Asset Management One Co. Ltd. Buys 114,090 Shares of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE)

Asset Management One Co. Ltd. increased its stake in Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) by 5.0% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 2,392,759 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock after purchasing an additional 114,090 shares during the quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd.’s holdings in Pfizer were worth $63,695,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Pfizer in the fourth quarter worth $26,000. Gladius Capital Management LP grew its stake in Pfizer by 102.8% in the 3rd quarter. Gladius Capital Management LP now owns 1,043 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 38,015 shares during the last quarter. Teachers Insurance & Annuity Association of America bought a new position in Pfizer in the 3rd quarter worth $35,000. Joseph Group Capital Management lifted its position in Pfizer by 168.3% during the 3rd quarter. Joseph Group Capital Management now owns 1,229 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $36,000 after acquiring an additional 771 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sugar Maple Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in Pfizer during the fourth quarter valued at about $43,000. Institutional investors own 68.36% of the company’s stock.

Pfizer Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:PFE opened at $25.64 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $145.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.18, a P/E/G ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 0.64. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $26.28 and its 200 day simple moving average is $27.63. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63, a current ratio of 1.00 and a quick ratio of 0.73. Pfizer Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $24.48 and a fifty-two week high of $31.54.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.63 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.48 by $0.15. Pfizer had a net margin of 12.62% and a return on equity of 19.47%. The company had revenue of $17.76 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $17.26 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.10 earnings per share. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 24.7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.95 earnings per share for the current year.

Pfizer Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 7th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 24th will be issued a $0.43 dividend. This is an increase from Pfizer’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.42. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.71%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 24th. Pfizer’s dividend payout ratio is 121.99%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have commented on PFE shares. UBS Group dropped their price target on Pfizer from $31.00 to $29.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. Citigroup reduced their target price on Pfizer from $30.00 to $29.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 28th. Sanford C. Bernstein began coverage on shares of Pfizer in a research report on Thursday, October 17th. They set a “market perform” rating and a $32.00 target price on the stock. Guggenheim reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $33.00 target price on shares of Pfizer in a research note on Monday. Finally, Truist Financial reduced their target price on shares of Pfizer from $36.00 to $32.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, December 18th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Pfizer presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $31.92.

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.