GSK PLC Sponsored ADR (NYSE:GSK) Receives $44.13 Consensus Price Target from Brokerages

GSK PLC Sponsored ADR (NYSE:GSK) has been given an average rating of “Reduce” by the eleven brokerages that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month target price among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $44.1250.

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on GSK shares. Morgan Stanley reaffirmed an “underweight” rating on shares of GSK in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. Jefferies Financial Group restated a “buy” rating on shares of GSK in a research note on Monday, October 27th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of GSK in a research report on Monday, December 29th. HSBC restated a “reduce” rating on shares of GSK in a research report on Wednesday, December 10th. Finally, TD Cowen reiterated a “hold” rating on shares of GSK in a research note on Monday.

GSK Stock Performance

Shares of GSK opened at $58.93 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $120.13 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.93, a P/E/G ratio of 3.55 and a beta of 0.46. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.92, a quick ratio of 0.54 and a current ratio of 0.82. GSK has a 1 year low of $32.38 and a 1 year high of $60.37. The company’s fifty day moving average is $50.94 and its two-hundred day moving average is $45.62.

GSK Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 9th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 20th will be given a dividend of $0.4856 per share. This represents a $1.94 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.3%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 20th. This is a positive change from GSK’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.42. GSK’s payout ratio is 45.95%.

Insider Buying and Selling at GSK

In other news, major shareholder Plc Gsk acquired 1,470,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 11th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $19.00 per share, with a total value of $27,930,000.00. Following the purchase, the insider directly owned 18,245,691 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $346,668,129. This trade represents a 8.76% increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 10.00% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Brighton Jones LLC purchased a new position in GSK during the 4th quarter valued at about $528,000. AQR Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of GSK by 84.4% in the first quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 40,239 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $1,559,000 after purchasing an additional 18,420 shares during the last quarter. Empowered Funds LLC increased its stake in shares of GSK by 2.1% during the 1st quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 79,174 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock worth $3,067,000 after purchasing an additional 1,598 shares in the last quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of GSK by 7.9% during the 2nd quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 25,681 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock worth $986,000 after purchasing an additional 1,875 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. lifted its stake in GSK by 4.7% in the 2nd quarter. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. now owns 375,481 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $14,418,000 after buying an additional 16,999 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 15.74% of the company’s stock.

About GSK

GSK (GlaxoSmithKline plc) is a London-headquartered, multinational pharmaceutical and healthcare company formed through the 2000 merger of Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKline Beecham. The company is dual-listed and operates globally, developing, manufacturing and commercializing prescription medicines, vaccines and specialty treatments. Over its history GSK has evolved through portfolio reshaping and strategic transactions to focus on science-led pharmaceuticals and vaccines.

GSK’s core activities include research and development of therapies and vaccines across a range of therapeutic areas, commercial manufacturing, and global marketing.