Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS) Position Increased by World Investment Advisors

World Investment Advisors lifted its position in Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS) by 9.7% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 36,929 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 3,258 shares during the period. World Investment Advisors’ holdings in Novartis were worth $3,594,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Human Investing LLC acquired a new stake in Novartis during the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Union Bancaire Privee UBP SA acquired a new stake in shares of Novartis during the fourth quarter worth approximately $27,000. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC purchased a new position in Novartis during the third quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Kestra Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in Novartis in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $47,000. Finally, Clearstead Trust LLC purchased a new stake in Novartis in the 4th quarter worth approximately $51,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 13.12% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on NVS shares. StockNews.com raised shares of Novartis from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, February 8th. Barclays reaffirmed an “underweight” rating on shares of Novartis in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded Novartis from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. UBS Group reaffirmed a “neutral” rating on shares of Novartis in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. Finally, Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on shares of Novartis in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. They issued an “underweight” rating for the company. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating, one has issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Novartis presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $123.38.

Novartis Trading Down 5.8 %

Shares of NVS stock opened at $105.79 on Friday. Novartis AG has a 12 month low of $92.35 and a 12 month high of $120.92. The company has a market cap of $216.24 billion, a PE ratio of 17.99, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.70 and a beta of 0.56. The company has a quick ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48. The business’s 50 day moving average is $109.02 and its two-hundred day moving average is $107.05.

Novartis (NYSE:NVS) last posted its earnings results on Friday, January 31st. The company reported $1.98 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.80 by $0.18. Novartis had a net margin of 23.56% and a return on equity of 37.24%. Equities analysts predict that Novartis AG will post 8.45 EPS for the current year.

Novartis Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 12th. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 12th were paid a dividend of $3.8695 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, March 12th. Novartis’s payout ratio is 42.69%.

Novartis Profile

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.