GSK PLC Sponsored ADR (NYSE:GSK) Sees Significant Growth in Short Interest

GSK PLC Sponsored ADR (NYSE:GSK) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest during the month of December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totaling 14,906,130 shares, an increase of 32.8% from the December 15th total of 11,227,595 shares. Approximately 0.8% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 2,617,064 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 5.7 days. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 2,617,064 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 5.7 days. Approximately 0.8% of the shares of the stock are sold short.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

GSK has been the topic of several analyst reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a “hold” rating on shares of GSK in a research note on Friday. Barclays downgraded GSK from an “equal weight” rating to an “underweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 6th. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a “buy” rating on shares of GSK in a research note on Monday, October 27th. HSBC restated a “reduce” rating on shares of GSK in a research report on Wednesday, December 10th. Finally, Cfra set a $53.00 target price on GSK in a report on Thursday, October 30th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have given a Hold rating and four have issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Reduce” and a consensus target price of $44.13.

GSK Trading Down 1.8%

Shares of NYSE:GSK traded down $0.86 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $48.26. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 7,543,432 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,052,416. GSK has a fifty-two week low of $32.38 and a fifty-two week high of $51.46. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.95, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a current ratio of 0.84. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $48.58 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $43.52. The firm has a market capitalization of $98.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.63, a PEG ratio of 1.21 and a beta of 0.45.

GSK (NYSE:GSK) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, October 29th. The pharmaceutical company reported $1.48 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.26 by $0.22. The business had revenue of $11.35 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.21 billion. GSK had a return on equity of 48.64% and a net margin of 17.16%.The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 6.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.50 earnings per share. GSK has set its FY 2025 guidance at 4.730-4.810 EPS. As a group, analysts forecast that GSK will post 4.14 earnings per share for the current year.

GSK Cuts Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 8th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 14th were paid a $0.4171 dividend. This represents a $1.67 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 14th. GSK’s payout ratio is 48.02%.

Insider Buying and Selling at GSK

In related news, major shareholder Plc Gsk purchased 1,470,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 11th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $19.00 per share, for a total transaction of $27,930,000.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the insider owned 18,245,691 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $346,668,129. This represents a 8.76% increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 10.00% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On GSK

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Fisher Asset Management LLC increased its position in GSK by 2.8% in the 3rd quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 32,227,615 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $1,390,944,000 after buying an additional 889,210 shares in the last quarter. Miller Howard Investments Inc. NY increased its holdings in shares of GSK by 0.8% during the second quarter. Miller Howard Investments Inc. NY now owns 1,659,814 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $63,737,000 after acquiring an additional 13,023 shares in the last quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC increased its holdings in shares of GSK by 7.3% during the second quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC now owns 431,256 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $16,560,000 after acquiring an additional 29,197 shares in the last quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. raised its position in shares of GSK by 1.2% during the second quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 401,777 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock worth $15,444,000 after purchasing an additional 4,855 shares during the period. Finally, Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of GSK by 4.7% in the 2nd quarter. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. now owns 375,481 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock worth $14,418,000 after purchasing an additional 16,999 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 15.74% of the company’s stock.

GSK Company Profile

GSK (GlaxoSmithKline plc) is a London-headquartered, multinational pharmaceutical and healthcare company formed through the 2000 merger of Glaxo Wellcome and SmithKline Beecham. The company is dual-listed and operates globally, developing, manufacturing and commercializing prescription medicines, vaccines and specialty treatments. Over its history GSK has evolved through portfolio reshaping and strategic transactions to focus on science-led pharmaceuticals and vaccines.

GSK’s core activities include research and development of therapies and vaccines across a range of therapeutic areas, commercial manufacturing, and global marketing.