Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) Shares Down 1.8% – Should You Sell?

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) dropped 1.8% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as low as $26.58 and last traded at $26.87. Approximately 39,189,514 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 22% from the average daily volume of 50,495,883 shares. The stock had previously closed at $27.37.

Key Headlines Impacting Pfizer

Here are the key news stories impacting Pfizer this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Positive clinical data: Pfizer reported positive results from its BREAKWATER trial, a near-term fundamental catalyst that can support revenue/valuation expectations if it advances toward approval or commercialization. BREAKWATER trial results
• Positive Sentiment: Dividend support narrative: Several pieces (including The Motley Fool) highlight Pfizer’s roughly 6% yield and argue its large cash flows and conservative valuation make the payout relatively safe, attracting income-focused buyers. Dividend safety article
• Positive Sentiment: Small analyst estimate upgrades: Erste Group nudged FY2026 and FY2027 EPS forecasts slightly higher, a modest vote of confidence in near-term earnings stability. (MarketBeat summary) Erste upgrade note
• Neutral Sentiment: Defensive appeal: Pfizer appears on lists of high-yield, low-volatility stocks, reinforcing its use as an income/defensive holding rather than a growth play — relevant for portfolio allocation but not an immediate price catalyst. Dividend/low-volatility list
• Neutral Sentiment: Competitive landscape context: Analyst pieces comparing AstraZeneca and Pfizer note AZN’s stronger growth outlook, which may temper PFE’s re-rating potential even as Pfizer leans on yield and buybacks. AZN vs PFE comparison
• Negative Sentiment: New bearish coverage: Barclays initiated coverage with an Underweight rating, increasing selling pressure by signaling weaker conviction among institutional research providers. Barclays initiation
• Negative Sentiment: Yield concerns and risk narratives: Analysts/commentary (Seeking Alpha, others) warn that the high 6%+ yield may reflect underlying growth risks or capital allocation constraints, which can push income-oriented investors to reassess position sizing. Yield risk article
• Negative Sentiment: Additional bearish initiations/notes: Media roundups (Benzinga, others) highlight other analysts starting coverage on a cautious or bearish note, adding to near-term directional pressure. Benzinga coverage roundup

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on PFE shares. Bank of America decreased their price objective on Pfizer from $29.00 to $28.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, December 15th. BMO Capital Markets reiterated an “outperform” rating on shares of Pfizer in a research report on Wednesday, December 10th. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a “neutral” rating and issued a $26.00 price target on shares of Pfizer in a research note on Wednesday, November 5th. Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed a “market perform” rating and set a $30.00 price objective on shares of Pfizer in a research note on Friday, October 31st. Finally, Scotiabank assumed coverage on shares of Pfizer in a report on Thursday, November 13th. They set a “sector outperform” rating and a $30.00 price objective on the stock. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, four have assigned a Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Pfizer has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $27.84.

Pfizer Stock Down 0.8%

The company has a current ratio of 1.28, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62. The firm has a market capitalization of $151.55 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.60 and a beta of 0.47. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $25.95 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $25.31.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 3rd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.66 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.57 by $0.09. The firm had revenue of $17.56 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $16.93 billion. Pfizer had a net margin of 12.42% and a return on equity of 20.25%. The company’s revenue was down 1.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.63 EPS. On average, equities analysts expect that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Pfizer Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 6th. Investors of record on Friday, January 23rd will be issued a dividend of $0.43 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 23rd. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.5%. Pfizer’s payout ratio is presently 126.47%.

Institutional Trading of Pfizer

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Brighton Jones LLC raised its stake in shares of Pfizer by 1,282.4% during the fourth quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 666,318 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $17,677,000 after purchasing an additional 618,117 shares during the period. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC lifted its holdings in Pfizer by 12.5% in the 4th quarter. Revolve Wealth Partners LLC now owns 18,766 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $498,000 after buying an additional 2,087 shares in the last quarter. United Bank grew its stake in shares of Pfizer by 12.4% during the second quarter. United Bank now owns 58,087 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $1,408,000 after acquiring an additional 6,415 shares in the last quarter. Freedom Investment Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Pfizer by 4.4% in the second quarter. Freedom Investment Management Inc. now owns 33,219 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock worth $805,000 after acquiring an additional 1,388 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bleakley Financial Group LLC boosted its holdings in Pfizer by 6.1% in the second quarter. Bleakley Financial Group LLC now owns 108,586 shares of the biopharmaceutical company’s stock valued at $2,632,000 after purchasing an additional 6,259 shares during the last quarter. 68.36% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Pfizer

Pfizer Inc (NYSE: PFE) is a multinational biopharmaceutical company headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1849 by Charles Pfizer and Charles Erhart, the company researches, develops, manufactures and commercializes a broad range of medicines and vaccines for human health. Its activities span discovery research, clinical development, regulatory affairs, manufacturing and global commercial distribution across multiple therapeutic areas.

Pfizer’s portfolio and pipeline cover oncology, immunology, cardiology, endocrinology, rare diseases, hospital acute care and anti-infectives, along with a substantial vaccine business.