Symmetry Partners LLC Invests $291,000 in CVS Health Co. (NYSE:CVS)

Symmetry Partners LLC bought a new position in CVS Health Co. (NYSE:CVS) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund bought 6,478 shares of the pharmacy operator’s stock, valued at approximately $291,000.

Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC bought a new stake in CVS Health during the third quarter worth approximately $31,000. Ridgewood Investments LLC increased its stake in CVS Health by 255.7% during the fourth quarter. Ridgewood Investments LLC now owns 626 shares of the pharmacy operator’s stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 450 shares during the last quarter. Stonebridge Financial Group LLC bought a new stake in CVS Health during the fourth quarter worth approximately $28,000. RPg Family Wealth Advisory LLC bought a new stake in CVS Health during the third quarter worth approximately $40,000. Finally, Hopwood Financial Services Inc. bought a new stake in CVS Health during the fourth quarter worth approximately $29,000. 80.66% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

CVS Health Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:CVS opened at $67.84 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $85.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.54, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.98 and a beta of 0.54. CVS Health Co. has a 52 week low of $43.56 and a 52 week high of $80.75. The company has a quick ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.80. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $59.76 and a 200 day moving average of $57.20.

CVS Health (NYSE:CVS) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 12th. The pharmacy operator reported $1.19 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.89 by $0.30. CVS Health had a net margin of 1.24% and a return on equity of 9.11%. On average, sell-side analysts predict that CVS Health Co. will post 5.89 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

CVS Health Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, February 3rd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, January 23rd were given a dividend of $0.665 per share. This represents a $2.66 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.92%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 23rd. CVS Health’s payout ratio is presently 72.68%.

Insider Transactions at CVS Health

In other CVS Health news, Director Michael F. Mahoney purchased 30,000 shares of CVS Health stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 18th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $66.70 per share, with a total value of $2,001,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 39,356 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,625,045.20. This trade represents a 320.65 % increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, SVP James David Clark sold 7,513 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $66.35, for a total value of $498,487.55. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 8,394 shares in the company, valued at approximately $556,941.90. The trade was a 47.23 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.24% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on CVS shares. Barclays boosted their price objective on CVS Health from $71.00 to $73.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 13th. Edward Jones upgraded CVS Health from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 30th. TD Cowen boosted their target price on CVS Health from $73.00 to $80.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, November 25th. UBS Group dropped their target price on CVS Health from $62.00 to $59.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, February 11th. Finally, Truist Financial boosted their target price on CVS Health from $60.00 to $76.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seventeen have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $69.83.

CVS Health Company Profile

CVS Health Corporation provides health solutions in the United States. It operates through Health Care Benefits, Health Services, and Pharmacy & Consumer Wellness segments. The Health Care Benefits segment offers traditional, voluntary, and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services.