Ativo Capital Management LLC Has $1.19 Million Stake in Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS)

Ativo Capital Management LLC trimmed its position in shares of Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS) by 2.2% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 12,192 shares of the company’s stock after selling 279 shares during the period. Ativo Capital Management LLC’s holdings in Novartis were worth $1,186,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Centaurus Financial Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Novartis by 1.7% in the third quarter. Centaurus Financial Inc. now owns 5,728 shares of the company’s stock valued at $659,000 after purchasing an additional 98 shares during the last quarter. Clear Harbor Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Novartis by 2.3% in the third quarter. Clear Harbor Asset Management LLC now owns 4,423 shares of the company’s stock valued at $509,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Allen Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Novartis by 1.8% in the third quarter. Allen Wealth Management LLC now owns 5,788 shares of the company’s stock valued at $666,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. WealthPlan Investment Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Novartis by 1.1% in the third quarter. WealthPlan Investment Management LLC now owns 9,494 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,092,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Avidian Wealth Enterprises LLC increased its holdings in shares of Novartis by 1.3% in the third quarter. Avidian Wealth Enterprises LLC now owns 7,913 shares of the company’s stock valued at $910,000 after purchasing an additional 102 shares during the last quarter. 13.12% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Novartis Trading Up 2.0 %

Shares of Novartis stock opened at $109.42 on Friday. Novartis AG has a 52-week low of $92.35 and a 52-week high of $120.92. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $101.24 and a 200-day moving average of $108.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a current ratio of 1.04. The stock has a market cap of $223.65 billion, a PE ratio of 18.61, a PEG ratio of 1.70 and a beta of 0.58.

Novartis (NYSE:NVS) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 31st. The company reported $1.98 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.80 by $0.18. Novartis had a net margin of 23.56% and a return on equity of 37.24%. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Novartis AG will post 8.45 EPS for the current year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have commented on NVS. Morgan Stanley began coverage on shares of Novartis in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. They issued an “underweight” rating on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of Novartis from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. HSBC cut shares of Novartis from a “hold” rating to a “reduce” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 4th. Erste Group Bank reissued a “hold” rating on shares of Novartis in a research report on Tuesday, November 19th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on shares of Novartis from $118.00 to $120.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have assigned a hold rating, one has assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $123.38.

About Novartis

Novartis AG engages in the research, development, manufacture, and marketing of healthcare products in Switzerland and internationally. The company offers prescription medicines for patients and physicians. It focuses on therapeutic areas, such as cardiovascular, renal and metabolic, immunology, neuroscience, and oncology, as well as ophthalmology and hematology.