La vendita allo scoperto per Pfizer dà agli investitori un'idea del grado in cui gli investitori stanno scommettendo sul declino delle azioni di Pfizer. I dati relativi alle vendite allo scoperto vengono aggiornati ogni due settimane.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) Azioni, Report sulle vendite allo scoperto

Pfizer

Pfizer is one of the world's largest pharmaceutical firms, with annual sales close to $50 billion (excluding covid-19-related product sales). While it historically sold many types of healthcare products and chemicals, now prescription drugs and vaccines account for the majority of sales. Top sellers include pneumococcal vaccine Prevnar 13, cancer drug Ibrance, and cardiovascular treatment Eliquis. Pfizer sells these products globally, with international sales representing close to 50% of total sales. Within international sales, emerging markets are a major contributor.

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General

Pfizer annuncia risultati eccellenti per il vaccino Abrysvo nella Fase 3, dimostrando alta sicurezza ed efficacia contro RSV.

Vaccino Abrysvo: Pfizer ottiene eccellenti risultati nella Fase 3

Pfizer Inc

Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - February

PFIZER ORD

PFEIFFER VACUUM TECH ORD by Pfeiffer Vacuum Technology AG

Pfeiffer Vacuum Technology AG

Financial giants have made a conspicuous bullish move on Pfizer. Our analysis of options history for Pfizer (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFE#NYSE">PFE</a>) revealed 8 unusual trades.
Delving into the details, we found 50% of traders were bullish, while 50% showed bearish tendencies. Out of all the trades we spotted, 2 were puts, with a value of $93,000, and 6 were calls, valued at $314,820.
<h3>What's The Price Target?</h3>
Taking into account the Volume and Open Interest on these contracts, it appears that whales have been targeting a price range from $28.0 to $32.0 for Pfizer over the last 3 months. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Development</h3>
In terms of liquidity and interest, the mean open interest for Pfizer options trades today is 7268.62 with a total volume of 11,974.00.
In the following chart, we are able to follow the development of volume and open interest of call and put options for Pfizer's big money trades within a strike price range of $28.0 to $32.0 over the last 30 days.
<h3>Pfizer 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1727972427_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>PFE</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$0.45</td>
<td>$0.44</td>
<td>$0.45</td>
<td>$30.00</td>
<td>$112.5K</td>
<td>16.8K</td>
<td>3.1K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PFE</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/15/27</td>
<td>$5.0</td>
<td>$4.15</td>
<td>$5.0</td>
<td>$30.00</td>
<td>$60.0K</td>
<td>247</td>
<td>4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PFE</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>11/01/24</td>
<td>$0.32</td>
<td>$0.3</td>
<td>$0.31</td>
<td>$30.00</td>
<td>$48.4K</td>
<td>1.6K</td>
<td>296</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PFE</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/15/27</td>
<td>$2.62</td>
<td>$2.61</td>
<td>$2.62</td>
<td>$32.00</td>
<td>$47.1K</td>
<td>256</td>
<td>180</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PFE</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$0.49</td>
<td>$0.48</td>
<td>$0.49</td>
<td>$28.50</td>
<td>$47.1K</td>
<td>656</td>
<td>6.9K</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Pfizer</h3>
Pfizer is one of the world's largest pharmaceutical firms, with annual sales close to $50 billion (excluding covid-19-related product sales). While it historically sold many types of healthcare products and chemicals, now prescription drugs and vaccines account for the majority of sales. Top sellers include pneumococcal vaccine Prevnar 13, cancer drug Ibrance, and cardiovascular treatment Eliquis. Pfizer sells these products globally, with international sales representing close to 50% of total sales. Within international sales, emerging markets are a major contributor.
In light of the recent options history for Pfizer, it's now appropriate to focus on the company itself. We aim to explore its current performance.
<h3>Current Position of Pfizer</h3>
<ul>
<li>With a trading volume of 10,723,798, the price of PFE is down by -0.93%, reaching $28.34.</li>
<li>Current RSI values indicate that the stock is is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Next earnings report is scheduled for 26 days from now.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Expert Opinions on Pfizer</h3>
3 market experts have recently issued ratings for this stock, with a consensus target price of $45.0.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22bz20&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; Reflecting concerns, an analyst from Cantor Fitzgerald lowers its rating to Overweight with a new price target of $45. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Cantor Fitzgerald downgraded its action to Overweight with a price target of $45. 
&#x2A; Reflecting concerns, an analyst from Cantor Fitzgerald lowers its rating to Overweight with a new price target of $45.
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Pfizer, <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Options

