Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. Has $3.61 Million Stake in Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS)

Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. lifted its stake in Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS) by 12.4% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 37,063 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 4,091 shares during the period. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc.’s holdings in Novartis were worth $3,607,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. one8zero8 LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Novartis in the 4th quarter valued at $279,000. Choate Investment Advisors increased its position in Novartis by 11.9% in the fourth quarter. Choate Investment Advisors now owns 36,683 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,570,000 after purchasing an additional 3,910 shares during the period. Van Strum & Towne Inc. raised its holdings in Novartis by 20.3% during the 4th quarter. Van Strum & Towne Inc. now owns 2,372 shares of the company’s stock worth $231,000 after purchasing an additional 400 shares during the last quarter. Clearstead Trust LLC bought a new stake in Novartis during the 4th quarter worth about $51,000. Finally, Zevin Asset Management LLC lifted its position in Novartis by 14.4% during the 4th quarter. Zevin Asset Management LLC now owns 100,637 shares of the company’s stock valued at $9,793,000 after purchasing an additional 12,701 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 13.12% of the company’s stock.

Novartis Price Performance

NVS opened at $111.51 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $227.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.96, a P/E/G ratio of 1.70 and a beta of 0.53. Novartis AG has a 12 month low of $92.35 and a 12 month high of $120.92. The company has a quick ratio of 0.84, a current ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $106.14 and a 200 day simple moving average of $107.50.

Novartis (NYSE:NVS) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 31st. The company reported $1.98 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.80 by $0.18. Novartis had a return on equity of 37.24% and a net margin of 23.56%. On average, research analysts expect that Novartis AG will post 8.45 EPS for the current year.

Novartis Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 12th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 12th were paid a $3.8695 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, March 12th. Novartis’s payout ratio is currently 42.69%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Morgan Stanley started coverage on shares of Novartis in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. They set an “underweight” rating for the company. UBS Group reiterated a “neutral” rating on shares of Novartis in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. StockNews.com raised Novartis from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, February 8th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised Novartis from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. Finally, Barclays reissued an “underweight” rating on shares of Novartis in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating, one has assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Novartis currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $123.38.

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.