GSK PLC Sponsored ADR (NYSE:GSK) Receives Consensus Recommendation of “Hold” from Analysts

Shares of GSK PLC Sponsored ADR (NYSE:GSK) have received an average recommendation of “Hold” from the ten ratings firms that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, six have given a hold recommendation, one has issued a buy recommendation and one has issued a strong buy recommendation on the company. The average twelve-month price target among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $53.00.

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on GSK. Wall Street Zen downgraded GSK from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, August 1st. Jefferies Financial Group raised GSK to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Friday, July 17th. Royal Bank Of Canada restated an “outperform” rating on shares of GSK in a research note on Tuesday, June 9th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reaffirmed a “hold” rating on shares of GSK in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Citigroup assumed coverage on GSK in a research report on Friday, July 24th. They issued a “neutral” rating on the stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On GSK

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of GSK. First Horizon Corp boosted its holdings in GSK by 78.7% in the 4th quarter. First Horizon Corp now owns 536 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 236 shares during the period. Elyxium Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in GSK in the 4th quarter worth $30,000. Triumph Capital Management bought a new position in shares of GSK during the 3rd quarter worth about $40,000. Trust Co. of Vermont bought a new position in shares of GSK during the 2nd quarter worth about $54,000. Finally, Coston McIsaac & Partners raised its position in shares of GSK by 17.3% during the fourth quarter. Coston McIsaac & Partners now owns 1,395 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $68,000 after buying an additional 206 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 15.74% of the company’s stock.

GSK Stock Performance

NYSE:GSK opened at $52.03 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $105.24 billion, a PE ratio of 16.27, a PEG ratio of 3.04 and a beta of 0.36. GSK has a 1 year low of $37.71 and a 1 year high of $61.69. The company has a current ratio of 0.82, a quick ratio of 0.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81. The firm’s fifty day simple moving average is $51.86 and its 200 day simple moving average is $53.62.

GSK Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 8th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 14th will be paid a $0.4515 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 14th. This is a positive change from GSK’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.44. This represents a $1.81 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.5%. GSK’s dividend payout ratio is 55.94%.

GSK Company Profile

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.