high as $26.65 and last traded at $26.4470. Approximately 60,076,835 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 17% from the average daily volume of 51,170,094 shares. The stock had previously closed at $25.85.The newly announced dividend which will be paid on Friday, March 6th. Investors of record on Friday, January 23rd will be paid a $0.43 dividend. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.5%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 23rd. Pfizer's payout ratio is currently 100.00%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on PFE shares. Scotiabank started coverage on shares of Pfizer in a research report on Thursday, November 13th. They set a "sector outperform" rating and a $30.00 target price for the company. Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed a "market perform" rating and issued a $30.00 price objective on shares of Pfizer in a report on Friday, October 31st. HSBC reissued a "buy" rating and set a $29.00 target price on shares of Pfizer in a report on Wednesday, December 10th. Bank of America cut their price target on Pfizer from $29.00 to $28.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Monday. Finally, UBS Group reiterated a "neutral" rating and set a $28.00 price objective on shares of Pfizer in a research note on Wednesday, October 1st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have assigned a Buy rating, twelve have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $28.22.

Pfizer Stock Up 2.3%

The company has a 50 day moving average of $25.12 and a 200-day moving average of $24.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 1.28 and a quick ratio of 0.97. The company has a market cap of $150.37 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.38 and a beta of 0.46.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, November 4th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.87 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.79 by $0.08. Pfizer had a return on equity of 20.17% and a net margin of 15.65%.The firm had revenue of $16.65 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $16.94 billion. Pfizer has set its FY 2025 guidance at 3.000-3.150 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.95 earnings per share for the current year.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Pfizer

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Capital Advisory Group Advisory Services LLC increased its stake in Pfizer by 2.9% in the second quarter. Capital Advisory Group Advisory Services LLC now owns 13,542 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $328,000 after acquiring an additional 388 shares during the last quarter. Citizens National Bank Trust Department increased its position in shares of Pfizer by 0.9% during the 2nd quarter. Citizens National Bank Trust Department now owns 46,103 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $1,118,000 after purchasing an additional 395 shares during the last quarter. Peak Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Pfizer by 1.4% during the 2nd quarter. Peak Asset Management LLC now owns 28,768 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $697,000 after buying an additional 402 shares in the last quarter. Quest Investment Management LLC lifted its position in Pfizer by 1.3% in the 3rd quarter. Quest Investment Management LLC now owns 31,768 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $809,000 after buying an additional 405 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Community Bank & Trust Waco Texas boosted its stake in Pfizer by 0.6% in the third quarter. Community Bank & Trust Waco Texas now owns 66,841 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $1,703,000 after buying an additional 412 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 68.36% of the company's stock.

Pfizer Company Profile

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.

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