Analysts Set Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX) PT at $40.45

Shares of Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX) have earned a consensus rating of “Hold” from the eleven analysts that are covering the company, Marketbeat reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, seven have assigned a hold recommendation and three have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year price target among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $40.45.

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on the company. StockNews.com lowered Baxter International from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, November 11th. Stifel Nicolaus reduced their target price on Baxter International from $46.00 to $38.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Monday, November 11th. Finally, Citigroup decreased their price target on Baxter International from $37.00 to $35.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th.

Baxter International Price Performance

NYSE BAX opened at $30.22 on Monday. The company has a market cap of $15.43 billion, a PE ratio of 151.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 12.74 and a beta of 0.59. Baxter International has a 52 week low of $28.33 and a 52 week high of $44.01. The company has a quick ratio of 1.09, a current ratio of 1.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.31. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $31.36 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $34.76.

Baxter International (NYSE:BAX) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, November 8th. The medical instruments supplier reported $0.80 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.78 by $0.02. Baxter International had a net margin of 0.77% and a return on equity of 18.30%. The company had revenue of $3.85 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.85 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.68 EPS. Baxter International’s revenue was up 3.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts predict that Baxter International will post 1.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Baxter International Cuts Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 2nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 29th were paid a $0.17 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, November 29th. This represents a $0.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.25%. Baxter International’s dividend payout ratio is presently 340.00%.

Institutional Trading of Baxter International

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Thompson Siegel & Walmsley LLC purchased a new position in Baxter International in the second quarter worth $67,263,000. Coho Partners Ltd. purchased a new position in shares of Baxter International in the 3rd quarter worth about $57,229,000. Shapiro Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of Baxter International by 19.7% during the 2nd quarter. Shapiro Capital Management LLC now owns 3,285,048 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $109,885,000 after purchasing an additional 541,575 shares during the last quarter. National Pension Service raised its holdings in shares of Baxter International by 22.1% during the 3rd quarter. National Pension Service now owns 1,154,616 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $43,841,000 after buying an additional 208,726 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in Baxter International by 1.4% in the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 12,156,660 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $460,022,000 after buying an additional 170,776 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 90.19% of the company’s stock.

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.