United Capital Financial Advisors LLC Trims Holdings in Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX)

United Capital Financial Advisors LLC decreased its position in Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX - Free Report) by 53.2% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 8,440 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock after selling 9,579 shares during the quarter. United Capital Financial Advisors LLC's holdings in Baxter International were worth $246,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in BAX. PVG Asset Management Corp purchased a new stake in shares of Baxter International in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $429,000. A. D. Beadell Investment Counsel Inc. bought a new stake in Baxter International in the fourth quarter worth $294,000. Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC grew its stake in shares of Baxter International by 247.3% in the fourth quarter. Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC now owns 2,622 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $76,000 after acquiring an additional 1,867 shares during the last quarter. West Oak Capital LLC increased its holdings in shares of Baxter International by 345.3% during the fourth quarter. West Oak Capital LLC now owns 3,785 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $110,000 after acquiring an additional 2,935 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Nisa Investment Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Baxter International by 10.2% in the 4th quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 97,990 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $2,874,000 after purchasing an additional 9,054 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.19% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages recently commented on BAX. The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on shares of Baxter International in a research report on Wednesday, February 26th. They set a "buy" rating and a $42.00 price objective on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on shares of Baxter International from $38.00 to $36.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 21st. Barclays upped their price objective on Baxter International from $39.00 to $41.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Monday, March 10th. Finally, Argus raised Baxter International from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, February 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $38.56.

Baxter International Stock Performance

Baxter International stock traded down $0.21 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $30.20. 3,466,652 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,573,561. The stock has a market capitalization of $15.49 billion, a PE ratio of -23.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.93 and a beta of 0.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.31, a current ratio of 1.43 and a quick ratio of 1.09. The business's 50-day moving average is $32.36 and its 200-day moving average is $32.36. Baxter International Inc. has a 12-month low of $26.25 and a 12-month high of $40.96.

Baxter International (NYSE:BAX - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 20th. The medical instruments supplier reported $0.58 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.52 by $0.06. The firm had revenue of $2.75 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.67 billion. Baxter International had a negative net margin of 5.05% and a positive return on equity of 16.67%. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Baxter International Inc. will post 2.48 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Baxter International Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th were given a dividend of $0.17 per share. This represents a $0.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.25%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 28th. Baxter International's payout ratio is -53.13%.

Baxter International Company Profile

Baxter International Inc, through its subsidiaries, develops and provides a portfolio of healthcare products worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Medical Products and Therapies, Healthcare Systems and Technologies, Pharmaceuticals, and Kidney Care. The company offers sterile intravenous (IV) solutions; infusion systems and devices; parenteral nutrition therapies; generic injectable pharmaceuticals; surgical hemostat and sealant products, advanced surgical equipment; smart bed systems; patient monitoring and diagnostic technologies; and respiratory health devices, as well as advanced equipment for the surgical space, including surgical video technologies, precision positioning devices, and other accessories.