Stoneridge Investment Partners LLC Acquires 132,761 Shares of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE)

Stoneridge Investment Partners LLC raised its stake in Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) by 147.3% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 222,870 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock after purchasing an additional 132,761 shares during the period. Pfizer accounts for approximately 2.7% of Stoneridge Investment Partners LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 6th biggest position. Stoneridge Investment Partners LLC’s holdings in Pfizer were worth $6,416,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of PFE. Northwest Financial Advisors bought a new position in Pfizer during the fourth quarter worth about $205,000. Thompson Siegel & Walmsley LLC increased its stake in Pfizer by 0.6% during the 4th quarter. Thompson Siegel & Walmsley LLC now owns 511,544 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $14,727,000 after acquiring an additional 3,263 shares during the period. Calton & Associates Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Pfizer during the 4th quarter valued at $334,000. Foyston Gordon & Payne Inc increased its position in shares of Pfizer by 2.6% in the fourth quarter. Foyston Gordon & Payne Inc now owns 70,524 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $2,030,000 after purchasing an additional 1,759 shares during the period. Finally, Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC lifted its position in Pfizer by 18.8% during the fourth quarter. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC now owns 168,767 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $4,859,000 after purchasing an additional 26,706 shares during the period. 68.36% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Pfizer Stock Down 0.6 %

Shares of PFE traded down $0.17 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $28.01. The stock had a trading volume of 25,849,775 shares, compared to its average volume of 46,206,912. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 1.05 and a quick ratio of 0.69. Pfizer Inc. has a 1-year low of $25.20 and a 1-year high of $40.37. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $27.00 and a 200-day simple moving average of $28.10. The firm has a market capitalization of $158.72 billion, a P/E ratio of -466.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.19 and a beta of 0.63.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, May 1st. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.82 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.56 by $0.26. Pfizer had a negative net margin of 0.56% and a positive return on equity of 8.64%. The firm had revenue of $14.88 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $13.87 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.23 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was down 19.5% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts predict that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.39 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Pfizer Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 14th. Stockholders of record on Friday, May 10th will be issued a $0.42 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 9th. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.00%. Pfizer’s dividend payout ratio is currently -2,799.53%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. Argus cut shares of Pfizer from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, March 22nd. BMO Capital Markets reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and issued a $36.00 target price (up previously from $33.00) on shares of Pfizer in a report on Thursday, May 2nd. Guggenheim assumed coverage on Pfizer in a research report on Friday, February 23rd. They set a “buy” rating and a $36.00 price objective for the company. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an “overweight” rating and issued a $45.00 target price on shares of Pfizer in a research report on Monday, April 15th. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on Pfizer from $28.00 to $29.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Thursday, May 2nd. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $36.00.

Pfizer Company 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.