Zacks Research Brokers Lift Earnings Estimates for Novartis

Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS) – Stock analysts at Zacks Research increased their FY2024 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for shares of Novartis in a research report issued on Tuesday, November 12th. Zacks Research analyst E. Bagri now expects that the company will earn $7.59 per share for the year, up from their prior forecast of $7.51. The consensus estimate for Novartis’ current full-year earnings is $7.61 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for Novartis’ Q1 2025 earnings at $1.94 EPS, Q2 2025 earnings at $2.08 EPS, Q1 2026 earnings at $2.06 EPS and FY2026 earnings at $8.89 EPS.

Several other equities analysts have also weighed in on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group lowered shares of Novartis from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, September 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and issued a $121.00 target price (up previously from $119.00) on shares of Novartis in a research report on Thursday, September 5th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a “hold” rating on shares of Novartis in a report on Friday, July 19th. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on Novartis from $118.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, Bank of America downgraded shares of Novartis from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $135.00 to $130.00 in a research report on Wednesday, September 11th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $121.50.

Novartis Trading Down 0.4 %

NYSE NVS opened at $103.41 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $211.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.15, a PEG ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 0.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a current ratio of 1.11. Novartis has a one year low of $92.35 and a one year high of $120.92. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $113.67 and its 200 day moving average price is $109.84.

Novartis (NYSE:NVS) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 29th. The company reported $2.06 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.94 by $0.12. Novartis had a return on equity of 34.80% and a net margin of 35.96%. The company had revenue of $12.82 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $12.62 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.74 earnings per share.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Founders Financial Securities LLC grew its stake in Novartis by 3.4% in the second quarter. Founders Financial Securities LLC now owns 2,832 shares of the company’s stock worth $301,000 after purchasing an additional 94 shares in the last quarter. Steigerwald Gordon & Koch Inc. grew its position in shares of Novartis by 4.8% in the 3rd quarter. Steigerwald Gordon & Koch Inc. now owns 2,091 shares of the company’s stock worth $241,000 after acquiring an additional 95 shares in the last quarter. NBC Securities Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Novartis by 0.9% in the 2nd quarter. NBC Securities Inc. now owns 10,492 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,116,000 after acquiring an additional 97 shares during the last quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Novartis by 5.1% during the 1st quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,013 shares of the company’s stock valued at $196,000 after acquiring an additional 98 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Centaurus Financial Inc. lifted its stake in Novartis by 1.7% during the third quarter. Centaurus Financial Inc. now owns 5,728 shares of the company’s stock worth $659,000 after purchasing an additional 98 shares during the last quarter. 13.12% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About Novartis

Novartis AG engages in the research, development, manufacture, and marketing of healthcare products in Switzerland and internationally. The company offers prescription medicines for patients and physicians. It focuses on therapeutic areas, such as cardiovascular, renal and metabolic, immunology, neuroscience, and oncology, as well as ophthalmology and hematology.