Novartis AG $NVS Stake Decreased by UBS Group AG

UBS Group AG lessened its holdings in shares of Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS) by 15.0% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,361,274 shares of the company’s stock after selling 240,859 shares during the period. UBS Group AG’s holdings in Novartis were worth $187,679,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Valley Wealth Managers Inc. bought a new stake in Novartis during the third quarter worth approximately $31,000. Measured Wealth Private Client Group LLC bought a new stake in Novartis during the third quarter worth approximately $33,000. South Plains Financial Inc. raised its holdings in Novartis by 39.0% during the third quarter. South Plains Financial Inc. now owns 271 shares of the company’s stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 76 shares in the last quarter. Aventura Private Wealth LLC bought a new stake in Novartis during the fourth quarter worth approximately $45,000. Finally, Country Trust Bank raised its holdings in Novartis by 47.4% during the third quarter. Country Trust Bank now owns 342 shares of the company’s stock worth $44,000 after purchasing an additional 110 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 13.12% of the company’s stock.

Novartis Price Performance

NYSE NVS opened at $142.99 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $272.84 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.97, a P/E/G ratio of 2.48 and a beta of 0.52. Novartis AG has a 1 year low of $104.93 and a 1 year high of $170.46. The business’s fifty day moving average is $154.61 and its two-hundred day moving average is $143.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a current ratio of 1.12.

Novartis (NYSE:NVS) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, April 28th. The company reported $1.99 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.11 by ($0.12). The company had revenue of $13.52 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $13.54 billion. Novartis had a net margin of 25.65% and a return on equity of 40.53%. Novartis’s quarterly revenue was down .9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.28 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that Novartis AG will post 8.9 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Novartis Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared an annual dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 16th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 11th were issued a $4.773 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, March 11th. This represents a dividend yield of 306.0%. Novartis’s dividend payout ratio is currently 43.02%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

NVS has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Citigroup reissued a “buy” rating on shares of Novartis in a report on Thursday, February 5th. Argus raised Novartis from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $180.00 target price on the stock in a report on Wednesday, March 11th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reissued a “buy” rating on shares of Novartis in a report on Thursday, February 12th. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Novartis from a “buy (b)” rating to a “buy (a-)” rating in a research report on Friday, February 6th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their price target on Novartis from $143.00 to $170.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, March 26th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have issued a Buy rating, seven have issued a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $141.20.

Key Stories Impacting Novartis

Here are the key news stories impacting Novartis this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Priority brands and launches delivered strong growth (Kisqali, Pluvicto, Kesimpta, Leqvio, Scemblix) and management flagged continued launch momentum—supports medium-term sales recovery. GlobeNewswire Q1 release
• Positive Sentiment: Multiple pipeline/regulatory milestones reported (Remibrutinib CHMP opinion, Ianalumab breakthrough designation/priority review, Fabhalta Phase III eGFR results) — reduces binary risk and supports future revenue upside. GlobeNewswire milestones
• Positive Sentiment: Acquisition of Avidity adds three late‑stage neuromuscular assets, expanding near‑term product optionality. Yahoo: Avidity / R&D
• Positive Sentiment: Solid free cash flow (Q1 reported ~$3.3B) provides financial flexibility for launches, buybacks or bolt‑on M&A. GlobeNewswire cash flow
• Neutral Sentiment: Company reaffirmed FY2026 guidance (low single‑digit net sales growth; core operating income down low single‑digit) — provides guidance stability but keeps the path to 2026 earnings improvements gradual. GlobeNewswire guidance
• Neutral Sentiment: Novartis signaled stepped-up R&D spending tied to the Avidity deal (up to ~$70M/month) — supports future product development but raises near-term investment and margin pressure. Yahoo: R&D spend
• Negative Sentiment: Q1 revenue and EPS missed Street estimates (core EPS $1.99 vs. ~$2.11 consensus; revenue slightly below forecasts); Entresto U.S. sales materially down due to generic competition — the immediate driver of the share weakness. Reuters: Q1 profit down
• Negative Sentiment: CEO warned U.S. MFN drug‑pricing policy could hit global access and margins, increasing regulatory/policy risk for U.S. revenues over the next 12–18 months. CNBC: CEO MFN warning
• Negative Sentiment: Erste Group trimmed its FY2026 EPS estimate modestly (to ~$8.70 from $8.82), signaling some analyst downward pressure after the quarter (consensus ~ $8.90).

Novartis Profile

Novartis is a Swiss multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Basel that researches, develops, manufactures and commercializes prescription medicines and related health-care products. Formed through the 1996 merger of Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz, Novartis operates globally and focuses on bringing therapeutics from discovery through clinical development to commercial markets worldwide.

The company’s activities center on innovative pharmaceuticals across several therapeutic areas, including oncology, immunology, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, neuroscience and ophthalmology, alongside capabilities in advanced therapies such as biologics, cell and gene therapies.