GSK plc (NYSE:GSK) Given Consensus Rating of “Moderate Buy” by Brokerages

Shares of GSK plc (NYSE:GSK) have earned an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the ten analysts that are covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price objective among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $43.25.

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on GSK. StockNews.com downgraded shares of GSK from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Sunday, January 5th. Jefferies Financial Group cut shares of GSK from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating and cut their price target for the company from $53.00 to $39.50 in a research report on Tuesday, November 12th. Guggenheim lowered GSK from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 31st. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered GSK from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, November 15th.

GSK Price Performance

Shares of GSK opened at $33.08 on Tuesday. The business has a 50-day moving average of $34.38 and a 200-day moving average of $38.17. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.98, a current ratio of 0.81 and a quick ratio of 0.53. The company has a market capitalization of $68.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 0.63. GSK has a 1 year low of $32.83 and a 1 year high of $45.92.

GSK Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 9th. Shareholders of record on Friday, November 15th were issued a $0.3928 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, November 15th. This represents a $1.57 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.75%. This is a positive change from GSK’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.38. GSK’s dividend payout ratio is presently 98.70%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On GSK

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. FMR LLC grew its position in GSK by 8.3% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 29,008,928 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $1,185,885,000 after purchasing an additional 2,224,345 shares during the period. Primecap Management Co. CA grew its holdings in shares of GSK by 13.9% during the second quarter. Primecap Management Co. CA now owns 14,511,390 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $558,689,000 after buying an additional 1,773,020 shares during the last quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund bought a new stake in shares of GSK during the second quarter worth about $52,487,000. Fisher Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of GSK by 4.9% in the 3rd quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 18,576,930 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock worth $759,425,000 after acquiring an additional 870,449 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Hotchkis & Wiley Capital Management LLC lifted its position in GSK by 30.8% in the 3rd quarter. Hotchkis & Wiley Capital Management LLC now owns 3,542,143 shares of the pharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $144,803,000 after acquiring an additional 833,080 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 15.74% of the company’s stock.

GSK Company Profile

GSK plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the research, development, and manufacture of vaccines, and specialty and general medicines to prevent and treat disease in the United Kingdom, the United States, and internationally. It operates through two segments, Commercial Operations and Total R&D.