Zacks Research Brokers Increase Earnings Estimates for Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS)

Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS) – Zacks Research increased their Q2 2024 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for Novartis in a research report issued to clients and investors on Tuesday, May 7th. Zacks Research analyst E. Bagri now expects that the company will earn $1.80 per share for the quarter, up from their previous forecast of $1.78. The consensus estimate for Novartis’ current full-year earnings is $7.26 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Novartis’ Q4 2024 earnings at $1.78 EPS, FY2024 earnings at $7.21 EPS, Q1 2025 earnings at $1.89 EPS, Q2 2025 earnings at $2.08 EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at $1.97 EPS, FY2025 earnings at $8.06 EPS, Q1 2026 earnings at $1.99 EPS and FY2026 earnings at $8.59 EPS.

A number of other analysts have also recently commented on the company. Morgan Stanley assumed coverage on Novartis in a research report on Tuesday, January 23rd. They issued an “equal weight” rating and a $114.00 price target on the stock. BMO Capital Markets raised their price target on Novartis from $114.00 to $116.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a report on Wednesday, April 24th.

Novartis Trading Up 0.6 %

Shares of NYSE NVS opened at $99.62 on Thursday. Novartis has a 1 year low of $92.19 and a 1 year high of $108.78. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $97.16 and a 200 day moving average of $99.05. The stock has a market cap of $203.62 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.44, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.56 and a beta of 0.53. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43, a current ratio of 0.90 and a quick ratio of 0.71.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Novartis

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Sheets Smith Wealth Management lifted its holdings in Novartis by 7.1% in the first quarter. Sheets Smith Wealth Management now owns 2,625 shares of the company’s stock valued at $254,000 after acquiring an additional 175 shares during the period. Financial & Tax Architects LLC grew its position in Novartis by 29.6% during the first quarter. Financial & Tax Architects LLC now owns 3,542 shares of the company’s stock valued at $343,000 after buying an additional 809 shares during the period. Bleakley Financial Group LLC raised its position in Novartis by 12.1% in the first quarter. Bleakley Financial Group LLC now owns 54,731 shares of the company’s stock worth $5,294,000 after acquiring an additional 5,903 shares during the period. Henry James International Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Novartis by 71.5% during the 1st quarter. Henry James International Management Inc. now owns 35,733 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,456,000 after purchasing an additional 14,903 shares during the period. Finally, Avantax Advisory Services Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Novartis by 54.0% during the 1st quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 18,766 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,815,000 after buying an additional 6,579 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 13.12% of the company’s stock.

Novartis Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed an annual dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 7th. Investors of record on Friday, March 8th were given a $3.7772 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 7th. This is a boost from Novartis’s previous annual dividend of $3.47. This represents a yield of 3.1%. Novartis’s dividend payout ratio is 32.79%.

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.