Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) Stock Price Up 2.6% on Strong Earnings

Key Points

• Pfizer shares rose 2.6% after quarterly adjusted EPS of $0.87 beat the $0.74 consensus and revenue of $16.58 billion topped estimates of $15.85 billion. The company also raised its 2026 revenue and adjusted-EPS guidance.
• Revenue was nearly flat year over year as COVID-product sales declined, while non-COVID products grew 7% operationally and launched or acquired products grew 32%.
• Pfizer declared a quarterly dividend of $0.43 per share, equivalent to a 5.6% yield. Analyst sentiment remained cautious, with a consensus “Hold” rating and a $29 average price target.

Shares of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE - Get Free Report) shot up 2.6% during mid-day trading on Wednesday following a stronger than expected earnings report. The stock traded as high as $30.90 and last traded at $30.7940. Approximately 46,682,176 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 17% from the average session volume of 39,771,121 shares. The stock had previously closed at $30.00.

The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.87 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.74 by $0.13. The firm had revenue of $16.58 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $15.85 billion. Pfizer had a net margin of 6.80% and a return on equity of 19.63%. Pfizer's revenue was down .4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.87 EPS.

Pfizer Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 7th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 6th will be issued a $0.43 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 6th. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.6%. Pfizer's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 226.32%.

Trending Headlines about Pfizer

Here are the key news stories impacting Pfizer this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Pfizer beat third-quarter estimates, reporting adjusted EPS of $0.87 and revenue of $16.58 billion. It raised 2026 guidance to $62–$64 billion in revenue and $2.95–$3.05 in adjusted EPS. Article: Pfizer: 3 Key Takeaways for Long-Term Investors
• Positive Sentiment: Growth is increasingly coming from beyond COVID: non-COVID products grew 7% operationally, while launched and acquired products grew 32%. Eliquis, Padcev and other newer medicines helped support results, strengthening the case that Pfizer’s portfolio can offset pandemic-product weakness. Article: Non-COVID Portfolio Steps Up
• Positive Sentiment: Management is also pursuing growth in obesity medicines, with CEO Albert Bourla saying Pfizer aims to bring its past commercial experience to the weight-loss market. That opportunity could add longer-term upside, though it depends on pipeline and development progress. Article: Pfizer CEO Bourla Bets the Viagra Playbook Can Crack the Obesity Market
• Neutral Sentiment: Pfizer appointed company veteran Cecile Guegan permanent CFO after she served as interim CFO. The appointment provides continuity, but the announcement itself offers limited immediate evidence of a change in financial performance. Article: Pfizer Appoints Cecile Guegan as Chief Financial Officer
• Negative Sentiment: Quarterly revenue was nearly flat year over year as Comirnaty and Paxlovid sales declined sharply. This highlights the continuing challenge of replacing pandemic-era revenue and leaves Pfizer reliant on sustained growth from newer products. Article: Pfizer Q3 Revenue and Product Growth
• Negative Sentiment: Analyst views remain restrained: RBC raised its target to $28 but kept a “sector perform” rating, and J.P. Morgan assigned a “Hold.” RBC’s target is below the cited $30.75 share price, signaling limited upside in its assessment. Article: RBC Raises Pfizer Price Target

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on PFE shares. Citigroup boosted their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $27.00 to $30.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Wednesday. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their target price on Pfizer from $25.00 to $28.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a report on Wednesday. Cantor Fitzgerald upped their target price on Pfizer from $27.00 to $28.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Thursday, October 8th. HSBC increased their price target on shares of Pfizer from $28.00 to $30.00 and gave the stock a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, September 10th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets reduced their price target on shares of Pfizer from $34.00 to $30.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, July 13th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, thirteen have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Pfizer has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $29.00.

Institutional Trading of Pfizer

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. BlackRock Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Pfizer by 6.3% during the second quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 529,670,433 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $12,754,464,000 after buying an additional 31,412,883 shares during the period. State Street Corp raised its stake in Pfizer by 1.8% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 307,090,897 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $7,394,749,000 after acquiring an additional 5,501,032 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its stake in Pfizer by 7.4% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 57,879,546 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $1,393,739,000 after acquiring an additional 3,999,646 shares during the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE acquired a new stake in Pfizer during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $1,049,602,000. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its position in Pfizer by 0.8% during the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 36,422,799 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $1,022,606,000 after acquiring an additional 293,029 shares during the period. 68.36% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Pfizer Stock Up 2.6%

The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $28.64 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $26.84. The company has a market capitalization of $175.52 billion, a PE ratio of 40.52, a P/E/G ratio of 2.08 and a beta of 0.31. The company has a current ratio of 1.27, a quick ratio of 0.96 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71.

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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