Pfizer Sees Unusually Large Options Volume (NYSE:PFE)

Key Points

• Pfizer Inc. experienced an unusual increase in options trading, with 185,983 call options acquired, surpassing the typical volume by approximately 31%.
• The company's stock, NYSE:PFE, fell by 2.0% to $25.76, indicating a decline in investor sentiment despite a recent quarterly earnings report that beat estimates.
• Wall Street analysts have adjusted their ratings and price targets for Pfizer, with a current consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $28.41.

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE - Get Free Report) was the recipient of unusually large options trading activity on Wednesday. Traders acquired 185,983 call options on the company. This is an increase of approximately 31% compared to the typical volume of 141,727 call options.

Pfizer Stock Down 2.0%

NYSE:PFE traded down $0.52 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $25.76. 31,205,598 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 46,742,523. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $24.76 and a 200 day simple moving average of $24.14. Pfizer has a fifty-two week low of $20.92 and a fifty-two week high of $30.43. The company has a current ratio of 1.16, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. The company has a market capitalization of $146.43 billion, a PE ratio of 13.68, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.86 and a beta of 0.55.

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

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on PFE shares. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Pfizer from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Sunday, September 28th. UBS Group reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and set a $28.00 price objective on shares of Pfizer in a research report on Wednesday, October 1st. Citigroup lifted their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $25.00 to $26.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 6th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $32.00 to $33.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 6th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a "hold (c-)" rating on shares of Pfizer in a research report on Wednesday. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have given a Buy rating, twelve have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, Pfizer presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $28.41.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of PFE. Capital Advisory Group Advisory Services LLC raised its holdings in shares of Pfizer by 2.9% during the 2nd quarter. Capital Advisory Group Advisory Services LLC now owns 13,542 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $328,000 after buying an additional 388 shares in the last quarter. Citizens National Bank Trust Department grew its position in Pfizer by 0.9% during the 2nd quarter. Citizens National Bank Trust Department now owns 46,103 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $1,118,000 after acquiring an additional 395 shares during the last quarter. Peak Asset Management LLC grew its position in Pfizer by 1.4% during the 2nd quarter. Peak Asset Management LLC now owns 28,768 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $697,000 after acquiring an additional 402 shares during the last quarter. Able Wealth Management LLC grew its position in Pfizer by 2.0% during the 2nd quarter. Able Wealth Management LLC now owns 21,128 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $512,000 after acquiring an additional 413 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Boltwood Capital Management grew its position in Pfizer by 0.7% during the 3rd quarter. Boltwood Capital Management now owns 58,274 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $1,485,000 after acquiring an additional 420 shares during the last quarter. 68.36% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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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