Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) Hits New 1-Year High - Time to Buy?

Key Points

• Pfizer shares reached a new 52-week high of $30.65, supported by positive pipeline developments, including a successful Phase 3 ELREXFIO trial and expanded FDA approval for TALZENNA plus XTANDI.
• Analyst sentiment remains cautious: the consensus rating is Hold, with 14 Hold, five Buy and two Sell ratings, and an average price target of $28.72.
• Pfizer declared a quarterly dividend of $0.43, equivalent to a 5.7% annualized yield, although its payout ratio is elevated at 226.32%.

Shares of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE - Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Friday. The stock traded as high as $30.65 and last traded at $30.3440, with a volume of 3,118,623 shares. The stock had previously closed at $29.95.

Key Pfizer News

Here are the key news stories impacting Pfizer this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Pfizer reported that its Phase 3 MagnetisMM-32 trial for ELREXFIO met its primary endpoint in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. The result strengthens the drug’s potential to expand within Pfizer’s oncology portfolio. How Investors May Respond To Pfizer (PFE) Phase 3 Cancer Trial Win
• Positive Sentiment: The FDA expanded approval for TALZENNA plus XTANDI in certain men with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, adding another potential revenue opportunity for Pfizer’s established medicines. How Investors May Respond To Pfizer (PFE) Phase 3 Cancer Trial Win
• Positive Sentiment: Pfizer agreed to work with Edison Scientific to accelerate research and development. While financial details were not provided, the collaboration could improve the efficiency of future drug discovery. Edison Scientific Announces Agreement with Pfizer to Accelerate Research and Development

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have recently issued reports on PFE. Guggenheim reiterated a "buy" rating on shares of Pfizer in a research note on Tuesday, October 13th. Cantor Fitzgerald upped their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $27.00 to $28.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Thursday, October 8th. Bank of America dropped their target price on Pfizer from $27.00 to $26.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, July 10th. Weiss Ratings upgraded Pfizer from a "hold (c-)" rating to a "hold (c)" rating in a report on Monday, August 31st. Finally, HSBC boosted their price target on shares of Pfizer from $28.00 to $30.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday, September 10th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fourteen have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $28.72.

Pfizer Price Performance

The firm has a market capitalization of $172.76 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 39.80, a PEG ratio of 2.00 and a beta of 0.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 1.27 and a quick ratio of 0.96. The stock's 50 day moving average price is $28.49 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $26.76.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 4th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.77 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.68 by $0.09. Pfizer had a net margin of 6.80% and a return on equity of 19.63%. The firm had revenue of $15.03 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.40 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.78 EPS. The business's revenue was up 2.6% on a year-over-year basis. Pfizer has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.800-3.000 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.94 EPS for the current year.

Pfizer Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 7th. Investors of record on Friday, November 6th will be issued a $0.43 dividend. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.7%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 6th. Pfizer's dividend payout ratio is currently 226.32%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Pfizer

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Integrity Alliance LLC. grew its position in Pfizer by 2.0% during the 3rd quarter. Integrity Alliance LLC. now owns 114,957 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $3,279,000 after purchasing an additional 2,277 shares during the last quarter. First Nebraska Trust Co bought a new stake in shares of Pfizer during the third quarter valued at approximately $2,968,000. Torray Investment Partners LLC boosted its stake in Pfizer by 0.6% during the 3rd quarter. Torray Investment Partners LLC now owns 864,169 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $24,646,000 after purchasing an additional 4,751 shares during the last quarter. Eads & Heald Wealth Management raised its stake in shares of Pfizer by 6.1% in the third quarter. Eads & Heald Wealth Management now owns 9,677 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $276,000 after purchasing an additional 558 shares during the last quarter. Finally, VCI Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Pfizer during the third quarter valued at $976,000. 68.36% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Pfizer

Pfizer Inc is a global biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, manufactures and commercializes prescription medicines and vaccines. Its research activities span areas including oncology, internal medicine, inflammation and immunology, hospital care, infectious diseases and rare diseases.

The company's portfolio includes medicines such as Eliquis, Ibrance, Prevnar and Vyndaqel, as well as vaccines including Comirnaty, Abrysvo and Prevnar. Pfizer also develops treatments through internal research, licensing agreements and collaborations with other pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.

Founded in Brooklyn, New York, in 1849 by Charles Pfizer and Charles Erhart, Pfizer has grown into an international healthcare company serving patients and healthcare providers in markets around the world.

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