Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. Has $3.04 Million Stock Position in Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX)

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. reduced its position in Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX) by 32.1% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 104,482 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock after selling 49,467 shares during the period. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A.’s holdings in Baxter International were worth $3,043,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. PVG Asset Management Corp bought a new position in Baxter International during the third quarter valued at approximately $429,000. A. D. Beadell Investment Counsel Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Baxter International during the 4th quarter worth $294,000. Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC raised its holdings in shares of Baxter International by 247.3% during the 4th quarter. Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC now owns 2,622 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $76,000 after purchasing an additional 1,867 shares in the last quarter. West Oak Capital LLC lifted its stake in shares of Baxter International by 345.3% in the 4th quarter. West Oak Capital LLC now owns 3,785 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $110,000 after purchasing an additional 2,935 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Nisa Investment Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Baxter International by 10.2% in the fourth quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 97,990 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $2,874,000 after purchasing an additional 9,054 shares in the last quarter. 90.19% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Baxter International Price Performance

NYSE:BAX opened at $30.20 on Friday. 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 one year low of $26.25 and a one year high of $40.96. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $32.36 and a 200 day moving average price of $32.39. The stock has a market cap of $15.49 billion, a P/E ratio of -23.59, a PEG ratio of 0.93 and a beta of 0.64.

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

Baxter International Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th were given a dividend of $0.17 per share. This represents a $0.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.25%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 28th. Baxter International’s dividend payout ratio is presently -53.13%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have weighed in on BAX shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on Baxter International from $38.00 to $36.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 21st. Barclays boosted their target price on Baxter International from $39.00 to $41.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, March 10th. The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on Baxter International in a report on Wednesday, February 26th. They set a “buy” rating and a $42.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Argus upgraded shares of Baxter International from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, February 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price 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.