Amundi Increases Stock Holdings in Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX)

Amundi boosted its position in Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX) by 41.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 1,319,274 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock after purchasing an additional 384,349 shares during the period. Amundi’s holdings in Baxter International were worth $39,037,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its position in shares of Baxter International by 22.3% during the 4th quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 15,359,040 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $447,870,000 after buying an additional 2,803,920 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Baxter International by 1.4% during the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 12,156,660 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $460,022,000 after buying an additional 170,776 shares in the last quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Baxter International by 1.9% during the 4th quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. now owns 1,160,666 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $33,845,000 after buying an additional 21,592 shares in the last quarter. Rhumbline Advisers lifted its position in shares of Baxter International by 1.2% during the 4th quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 1,113,125 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $32,459,000 after buying an additional 13,424 shares in the last quarter. Finally, ARGA Investment Management LP lifted its position in shares of Baxter International by 148.8% during the 4th quarter. ARGA Investment Management LP now owns 870,601 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $25,387,000 after buying an additional 520,633 shares in the last quarter. 90.19% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Baxter International Stock Performance

NYSE:BAX opened at $34.34 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.31, a current ratio of 1.43 and a quick ratio of 1.09. Baxter International Inc. has a 1 year low of $28.34 and a 1 year high of $43.99. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $32.25 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $34.02. The company has a market cap of $17.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -26.83, a PEG ratio of 0.93 and a beta of 0.60.

Baxter International (NYSE:BAX) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 20th. The medical instruments supplier reported $0.58 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.52 by $0.06. Baxter International had a positive return on equity of 16.67% and a negative net margin of 5.05%. The business had revenue of $2.75 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.67 billion. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Baxter International Inc. will post 2.48 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Baxter International Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be paid a $0.17 dividend. This represents a $0.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.98%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. Baxter International’s payout ratio is -53.13%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on BAX shares. Argus raised Baxter International from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, February 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on Baxter International from $38.00 to $36.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 21st. Citigroup lowered their price objective on Baxter International from $37.00 to $35.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on Baxter International in a report on Wednesday, February 26th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $42.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Barclays boosted their price target on Baxter International from $39.00 to $41.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $38.56.

About Baxter International

Baxter International Inc, through its subsidiaries, develops and provides a portfolio of healthcare products worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Medical Products and Therapies, Healthcare Systems and Technologies, Pharmaceuticals, and Kidney Care. The company offers sterile intravenous (IV) solutions; infusion systems and devices; parenteral nutrition therapies; generic injectable pharmaceuticals; surgical hemostat and sealant products, advanced surgical equipment; smart bed systems; patient monitoring and diagnostic technologies; and respiratory health devices, as well as advanced equipment for the surgical space, including surgical video technologies, precision positioning devices, and other accessories.