Stock Traders Buy High Volume of Bristol Myers Squibb Call Options (NYSE:BMY)

Key Points

• Bristol Myers Squibb saw unusually heavy call-option activity, with investors purchasing 55,757 calls—about 112% above its average daily volume.
• BMY shares rose 1.6% to $67.11, while the company reported quarterly earnings and revenue that exceeded analyst expectations. Bristol Myers also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.63, representing a 3.8% annualized yield.
• Analyst sentiment is broadly positive, with a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and an average price target of $66.06; recent targets range from $59 to $75.

Bristol Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY - Get Free Report) saw unusually large options trading on Wednesday. Investors bought 55,757 call options on the company. This represents an increase of approximately 112% compared to the average daily volume of 26,261 call options.

Bristol Myers Squibb Stock Up 1.6%

Shares of NYSE BMY traded up $1.06 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $67.11. The company had a trading volume of 6,574,912 shares, compared to its average volume of 12,253,619. The company has a market capitalization of $137.09 billion, a PE ratio of 14.79, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.17 and a beta of 0.22. The company has a current ratio of 1.53, a quick ratio of 1.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.89. Bristol Myers Squibb has a one year low of $42.52 and a one year high of $68.64. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $59.94 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $59.14.

Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 30th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $2.04 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.60 by $0.44. Bristol Myers Squibb had a net margin of 18.87% and a return on equity of 66.90%. The business had revenue of $12.97 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.74 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.46 earnings per share. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 5.7% on a year-over-year basis. Bristol Myers Squibb has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.750-7.000 EPS. On average, equities analysts expect that Bristol Myers Squibb will post 6.95 EPS for the current year.

Bristol Myers Squibb Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, August 3rd. Investors of record on Thursday, July 2nd were paid a $0.63 dividend. This represents a $2.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.8%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, July 2nd. Bristol Myers Squibb's dividend payout ratio is 55.51%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Bristol Myers Squibb

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Northwestern Mutual Investment Management Company LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Bristol Myers Squibb by 0.3% in the 4th quarter. Northwestern Mutual Investment Management Company LLC now owns 65,046 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $3,509,000 after purchasing an additional 172 shares in the last quarter. KCM Investment Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Bristol Myers Squibb by 0.8% during the fourth quarter. KCM Investment Advisors LLC now owns 20,871 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $1,126,000 after buying an additional 174 shares during the last quarter. Sandy Cove Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Bristol Myers Squibb by 4.7% during the second quarter. Sandy Cove Advisors LLC now owns 3,932 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $227,000 after buying an additional 176 shares during the last quarter. Investment Research Partners LLC lifted its stake in shares of Bristol Myers Squibb by 1.4% in the fourth quarter. Investment Research Partners LLC now owns 13,134 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $708,000 after buying an additional 179 shares in the last quarter. Finally, ESG Planning DBA Harper Investing grew its holdings in shares of Bristol Myers Squibb by 1.3% during the fourth quarter. ESG Planning DBA Harper Investing now owns 13,811 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $745,000 after buying an additional 180 shares during the last quarter. 76.41% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have recently weighed in on BMY shares. Roth Capital began coverage on shares of Bristol Myers Squibb in a research report on Wednesday, August 5th. They set a "buy" rating and a $75.00 target price on the stock. Cantor Fitzgerald restated a "neutral" rating and issued a $59.00 price objective (up from $54.00) on shares of Bristol Myers Squibb in a research report on Friday, July 31st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on Bristol Myers Squibb from $67.00 to $73.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, July 31st. Truist Financial reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $70.00 price target (up from $65.00) on shares of Bristol Myers Squibb in a research note on Friday, July 31st. Finally, BMO Capital Markets reaffirmed a "market perform" rating on shares of Bristol Myers Squibb in a research note on Monday, July 27th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, twelve have issued a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Bristol Myers Squibb currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $66.06.

Bristol Myers Squibb Company Profile

Bristol Myers Squibb is a global biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey, focused on discovering, developing and delivering medicines for serious diseases. The company's core activities include research and development, clinical development, manufacturing and commercialization of prescription pharmaceuticals across multiple therapeutic areas. BMS concentrates on advancing therapies in oncology, hematology, immunology, cardiovascular disease and specialty areas through both small molecules and biologics.

BMS's marketed portfolio and late‑stage pipeline reflect a strong emphasis on cancer and immune‑mediated conditions.

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