Analysts Set GSK plc (NYSE:GSK) PT at $43.25

Shares of GSK plc (NYSE:GSK) have been given an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by the nine brokerages that are covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price target among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $43.25.

A number of brokerages have commented on GSK. Guggenheim cut GSK from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. Jefferies Financial Group lowered shares of GSK from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and reduced their target price for the stock from $53.00 to $39.50 in a report on Tuesday, November 12th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft downgraded shares of GSK from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, November 15th. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of GSK from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Friday.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On GSK

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of GSK. FMR LLC lifted its stake in GSK by 8.3% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 29,008,928 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock worth $1,185,885,000 after purchasing an additional 2,224,345 shares in the last quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of GSK by 4.9% in the third quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 18,576,930 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock worth $759,425,000 after purchasing an additional 870,449 shares during the last quarter. Clifford Capital Partners LLC lifted its position in shares of GSK by 14.3% in the third quarter. Clifford Capital Partners LLC now owns 409,669 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock worth $16,747,000 after buying an additional 51,378 shares in the last quarter. Cerity Partners LLC boosted its stake in GSK by 61.8% during the third quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 433,628 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $17,728,000 after buying an additional 165,556 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Natixis Advisors LLC grew its holdings in GSK by 20.0% during the 3rd quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC now owns 500,495 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $20,460,000 after buying an additional 83,433 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 15.74% of the company’s stock.

GSK Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE GSK opened at $36.03 on Friday. GSK has a 12-month low of $31.72 and a 12-month high of $45.92. The firm has a market capitalization of $74.68 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.40, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.38 and a beta of 0.64. The company has a current ratio of 0.81, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.98. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $34.21 and a 200 day moving average of $37.60.

GSK (NYSE:GSK) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 5th. The pharmaceutical company reported $0.59 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.44 by $0.15. GSK had a net margin of 7.97% and a return on equity of 50.62%. On average, research analysts anticipate that GSK will post 3.92 earnings per share for the current year.

GSK Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 21st will be given a dividend of $0.3932 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 21st. This represents a $1.57 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.36%. This is a boost from GSK’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.39. GSK’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 96.10%.

GSK Company Profile

GSK plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the research, development, and manufacture of vaccines, and specialty and general medicines to prevent and treat disease in the United Kingdom, the United States, and internationally. It operates through two segments, Commercial Operations and Total R&D.