Massachusetts Wealth Management Trims Stake in Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE)

Massachusetts Wealth Management lessened its stake in shares of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) by 2.9% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 93,398 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock after selling 2,834 shares during the period. Pfizer accounts for about 1.5% of Massachusetts Wealth Management’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 20th biggest holding. Massachusetts Wealth Management’s holdings in Pfizer were worth $2,478,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of PFE. Czech National Bank increased its stake in shares of Pfizer by 6.9% in the third quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 1,154,366 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $33,407,000 after purchasing an additional 74,737 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its stake in Pfizer by 48.9% in the 3rd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 39,904 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $1,155,000 after buying an additional 13,097 shares in the last quarter. Diversified Trust Co raised its holdings in Pfizer by 33.8% during the third quarter. Diversified Trust Co now owns 113,505 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $3,285,000 after acquiring an additional 28,658 shares during the period. Ignite Planners LLC lifted its position in shares of Pfizer by 1.5% in the third quarter. Ignite Planners LLC now owns 34,144 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $988,000 after acquiring an additional 518 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Chapin Davis Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Pfizer by 2.8% in the third quarter. Chapin Davis Inc. now owns 59,981 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $1,736,000 after acquiring an additional 1,627 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.36% of the company’s stock.

Pfizer Price Performance

Shares of PFE stock opened at $25.88 on Wednesday. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $26.27 and a 200 day moving average price of $27.79. The firm has a market capitalization of $146.64 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.97, a P/E/G ratio of 0.66 and a beta of 0.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a current ratio of 1.00. Pfizer Inc. has a 52-week low of $24.48 and a 52-week high of $31.54.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.63 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.48 by $0.15. Pfizer had a net margin of 7.07% and a return on equity of 16.28%. The firm had revenue of $17.76 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $17.26 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.10 earnings per share. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 24.7% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.96 earnings per share for the current year.

Pfizer Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 7th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 24th will be paid a dividend of $0.43 per share. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.65%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 24th. This is an increase from Pfizer’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.42. Pfizer’s payout ratio is currently 232.44%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have recently commented on PFE shares. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Pfizer from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 20th. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an “overweight” rating and set a $45.00 price objective on shares of Pfizer in a research report on Wednesday, October 23rd. Evercore ISI upgraded Pfizer to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. UBS Group cut their price target on Pfizer from $31.00 to $29.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. Finally, Wolfe Research assumed coverage on Pfizer in a report on Friday, November 15th. They set an “underperform” rating and a $25.00 price objective on the stock. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Pfizer has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $31.92.

Pfizer 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.