First Trust Advisors LP Increases Position in Pfizer Inc. $PFE

First Trust Advisors LP raised its stake in shares of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) by 4.4% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 18,235,662 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock after buying an additional 760,924 shares during the quarter. First Trust Advisors LP owned about 0.32% of Pfizer worth $464,645,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Peak Asset Management LLC raised its position in shares of Pfizer by 1.4% in the 2nd quarter. Peak Asset Management LLC now owns 28,768 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $697,000 after purchasing an additional 402 shares during the last quarter. Community Bank & Trust Waco Texas grew its position in Pfizer by 0.6% during the 3rd quarter. Community Bank & Trust Waco Texas now owns 66,841 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $1,703,000 after purchasing an additional 412 shares during the last quarter. CVA Family Office LLC increased its stake in Pfizer by 3.3% during the 3rd quarter. CVA Family Office LLC now owns 12,915 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $329,000 after purchasing an additional 413 shares in the last quarter. Boltwood Capital Management raised its holdings in Pfizer by 0.7% in the third quarter. Boltwood Capital Management now owns 58,274 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $1,485,000 after buying an additional 420 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Beverly Hills Private Wealth LLC raised its holdings in Pfizer by 1.5% in the third quarter. Beverly Hills Private Wealth LLC now owns 27,955 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $712,000 after buying an additional 421 shares during the last quarter. 68.36% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Pfizer Stock Performance

Shares of PFE opened at $27.07 on Friday. Pfizer Inc. has a one year low of $20.92 and a one year high of $27.94. The business has a fifty day moving average of $26.30 and a 200 day moving average of $25.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 1.16 and a quick ratio of 0.87. The firm has a market capitalization of $153.93 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.90 and a beta of 0.47.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, February 3rd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.66 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.57 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $17.56 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $16.93 billion. Pfizer had a return on equity of 20.48% and a net margin of 12.42%.The business’s revenue for the quarter was down 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.63 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.95 EPS for the current year.

Pfizer Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 6th. Investors of record on Friday, January 23rd were issued a $0.43 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 23rd. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.4%. Pfizer’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 126.47%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on PFE shares. TD Cowen restated a “hold” rating on shares of Pfizer in a report on Tuesday, December 30th. HSBC reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $29.00 target price on shares of Pfizer in a report on Wednesday, December 10th. Bank of America lowered their price target on Pfizer from $29.00 to $28.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, December 15th. Wolfe Research set a $24.00 price objective on Pfizer and gave the company an “underperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 17th. Finally, Zacks Research raised Pfizer from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have given a Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Hold rating and three have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $28.05.

Key Stories Impacting Pfizer

Here are the key news stories impacting Pfizer this week:

• Positive Sentiment: China approved Pfizer’s GLP‑1 weight‑management drug (Xianweiying / ecnoglutide), opening a large new market for its obesity franchise and reinforcing Pfizer’s push into metabolic drugs — this expands addressable market and supports long‑term revenue potential. China approves Pfizer GLP-1 drug for weight management
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst upgrade: Argus Research upgraded PFE to Buy and set a $35 target, citing progress in the GLP‑1 program and oncology pipeline — this can attract buy interest and boost sentiment among dividend and income investors. Argus Turns Bullish on Pfizer
• Positive Sentiment: Oncology wins: positive Phase 3 EV‑304 PADCEV results and FDA full approval for BRAFTOVI combinations were highlighted as re‑framing Pfizer’s long‑term growth prospects in oncology — supports diversification away from COVID revenues. Pfizer Obesity Nod In China And Cancer Wins
• Positive Sentiment: Pipeline expansion in China: Pfizer launched a Phase 1 heart‑failure candidate study in China, signaling continued local R&D investment that could yield future launches in a large market. Pfizer Adds New Early-Stage Heart Failure Candidate
• Neutral Sentiment: Investor attention & valuation debate: multiple articles note heightened retail/institutional interest and divergent valuation views (trending stock coverage, DCF vs. long‑term return debates) — increases volatility/volume but not a direct fundamental change. Pfizer Is a Trending Stock
• Neutral Sentiment: Competition & generics risk for GLP‑1s: coverage notes Pfizer will face crowded competition (and price pressure risk) even as it gains approvals — a mixed commercial outlook. Weight-Loss Drug Approved in China — Up Against Generic Rivals
• Negative Sentiment: Structural headwinds remain: analysts reiterate risks from declining COVID revenues, upcoming patent expirations and U.S. drug‑pricing pressures (IRA) that could limit near‑term growth despite new launches. Can Pfizer Reignite Growth?
• Negative Sentiment: Policy/legal noise: a recent court ruling awarded Pfizer $29M in an SEC settlement dispute (one‑time benefit), but legal and policy developments remain sources of uncertainty for investors. Judge approves Pfizer, SEC settlement

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.