On Wednesday, Leerink Partners made a revision to its price target for Pfizer (NYSE: NYSE:PFE), reducing it to $28.00 from the previous target of $31.00. The firm has kept its Market Perform rating on the stock.
Currently trading near its 52-week low of $24.48, InvestingPro analysis suggests the stock may be undervalued. The adjustment comes as Leerink anticipates a lower earnings per share (EPS) for Pfizer in 2025, adjusting the forecast down by 10% from $3.12 to $2.82. This revision precedes Pfizer's upcoming guidance call scheduled for December 17, 2024, at 8:30 am ET.
The new price target of $28.00 is based on a constant price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 10 times the revised 2025 EPS estimate. Despite current challenges, Pfizer maintains a robust 6.57% dividend yield and has raised its dividend for 14 consecutive years.
Get deeper insights into Pfizer's financial health metrics and more with InvestingPro, which offers exclusive analysis on over 1,400 stocks. Leerink's decision to lower the target is influenced by Pfizer management's indication that certain earnings contributions present in 2024, such as one-time revenue from Paxlovid, earnings related to Haleon, and a beneficial Pillar 2 tax rate, will not recur in 2025.
Leerink further notes that while Pfizer's management is expected to continue providing conservative guidance, the company may not specifically break down COVID product revenues in its future guidance. This is attributed to the normalization of Pfizer's COVID-related business. However, management is anticipated to offer insights into their expectations for Comirnaty and Paxlovid during the guidance call.
In summary, Leerink has adjusted its expectations for Pfizer's future financial performance, leading to a lower price target for the pharmaceutical giant's shares. The firm maintains a neutral stance on the stock with its Market Perform rating, as the market awaits further details from Pfizer's guidance call in mid-December.
In other recent news, financial highlights reveal Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA) and Pfizer's performance. Jefferies maintained a hold rating on Moderna, keeping the price target at $50, while addressing concerns related to the Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) situation. Moderna anticipates critical data on various fronts, such as the cytomegalovirus (CMV) vaccine, flu/covid vaccine filings, and potential interim data in the second half of 2025.
Pfizer, on the other hand, reported a significant 32% operational growth in its third-quarter earnings for 2024, with total revenues reaching $17.7 billion. This strong financial performance led Pfizer to raise its full-year revenue guidance.
In terms of leadership transitions, Pfizer announced the appointment of Chris Boshoff as its new Chief Scientific Officer and President of Research & Development, effective January 1, 2025. Furthermore, Pfizer is considering the sale of its hospital drugs business, Pfizer Hospital, and has engaged Goldman Sachs (NYSE:GS) to evaluate potential buyers.
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