Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Co raised its stake in Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE – Free Report) by 3.3% in the 2nd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 1,055,663 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock after buying an additional 33,600 shares during the quarter. Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Co’s holdings in Pfizer were worth $25,420,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Handelsbanken Fonder AB lifted its stake in shares of Pfizer by 10.4% during the second quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB now owns 2,462,431 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $59,295,000 after acquiring an additional 232,528 shares during the period. Russell Investments Group Ltd. raised its holdings in Pfizer by 15.7% during the 2nd quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 5,482,863 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $132,365,000 after purchasing an additional 745,213 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in Pfizer by 1.3% during the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 541,346,182 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $13,479,520,000 after purchasing an additional 7,031,162 shares during the period. Leuthold Group LLC acquired a new position in Pfizer during the 2nd quarter valued at about $4,887,000. Finally, North Dakota State Investment Board bought a new position in shares of Pfizer in the 4th quarter valued at about $5,348,000. 68.36% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
Pfizer Trading Down 0.2%
PFE opened at $28.00 on Monday. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $25.30 and its two-hundred day moving average is $26.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a quick ratio of 0.96 and a current ratio of 1.27. The firm has a market cap of $159.59 billion, a PE ratio of 36.84 and a beta of 0.34. Pfizer Inc. has a twelve month low of $23.58 and a twelve month high of $28.75.
Pfizer Dividend Announcement
The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 24th will be paid a $0.43 dividend. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 24th. Pfizer’s payout ratio is presently 226.32%.
Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades
PFE has been the subject of several analyst reports. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Pfizer from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Saturday, August 1st. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $34.00 to $30.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, July 13th. Guggenheim lowered their target price on shares of Pfizer from $35.00 to $31.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Friday, August 7th. UBS Group reiterated a “neutral” rating and set a $27.00 target price on shares of Pfizer in a research report on Wednesday, May 27th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada raised Pfizer from an “underperform” rating to a “sector perform” rating and set a $25.00 price target on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, June 9th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have assigned a Buy rating, fourteen have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $28.28.
View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Pfizer
Pfizer News Roundup
Here are the key news stories impacting Pfizer this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Pfizer completed a Phase 1/2 study of PF-07868489, an experimental treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension. The milestone supports early-stage pipeline progress, though additional clinical testing will be needed before any potential commercialization. Pfizer’s PF-07868489 PAH Study Reaches Completion
- Positive Sentiment: Several additional clinical updates highlighted progress across Pfizer’s development portfolio: completion of a Phase 1 atirmociclib study, completion of a drug-interaction study for PF-07248144, and a new Phase 1 liver study for atirmociclib. These milestones may reinforce confidence in Pfizer’s ability to replenish revenue as older products face competition. Atirmociclib Study Update PF-07248144 Study Update
- Positive Sentiment: Pfizer is also expanding real-world evidence efforts for prostate cancer therapies, Ibrance in advanced breast cancer, and a migraine treatment study in India. These studies could support broader use and strengthen commercial evidence for existing medicines. Pfizer Real-World Prostate Cancer Study
- Positive Sentiment: Investor-oriented coverage remains constructive, citing Pfizer’s roughly 19% year-to-date gain, attractive dividend yield, and reported hedge-fund buying. The stock’s move toward its 52-week high suggests improving sentiment. Hedge Funds Buying Pfizer
- Neutral Sentiment: Unusually large options activity may increase short-term trading interest, but it does not establish a clear fundamental direction for PFE. Pfizer Options Trading
- Negative Sentiment: Coverage of settlements involving thousands of Depo-Provera lawsuits raises concerns about potential legal costs and ongoing liability. Analysts also continue to weigh whether new drugs and acquisitions can offset revenue losses from expiring patents. Pfizer Legal Claims
Pfizer Company Profile
Pfizer Inc (NYSE: PFE) is a multinational biopharmaceutical company headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1849 by Charles Pfizer and Charles Erhart, the company researches, develops, manufactures and commercializes a broad range of medicines and vaccines for human health. Its activities span discovery research, clinical development, regulatory affairs, manufacturing and global commercial distribution across multiple therapeutic areas.
Pfizer’s portfolio and pipeline cover oncology, immunology, cardiology, endocrinology, rare diseases, hospital acute care and anti-infectives, along with a substantial vaccine business.
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