Wellington Shields Capital Management LLC Sells 3,400 Shares of Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX)

Wellington Shields Capital Management LLC decreased its position in Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX) by 15.2% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 18,900 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock after selling 3,400 shares during the quarter. Wellington Shields Capital Management LLC’s holdings in Baxter International were worth $551,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of BAX. Riverview Trust Co lifted its holdings in shares of Baxter International by 5,488.2% in the 4th quarter. Riverview Trust Co now owns 950 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 933 shares during the last quarter. LRI Investments LLC raised its position in Baxter International by 60.8% in the 3rd quarter. LRI Investments LLC now owns 1,560 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $59,000 after purchasing an additional 590 shares during the period. CKW Financial Group raised its position in Baxter International by 100.0% in the 3rd quarter. CKW Financial Group now owns 2,200 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $81,000 after purchasing an additional 1,100 shares during the period. Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC lifted its stake in Baxter International by 247.3% in the fourth quarter. Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC now owns 2,622 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $76,000 after purchasing an additional 1,867 shares during the last quarter. Finally, West Oak Capital LLC boosted its position in Baxter International by 345.3% during the fourth quarter. West Oak Capital LLC now owns 3,785 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $110,000 after buying an additional 2,935 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.19% of the company’s stock.

Baxter International Stock Up 0.3 %

Shares of NYSE BAX opened at $34.64 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $32.46 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $34.00. Baxter International Inc. has a 12 month low of $28.34 and a 12 month high of $43.99. The company has a current ratio of 1.43, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.31. The firm has a market capitalization of $17.72 billion, a PE ratio of -27.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.93 and a beta of 0.60.

Baxter International (NYSE:BAX) last released its quarterly earnings results 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. The company had revenue of $2.75 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.67 billion. Baxter International had a negative net margin of 5.05% and a positive return on equity of 16.67%. Equities analysts expect that Baxter International Inc. will post 2.48 earnings per share for the current year.

Baxter International Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 1st. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th will be paid a $0.17 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $0.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.96%. Baxter International’s payout ratio is -53.13%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have recently commented on the company. Argus raised Baxter International from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, February 24th. Barclays boosted their price objective on Baxter International from $39.00 to $41.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, March 10th. Citigroup dropped their price objective on Baxter International from $37.00 to $35.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on shares of Baxter International from $38.00 to $36.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 21st. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on shares of Baxter International in a research report on Wednesday, February 26th. They set a “buy” rating and a $42.00 price target for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Baxter International has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $38.56.

Baxter International Profile

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.