Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX) Stock Holdings Lessened by Ameriprise Financial Inc.

Ameriprise Financial Inc. decreased its holdings in shares of Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX) by 23.9% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 7,456,969 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock after selling 2,346,164 shares during the period. Ameriprise Financial Inc.’s holdings in Baxter International were worth $217,452,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of BAX. CoreFirst Bank & Trust bought a new stake in shares of Baxter International in the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Riverview Trust Co raised its stake in shares of Baxter International by 5,488.2% during the fourth quarter. Riverview Trust Co now owns 950 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 933 shares in the last quarter. Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC increased its stake in Baxter International by 247.3% during the 4th quarter. Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC now owns 2,622 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $76,000 after buying an additional 1,867 shares during the period. CKW Financial Group raised its position in shares of Baxter International by 19.3% during the 4th quarter. CKW Financial Group now owns 2,625 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $77,000 after buying an additional 425 shares in the last quarter. Finally, West Oak Capital LLC lifted its stake in shares of Baxter International by 345.3% in the 4th quarter. West Oak Capital LLC now owns 3,785 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $110,000 after acquiring an additional 2,935 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 90.19% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on Baxter International from $36.00 to $33.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday. Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on shares of Baxter International from $30.00 to $28.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday. Barclays increased their price target on shares of Baxter International from $39.00 to $41.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, March 10th. The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on shares of Baxter International in a research note on Wednesday, February 26th. They set a “buy” rating and a $42.00 target price for the company. Finally, Argus raised shares of Baxter International from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, February 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $37.56.

Baxter International Trading Down 0.8 %

Shares of NYSE:BAX opened at $30.47 on Tuesday. Baxter International Inc. has a 1 year low of $26.25 and a 1 year high of $40.49. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $31.96 and a 200 day moving average price of $32.11. The stock has a market capitalization of $15.63 billion, a PE ratio of -23.80, a P/E/G ratio of 0.93 and a beta of 0.64. The company has a current ratio of 1.43, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.31.

Baxter International (NYSE:BAX) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 1st. The medical instruments supplier reported $0.62 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.48 by $0.14. Baxter International had a positive return on equity of 16.67% and a negative net margin of 5.05%. The business had revenue of $2.63 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.59 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.65 EPS. The firm’s revenue was up 5.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts expect that Baxter International Inc. will post 2.48 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Baxter International Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 1st. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th were issued a dividend of $0.17 per share. This represents a $0.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.23%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 28th. Baxter International’s dividend payout ratio is currently -53.13%.

Baxter International Company Profile

Baxter International Inc, through its subsidiaries, develops and provides a portfolio of healthcare products worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Medical Products and Therapies, Healthcare Systems and Technologies, Pharmaceuticals, and Kidney Care. The company offers sterile intravenous (IV) solutions; infusion systems and devices; parenteral nutrition therapies; generic injectable pharmaceuticals; surgical hemostat and sealant products, advanced surgical equipment; smart bed systems; patient monitoring and diagnostic technologies; and respiratory health devices, as well as advanced equipment for the surgical space, including surgical video technologies, precision positioning devices, and other accessories.