Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX) Given Consensus Rating of “Hold” by Brokerages

Shares of Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX) have been assigned an average rating of “Hold” from the ten analysts that are covering the firm, Marketbeat Ratings reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, four have given a hold recommendation and five have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month target price among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $38.56.

Several brokerages have recently commented on BAX. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on shares of Baxter International from $38.00 to $36.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 21st. Argus raised Baxter International from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, February 24th. The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on Baxter International in a research note on Wednesday, February 26th. They set a “buy” rating and a $42.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Barclays increased their target price on Baxter International from $39.00 to $41.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, March 10th.

Baxter International Price Performance

BAX opened at $30.20 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.31, a current ratio of 1.43 and a quick ratio of 1.09. The stock has a market capitalization of $15.49 billion, a P/E ratio of -23.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.93 and a beta of 0.64. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $32.36 and its 200-day simple moving average is $32.36. Baxter International has a one year low of $26.25 and a one year high of $40.96.

Baxter International (NYSE:BAX) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 20th. The medical instruments supplier reported $0.58 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.52 by $0.06. Baxter International had a positive return on equity of 16.67% and a negative net margin of 5.05%. The firm had revenue of $2.75 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.67 billion. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Baxter International will post 2.48 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Baxter International Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th were issued a $0.17 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 28th. This represents a $0.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.25%. Baxter International’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -53.13%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. CKW Financial Group boosted its stake in shares of Baxter International by 19.3% during the 4th quarter. CKW Financial Group now owns 2,625 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $77,000 after buying an additional 425 shares during the last quarter. Rothschild Investment LLC boosted its position in Baxter International by 3.4% during the first quarter. Rothschild Investment LLC now owns 14,479 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $496,000 after purchasing an additional 481 shares during the last quarter. Home Federal Bank of Tennessee grew its stake in Baxter International by 2.5% in the first quarter. Home Federal Bank of Tennessee now owns 22,600 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $774,000 after purchasing an additional 550 shares in the last quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB increased its position in shares of Baxter International by 48.1% during the 1st quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 2,021 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $69,000 after purchasing an additional 656 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Baxter International by 5.8% in the 4th quarter. Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. now owns 13,618 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $397,000 after buying an additional 752 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.19% of the company’s stock.

Baxter International Company Profile

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.