American Trust Investment Advisors Boosts Pfizer Holdings by 18.6%

American Trust Investment Advisors LLC has increased its stake in Pfizer Inc. by 18.6% in the first quarter of 2024, according to its latest filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm now holds a total of 45,644 shares in the biopharmaceutical company, valued at approximately $1,157,000 after acquiring an additional 7,145 shares during the quarter.

This increase in holdings reflects a broader trend among institutional investors, with several hedge funds adjusting their positions in Pfizer. Clarity Asset Management Inc. entered a new stake in Pfizer in the fourth quarter, worth about $27,000. Meanwhile, Gould Capital LLC increased its investment by 97.2% during the same period, now owning 1,000 shares valued at approximately $27,000 after acquiring an additional 493 shares. Other firms, including GKV Capital Management Co. Inc. and North Capital Inc., also bought new stakes in Pfizer, each valued around $28,000. Overall, hedge funds and institutional investors hold 68.36% of Pfizer’s stock.

Analysts Adjust Price Targets

Recent evaluations by research analysts have resulted in revised price targets for Pfizer. On May 19, HSBC reduced its target from $27.00 to $26.00, maintaining a “buy” rating. Berenberg Bank similarly lowered its target from $28.00 to $25.00, issuing a “hold” rating on May 29. Conversely, Morgan Stanley increased its target from $32.00 to $33.00 with an “equal weight” rating on August 6. Citigroup and Bank of America also raised their target prices to $26.00 and $28.00, respectively, both assigning a “neutral” rating.

As of now, two analysts have given Pfizer a Strong Buy rating, while four rated it as a Buy, eleven as Hold, and one as Sell. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently holds a consensus rating of “Hold” with an average target price of $28.12.

Pfizer’s Market Performance and Earnings Report

Pfizer’s stock opened at $24.94 on Wednesday, reflecting a modest increase of 0.7%. The company maintains a market capitalization of $141.77 billion and has a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.26. It has experienced a one-year low of $20.92 and a high of $30.43. The biopharmaceutical company reported strong financial results on August 5, posting earnings per share (EPS) of $0.78, surpassing analyst expectations of $0.58 by $0.20. Revenue for the quarter reached $14.65 billion, exceeding estimates of $13.43 billion, and reflecting a year-over-year growth of 10.3%.

Pfizer also announced its fiscal year 2025 guidance for EPS, projecting a range of $2.90 to $3.10. Analysts anticipate the company will achieve an EPS of $2.95 for the current fiscal year.

Additionally, Pfizer declared a quarterly dividend of $0.43 per share, paid on September 2 to shareholders on record as of July 25. This dividend represents an annualized payment of $1.72 and a yield of 6.9%, with a payout ratio of 91.49%.

Pfizer Inc. continues to be a significant player in the biopharmaceutical industry, developing and distributing a range of products, including those for infectious diseases and COVID-19 treatments under the Comirnaty and Paxlovid brands. As the company navigates a complex market landscape, the adjustments in both holdings and analyst ratings reflect the ongoing interest and investment in its future growth.