Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS) Stake Cut by Creegan & Nassoura Financial Group LLC

Creegan & Nassoura Financial Group LLC decreased its holdings in shares of Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS) by 2.1% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 11,400 shares of the company’s stock after selling 250 shares during the period. Creegan & Nassoura Financial Group LLC’s holdings in Novartis were worth $1,109,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of NVS. Human Investing LLC acquired a new stake in Novartis during the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA bought a new position in shares of Novartis during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Kestra Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Novartis during the 4th quarter worth approximately $47,000. Clearstead Trust LLC bought a new stake in Novartis in the fourth quarter valued at $51,000. Finally, Brooklyn Investment Group bought a new stake in Novartis in the 4th quarter valued at about $55,000. 13.12% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Novartis Price Performance

Novartis stock opened at $110.69 on Monday. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $109.21 and a 200 day simple moving average of $106.22. Novartis AG has a one year low of $94.72 and a one year high of $120.92. The company has a market capitalization of $226.26 billion, a PE ratio of 18.83, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.70 and a beta of 0.56. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a current ratio of 1.04 and a quick ratio of 0.84.

Novartis (NYSE:NVS) last issued its earnings results on Friday, January 31st. The company reported $1.98 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.80 by $0.18. Novartis had a net margin of 23.56% and a return on equity of 37.24%. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Novartis AG will post 8.45 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Novartis Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 12th. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 12th were given a dividend of $3.8695 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, March 12th. Novartis’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 42.69%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised Novartis from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. Barclays restated an “underweight” rating on shares of Novartis in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Novartis from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Saturday, February 8th. Morgan Stanley assumed coverage on shares of Novartis in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. They set an “underweight” rating on the stock. Finally, BNP Paribas upgraded Novartis to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 15th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating, one has issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $123.38.

Novartis Profile

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.