Physicians Financial Services Inc. Sells 250 Shares of Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS)

Physicians Financial Services Inc. decreased its position in shares of Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS) by 1.9% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 13,068 shares of the company’s stock after selling 250 shares during the quarter. Physicians Financial Services Inc.’s holdings in Novartis were worth $1,272,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in NVS. Cromwell Holdings LLC raised its position in Novartis by 21.9% during the 4th quarter. Cromwell Holdings LLC now owns 3,918 shares of the company’s stock worth $381,000 after purchasing an additional 705 shares during the last quarter. O Brien Greene & Co. Inc lifted its stake in shares of Novartis by 2.2% in the fourth quarter. O Brien Greene & Co. Inc now owns 5,698 shares of the company’s stock valued at $554,000 after buying an additional 124 shares in the last quarter. Boston Financial Mangement LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Novartis by 12.8% in the fourth quarter. Boston Financial Mangement LLC now owns 9,072 shares of the company’s stock valued at $883,000 after purchasing an additional 1,027 shares in the last quarter. Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Novartis by 11.0% in the fourth quarter. Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC now owns 4,143 shares of the company’s stock valued at $403,000 after purchasing an additional 409 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Private Advisor Group LLC increased its position in shares of Novartis by 3.8% during the fourth quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 40,522 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,943,000 after acquiring an additional 1,466 shares during the last quarter. 13.12% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Novartis Stock Up 0.3 %

NVS opened at $107.26 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $219.23 billion, a PE ratio of 18.24, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.70 and a beta of 0.58. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $101.06 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $108.15. The company has a quick ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48. Novartis AG has a 52 week low of $92.35 and a 52 week high of $120.92.

Novartis (NYSE:NVS) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 31st. The company reported $1.98 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.80 by $0.18. Novartis had a return on equity of 37.24% and a net margin of 23.56%. Analysts forecast that Novartis AG will post 8.45 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts recently commented on the stock. Erste Group Bank reaffirmed a “hold” rating on shares of Novartis in a report on Tuesday, November 19th. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price objective on shares of Novartis from $118.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on shares of Novartis in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. They issued an “underweight” rating on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised Novartis from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. Finally, HSBC lowered shares of Novartis from a “hold” rating to a “reduce” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 4th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating, one has assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $123.38.

About Novartis

Novartis AG engages in the research, development, manufacture, and marketing of healthcare products in Switzerland and internationally. The company offers prescription medicines for patients and physicians. It focuses on therapeutic areas, such as cardiovascular, renal and metabolic, immunology, neuroscience, and oncology, as well as ophthalmology and hematology.