Entropy Technologies LP Increases Position in Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX)

Entropy Technologies LP boosted its holdings in Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX) by 213.5% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 23,192 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock after purchasing an additional 15,794 shares during the period. Entropy Technologies LP’s holdings in Baxter International were worth $881,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. First PREMIER Bank acquired a new position in shares of Baxter International in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Innealta Capital LLC acquired a new stake in Baxter International in the second quarter valued at $27,000. Fortitude Family Office LLC bought a new position in Baxter International during the 3rd quarter valued at $38,000. LRI Investments LLC acquired a new position in Baxter International during the 1st quarter worth $39,000. Finally, Versant Capital Management Inc increased its position in shares of Baxter International by 974.2% in the 2nd quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 1,332 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $45,000 after purchasing an additional 1,208 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.19% of the company’s stock.

Baxter International Trading Down 3.5 %

Baxter International stock opened at $32.64 on Thursday. Baxter International Inc. has a 52-week low of $32.48 and a 52-week high of $44.01. The company has a quick ratio of 0.91, a current ratio of 1.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.35. The firm has a market capitalization of $16.65 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 165.81, a PEG ratio of 11.44 and a beta of 0.60. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $37.23 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $35.97.

Baxter International (NYSE:BAX) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, November 8th. The medical instruments supplier reported $0.80 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.78 by $0.02. Baxter International had a return on equity of 18.19% and a net margin of 0.77%. The business had revenue of $3.85 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.85 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.68 earnings per share. The business’s revenue was up 3.8% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts expect that Baxter International Inc. will post 2.33 earnings per share for the current year.

Baxter International Cuts Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 2nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 29th will be given a $0.17 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 29th. This represents a $0.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.08%. Baxter International’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 580.03%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on shares of Baxter International from $44.00 to $40.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, August 7th. StockNews.com lowered Baxter International from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price target on Baxter International from $46.00 to $38.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on shares of Baxter International from $44.00 to $42.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, August 7th. Finally, Citigroup increased their target price on shares of Baxter International from $38.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 1st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $40.91.

Baxter International 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.