Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) Shares Up 1.4% – Still a Buy?

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) was up 1.4% during mid-day trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $27.11 and last traded at $27.0350. Approximately 34,035,114 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 32% from the average daily volume of 49,923,309 shares. The stock had previously closed at $26.65.

Key Headlines Impacting Pfizer

Here are the key news stories impacting Pfizer this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Erste Group raised its earnings estimates for Pfizer, which supports higher forward earnings expectations and helps justify current valuations. Erste Group Bank Increases Earnings Estimates for Pfizer
• Positive Sentiment: Telescope Innovations announced installation of a second Self-Driving Laboratory at Pfizer — a signal that Pfizer is investing in automated R&D platforms that could accelerate drug discovery efficiency (small direct revenue impact but positive for long-term R&D productivity). Telescope Innovations Installs Second Self-Driving Lab at Pfizer
• Positive Sentiment: Pfizer appears on dividend-focused stock lists (e.g., The Motley Fool), which can boost demand from income-oriented investors. My 5 Favorite Dividend Stocks to Buy Right Now
• Neutral Sentiment: Pfizer invited the public to listen to CEO Albert Bourla’s presentation at the TD Cowen Health Care Conference on March 2 — an event that could move the stock if management provides new guidance or program updates. Pfizer Invites Public to Listen to Webcast of Pfizer Discussion at Healthcare Conference
• Neutral Sentiment: Coverage pieces (Zacks / Yahoo) note heightened investor attention on PFE; these articles can increase trading interest but don’t by themselves change fundamentals. Pfizer Inc. (PFE) is Attracting Investor Attention: Here is What You Should Know
• Neutral Sentiment: Neutrolis appointed former Pfizer R&D chief Mikael Dolsten to its board — notable industry movement but not a direct driver for Pfizer’s near-term results. Neutrolis Appoints Mikael Dolsten, M.D., Ph.D., to Board of Directors as Executive Director

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on PFE shares. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $26.00 target price on shares of Pfizer in a report on Wednesday, November 5th. Guggenheim reiterated a “buy” rating on shares of Pfizer in a research note on Wednesday, December 17th. BMO Capital Markets restated an “outperform” rating on shares of Pfizer in a research note on Wednesday, December 10th. TD Cowen reaffirmed a “hold” rating on shares of Pfizer in a report on Tuesday, December 30th. Finally, Barclays assumed coverage on shares of Pfizer in a report on Thursday. They issued an “underweight” rating and a $25.00 price target on the stock. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have issued a Buy rating, thirteen have issued a Hold rating and three have assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Pfizer has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $27.84.

Pfizer Stock Up 1.4%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62, a current ratio of 1.28 and a quick ratio of 0.97. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $25.95 and a 200 day moving average price of $25.32. The company has a market cap of $153.71 billion, a PE ratio of 19.88 and a beta of 0.47.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, February 3rd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.66 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.57 by $0.09. Pfizer had a net margin of 12.42% and a return on equity of 20.25%. The business had revenue of $17.56 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $16.93 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.63 earnings per share. Pfizer’s revenue for the quarter was down 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts anticipate that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.95 EPS for the current year.

Pfizer Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 6th. Investors of record on Friday, January 23rd will be given a $0.43 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 23rd. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.4%. Pfizer’s payout ratio is 126.47%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Pfizer

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Fiduciary Alliance LLC boosted its stake in shares of Pfizer by 46.4% during the third quarter. Fiduciary Alliance LLC now owns 145,263 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $3,701,000 after purchasing an additional 46,043 shares during the period. Y Intercept Hong Kong Ltd bought a new stake in Pfizer during the 3rd quarter valued at $3,019,000. Money Concepts Capital Corp boosted its position in Pfizer by 29.9% during the 3rd quarter. Money Concepts Capital Corp now owns 248,251 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $6,325,000 after buying an additional 57,188 shares during the period. Vista Investment Partners LLC grew its holdings in Pfizer by 236.1% in the 3rd quarter. Vista Investment Partners LLC now owns 69,613 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $1,774,000 after acquiring an additional 48,900 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Generali Investments CEE investicni spolecnost a.s. increased its position in shares of Pfizer by 76.4% in the third quarter. Generali Investments CEE investicni spolecnost a.s. now owns 109,269 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $2,784,000 after acquiring an additional 47,319 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 68.36% of the company’s stock.

About Pfizer

Pfizer Inc (NYSE: PFE) is a multinational biopharmaceutical company headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1849 by Charles Pfizer and Charles Erhart, the company researches, develops, manufactures and commercializes a broad range of medicines and vaccines for human health. Its activities span discovery research, clinical development, regulatory affairs, manufacturing and global commercial distribution across multiple therapeutic areas.

Pfizer’s portfolio and pipeline cover oncology, immunology, cardiology, endocrinology, rare diseases, hospital acute care and anti-infectives, along with a substantial vaccine business.