GSK PLC Sponsored ADR (NYSE:GSK) Receives $44.13 Average PT from Analysts

Shares of GSK PLC Sponsored ADR (NYSE:GSK) have received an average recommendation of “Reduce” from the eleven ratings firms that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month target price among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $44.1250.

Several analysts recently weighed in on GSK shares. TD Cowen reiterated a “hold” rating on shares of GSK in a report on Monday, February 9th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a “hold” rating on shares of GSK in a report on Friday, January 16th. Weiss Ratings downgraded shares of GSK from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “hold (c+)” rating in a report on Thursday, March 19th. Citigroup reiterated a “neutral” rating on shares of GSK in a report on Monday, February 9th. Finally, Barclays reiterated an “underweight” rating on shares of GSK in a report on Friday, February 20th.

Institutional Trading of GSK

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in GSK. Brighton Jones LLC purchased a new position in GSK in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $528,000. AQR Capital Management LLC boosted its position in GSK by 84.4% in the 1st quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 40,239 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $1,559,000 after buying an additional 18,420 shares during the period. Empowered Funds LLC boosted its position in GSK by 2.1% in the 1st quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 79,174 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $3,067,000 after buying an additional 1,598 shares during the period. Rhumbline Advisers boosted its position in GSK by 20.7% in the 2nd quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 22,209 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $853,000 after buying an additional 3,806 shares during the period. Finally, Quantbot Technologies LP boosted its position in GSK by 184.6% in the 2nd quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP now owns 138,898 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $5,334,000 after buying an additional 90,097 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 15.74% of the company’s stock.

GSK Stock Up 2.7%

Shares of NYSE GSK opened at $57.34 on Thursday. GSK has a 1 year low of $32.38 and a 1 year high of $61.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.92, a current ratio of 0.82 and a quick ratio of 0.54. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $56.19 and a 200-day simple moving average of $50.13. The company has a market capitalization of $116.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.50, a P/E/G ratio of 3.43 and a beta of 0.46.

GSK Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 9th. Investors of record on Friday, February 20th will be issued a $0.4856 dividend. This is a boost from GSK’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.42. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 20th. This represents a $1.94 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.4%. GSK’s payout ratio is 51.62%.

About GSK

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.