GSK PLC Sponsored ADR (NYSE:GSK) Plans Quarterly Dividend of $0.45

GSK PLC Sponsored ADR (NYSE:GSK) announced a quarterly dividend on Tuesday, July 28th. Investors of record on Friday, August 14th will be paid a dividend of 0.4515 per share by the pharmaceutical company on Thursday, October 8th. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 14th. This is a 2.6% increase from GSK’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.44.

GSK has decreased its dividend by an average of 0.1%annually over the last three years. GSK has a payout ratio of 37.0% indicating that its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities analysts expect GSK to earn $5.16 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $1.79 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 34.7%.

GSK Trading Down 1.7%

GSK stock traded down $0.94 during midday trading on Wednesday, hitting $52.77. The stock had a trading volume of 1,750,129 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,678,074. The firm has a market cap of $106.75 billion, a PE ratio of 13.74, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.31 and a beta of 0.35. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80, a current ratio of 0.79 and a quick ratio of 0.52. GSK has a 12-month low of $36.75 and a 12-month high of $61.69. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $51.67 and its 200 day moving average price is $53.45.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On GSK

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Brighton Jones LLC acquired a new position in shares of GSK during the fourth quarter worth $528,000. Prime Capital Investment Advisors LLC grew its holdings in GSK by 182.7% during the 4th quarter. Prime Capital Investment Advisors LLC now owns 30,188 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $1,480,000 after purchasing an additional 19,509 shares in the last quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC increased its stake in GSK by 146.6% during the 4th quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 29,529 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock worth $1,448,000 after buying an additional 17,553 shares during the period. Dorsey Wright & Associates purchased a new stake in GSK during the 1st quarter worth $2,522,000. Finally, PFA Pension Forsikringsaktieselskab acquired a new position in GSK in the 4th quarter worth $6,385,000. 15.74% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.