Investors Buy High Volume of Perrigo Call Options (NYSE:PRGO)

Perrigo Company plc (NYSE:PRGO) saw unusually large options trading on Tuesday. Stock investors bought 5,051 call options on the stock. This represents an increase of approximately 567% compared to the average daily volume of 757 call options.

Perrigo Stock Up 2.3%

Shares of Perrigo stock opened at $10.80 on Thursday. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $12.10 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $14.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.23, a current ratio of 2.76 and a quick ratio of 1.63. The company has a market capitalization of $1.49 billion, a P/E ratio of -1.05, a PEG ratio of 1.27 and a beta of 0.47. Perrigo has a 1-year low of $9.23 and a 1-year high of $28.43.

Perrigo (NYSE:PRGO) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 26th. The company reported $0.77 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.80 by ($0.03). Perrigo had a positive return on equity of 9.41% and a negative net margin of 33.51%.The firm had revenue of $1.11 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.09 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.93 EPS. The firm’s quarterly revenue was down 2.5% on a year-over-year basis. Perrigo has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.250-2.550 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Perrigo will post 2.56 EPS for the current year.

Perrigo Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 24th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 2nd were paid a $0.29 dividend. This represents a $1.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 10.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 2nd. Perrigo’s payout ratio is currently -11.28%.

Institutional Trading of Perrigo

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Perrigo by 116.0% in the 4th quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 1,888 shares of the company’s stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 1,014 shares during the last quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Perrigo by 439.1% in the 1st quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 965 shares of the company’s stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 786 shares during the last quarter. UMB Bank n.a. grew its holdings in shares of Perrigo by 161.5% in the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 1,964 shares of the company’s stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 1,213 shares during the last quarter. Meeder Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Perrigo in the 4th quarter worth $28,000. Finally, CWM LLC grew its holdings in shares of Perrigo by 230.0% in the 4th quarter. CWM LLC now owns 2,191 shares of the company’s stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 1,527 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 95.91% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently commented on the company. Jefferies Financial Group reiterated a “hold” rating on shares of Perrigo in a research report on Thursday, February 26th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “sell (d+)” rating on shares of Perrigo in a research report on Monday, December 22nd. Argus raised Perrigo to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 14th. Canaccord Genuity Group cut their price target on Perrigo from $20.00 to $17.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 27th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on Perrigo from $20.00 to $18.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, December 15th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Reduce” and a consensus price target of $19.33.

About Perrigo

Perrigo Company plc is a global healthcare supplier specializing in over-the-counter (OTC) and self-care products, as well as generic prescription pharmaceuticals and active pharmaceutical ingredients. The company develops, manufactures and distributes a broad array of consumer health products, including analgesics, vitamins and supplements, digestive health remedies, topical treatments, and infant formulas. Perrigo’s focus on private-label solutions has made it a leading partner for retailers and pharmacy chains seeking high-quality, value-oriented alternatives to branded medications and health supplements.

Organized across three principal business segments—Consumer Healthcare, Prescription Pharmaceuticals and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients—Perrigo’s operations span research and development, manufacturing, quality assurance and global distribution.