Optas LLC Buys 539 Shares of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE)

Optas LLC increased its stake in Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) by 5.8% during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 9,824 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock after purchasing an additional 539 shares during the period. Optas LLC’s holdings in Pfizer were worth $284,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the stock. China Universal Asset Management Co. Ltd. bought a new position in Pfizer during the first quarter worth $315,000. Norden Group LLC raised its position in shares of Pfizer by 26.8% in the 1st quarter. Norden Group LLC now owns 30,336 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $842,000 after acquiring an additional 6,404 shares in the last quarter. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division bought a new position in shares of Pfizer in the 1st quarter worth about $136,000. GSA Capital Partners LLP bought a new position in shares of Pfizer in the 1st quarter worth about $439,000. Finally, AA Financial Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Pfizer in the 1st quarter worth about $318,000. Institutional investors own 68.36% of the company’s stock.

Pfizer Price Performance

PFE stock opened at $28.09 on Monday. Pfizer Inc. has a 52-week low of $25.20 and a 52-week high of $31.54. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $29.03 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $28.62. The company has a market capitalization of $159.18 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.96, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.90 and a beta of 0.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a current ratio of 0.86.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, October 29th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.06 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.64 by $0.42. Pfizer had a return on equity of 16.40% and a net margin of 7.07%. The firm had revenue of $17.70 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.92 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned ($0.17) EPS. The company’s revenue was up 31.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts expect that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Pfizer Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, December 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 8th will be paid a $0.42 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, November 8th. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.98%. Pfizer’s payout ratio is presently 227.03%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Daiwa Capital Markets raised Pfizer from a “neutral” rating to an “outperform” rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $28.00 to $34.00 in a research report on Wednesday, August 7th. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an “overweight” rating and issued a $45.00 target price on shares of Pfizer in a research note on Wednesday, October 23rd. Sanford C. Bernstein began coverage on Pfizer in a research note on Thursday, October 17th. They issued a “market perform” rating and a $32.00 target price for the company. Evercore ISI upgraded Pfizer to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded Pfizer from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 9th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $33.58.

Insider Transactions at Pfizer

In related news, Director Scott Gottlieb purchased 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, October 30th. The shares were bought at an average price of $28.24 per share, with a total value of $28,240.00. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 10,000 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $282,400. This trade represents a 0.00 % increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.06% of the company’s stock.

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.