Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) Raised to "Buy" at Wall Street Zen

Key Points

• Pfizer has been upgraded from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating by Wall Street Zen, indicating increased analyst confidence in the stock.
• Several investment analysts have adjusted their price targets for Pfizer, with Bank of America raising it to $28 and Morgan Stanley to $33, reflecting varied opinions on the stock's potential.
• Pfizer reported earnings of $0.78 per share for the recent quarter, exceeding expectations, with revenue of $14.65 billion, a 10.3% increase year-over-year.

Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Pfizer (NYSE:PFE - Free Report) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report sent to investors on Saturday morning.

PFE has been the subject of a number of other reports. Berenberg Bank lowered their price target on Pfizer from $28.00 to $25.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, May 29th. Citigroup raised their price target on Pfizer from $25.00 to $26.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 6th. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on Pfizer from $32.00 to $33.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 6th. Finally, Bank of America raised their price target on Pfizer from $27.00 to $28.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 6th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have assigned a Buy rating, eleven have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Pfizer currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $28.12.

Pfizer Price Performance

Shares of NYSE PFE traded down $0.12 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $24.03. 86,201,583 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 39,901,288. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 1.16 and a quick ratio of 0.85. The stock has a market capitalization of $136.62 billion, a PE ratio of 12.78, a P/E/G ratio of 0.85 and a beta of 0.55. Pfizer has a one year low of $20.92 and a one year high of $30.43. The company's 50 day moving average is $24.63 and its 200 day moving average is $24.21.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 5th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.78 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.58 by $0.20. The company had revenue of $14.65 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $13.43 billion. Pfizer had a return on equity of 21.42% and a net margin of 16.84%.Pfizer's revenue was up 10.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.60 earnings per share. Pfizer has set its FY 2025 guidance at 2.900-3.100 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Pfizer will post 2.95 earnings per share for the current year.

Pfizer Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 2nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 25th were issued a $0.43 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, July 25th. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 7.2%. Pfizer's payout ratio is presently 91.49%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Bessemer Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Pfizer by 11.1% during the 1st quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 132,478 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $3,358,000 after buying an additional 13,228 shares during the period. Capital Advisors Inc. OK raised its stake in Pfizer by 1.2% in the 1st quarter. Capital Advisors Inc. OK now owns 1,413,472 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $35,817,000 after purchasing an additional 17,032 shares during the last quarter. CHURCHILL MANAGEMENT Corp purchased a new stake in Pfizer in the 1st quarter valued at $8,283,000. Westbourne Investments Inc. purchased a new stake in Pfizer in the 1st quarter valued at $2,411,000. Finally, Bourne Lent Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in Pfizer by 90.8% in the 2nd quarter. Bourne Lent Asset Management Inc. now owns 38,255 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $927,000 after buying an additional 18,200 shares in the last quarter. 68.36% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.