Q1 Earnings Forecast for Novartis Issued By Zacks Research

Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS) – Zacks Research dropped their Q1 2026 earnings estimates for Novartis in a report released on Wednesday, February 18th. Zacks Research analyst Team now anticipates that the company will post earnings per share of $2.17 for the quarter, down from their prior estimate of $2.26. The consensus estimate for Novartis’ current full-year earnings is $8.45 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Novartis’ Q2 2026 earnings at $2.37 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $2.08 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $8.86 EPS, Q4 2027 earnings at $2.44 EPS, FY2027 earnings at $9.77 EPS and FY2028 earnings at $10.94 EPS.

Novartis (NYSE:NVS) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 4th. The company reported $2.03 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.99 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $13.86 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $13.85 billion. Novartis had a return on equity of 40.53% and a net margin of 25.65%.The firm’s revenue was up 1.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.98 EPS.

Other equities research analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. Citigroup reaffirmed a “buy” rating on shares of Novartis in a report on Thursday, February 5th. Jefferies Financial Group restated a “hold” rating on shares of Novartis in a research note on Monday, October 27th. HC Wainwright cut shares of Novartis to a “neutral” rating in a report on Monday, October 27th. TD Cowen reaffirmed a “hold” rating on shares of Novartis in a research report on Tuesday. Finally, Cfra set a $126.00 target price on Novartis and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 29th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, five have given a Buy rating, six have assigned a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Novartis currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $119.75.

Novartis Stock Down 0.4%

Novartis stock opened at $165.50 on Thursday. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $145.55 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $133.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a quick ratio of 0.89 and a current ratio of 1.12. The company has a market cap of $349.61 billion, a PE ratio of 23.11, a PEG ratio of 2.53 and a beta of 0.50. Novartis has a fifty-two week low of $97.71 and a fifty-two week high of $167.86.

Novartis Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared an annual dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 16th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 11th will be given a dividend of $4.773 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 11th. This represents a yield of 312.0%. Novartis’s dividend payout ratio is currently 36.31%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Novartis

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Arlington Trust Co LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Novartis in the fourth quarter valued at about $25,000. CrossGen Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in Novartis in the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC purchased a new stake in Novartis during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $30,000. Valley Wealth Managers Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Novartis during the third quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Finally, Bank of Jackson Hole Trust lifted its position in shares of Novartis by 425.0% in the fourth quarter. Bank of Jackson Hole Trust now owns 231 shares of the company’s stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 187 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 13.12% of the company’s stock.

About Novartis

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.