Behind the Scenes of Pfizer's Latest Options Trends

In the preceding three months, 11 analysts have released ratings for Pfizer (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFE#NYSE">PFE</a>), presenting a wide array of perspectives from bullish to bearish.
The following table summarizes their recent ratings, shedding light on the changing sentiments within the past 30 days and comparing them to the preceding months.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bullish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Indifferent</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Somewhat Bearish</th>
<th style="text-align: right;">Bearish</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Total Ratings</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">7</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">4</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Last 30D</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">1</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3M Ago</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">2</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">4</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
<td style="text-align: right;">0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Analysts provide deeper insights through their assessments of 12-month price targets, revealing an average target of $38.82, a high estimate of $45.00, and a low estimate of $30.00. Surpassing the previous average price target of $37.64, the current average has increased by 3.13%.
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1727967691_0.png" alt="price target chart" />
<h2>Analyzing Analyst Ratings: A Detailed Breakdown</h2>
The perception of Pfizer by financial experts is analyzed through recent analyst actions. The following summary presents key analysts, their recent evaluations, and adjustments to ratings and price targets.
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Analyst</th>
<th>Analyst Firm</th>
<th>Action Taken</th>
<th>Rating</th>
<th>Current Price Target</th>
<th>Prior Price Target</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Louise Chen</td>
<td>Cantor Fitzgerald</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Louise Chen</td>
<td>Cantor Fitzgerald</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Louise Chen</td>
<td>Cantor Fitzgerald</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Louise Chen</td>
<td>Cantor Fitzgerald</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Narumi Nakagiri</td>
<td>Daiwa Capital</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Outperform</td>
<td>$34.00</td>
<td>$28.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Carter Gould</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$32.00</td>
<td>$30.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Mohit Bansal</td>
<td>Wells Fargo</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$30.00</td>
<td>$28.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Louise Chen</td>
<td>Cantor Fitzgerald</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Colin Bristow</td>
<td>UBS</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Neutral</td>
<td>$31.00</td>
<td>$30.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Carter Gould</td>
<td>Barclays</td>
<td>Raises</td>
<td>Equal-Weight</td>
<td>$30.00</td>
<td>$28.00</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Louise Chen</td>
<td>Cantor Fitzgerald</td>
<td>Maintains</td>
<td>Overweight</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h3>Key Insights:</h3>
<ul>
<li>Action Taken: Analysts respond to changes in market conditions and company performance, frequently updating their recommendations. Whether they 'Maintain', 'Raise' or 'Lower' their stance, it reflects their reaction to recent developments related to Pfizer. This information offers a snapshot of how analysts perceive the current state of the company.</li>
<li>Rating: Analyzing trends, analysts offer qualitative evaluations, ranging from 'Outperform' to 'Underperform'. These ratings convey expectations for the relative performance of Pfizer compared to the broader market.</li>
<li>Price Targets: Analysts predict movements in price targets, offering estimates for Pfizer's future value. Examining the current and prior targets offers insights into analysts' evolving expectations.</li>
</ul>
To gain a panoramic view of Pfizer's market performance, explore these analyst evaluations alongside essential financial indicators. Stay informed and make judicious decisions using our Ratings Table.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/PFE/analyst-ratings?utm_source=Benzinga Insights">Stay up to date on Pfizer analyst ratings.</a>
<h2>All You Need to Know About Pfizer</h2>
Pfizer is one of the world's largest pharmaceutical firms, with annual sales close to $50 billion (excluding covid-19-related product sales). While it historically sold many types of healthcare products and chemicals, now prescription drugs and vaccines account for the majority of sales. Top sellers include pneumococcal vaccine Prevnar 13, cancer drug Ibrance, and cardiovascular treatment Eliquis. Pfizer sells these products globally, with international sales representing close to 50% of total sales. Within international sales, emerging markets are a major contributor.
<h3>Unraveling the Financial Story of Pfizer</h3>
Market Capitalization Analysis: Above industry benchmarks, the company's market capitalization emphasizes a noteworthy size, indicative of a strong market presence.
Revenue Growth: Pfizer's remarkable performance in 3 months is evident. As of 30 June, 2024, the company achieved an impressive revenue growth rate of 2.13%. This signifies a substantial increase in the company's top-line earnings. As compared to competitors, the company encountered difficulties, with a growth rate lower than the average among peers in the Health Care sector.
Net Margin: Pfizer's net margin is below industry averages, indicating potential challenges in maintaining strong profitability. With a net margin of 0.31%, the company may face hurdles in effective cost management.
Return on Equity (ROE): Pfizer's ROE lags behind industry averages, suggesting challenges in maximizing returns on equity capital. With an ROE of 0.05%, the company may face hurdles in achieving optimal financial performance.
Return on Assets (ROA): Pfizer's ROA falls below industry averages, indicating challenges in efficiently utilizing assets. With an ROA of 0.02%, the company may face hurdles in generating optimal returns from its assets.
Debt Management: With a below-average debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78, Pfizer adopts a prudent financial strategy, indicating a balanced approach to debt management.
<h2>How Are Analyst Ratings Determined?</h2>
Experts in banking and financial systems, analysts specialize in reporting for specific stocks or defined sectors. Their comprehensive research involves attending company conference calls and meetings, analyzing financial statements, and engaging with insiders to generate what are known as analyst ratings for stocks. Typically, analysts assess and rate each stock once per quarter.
Analysts may enhance their evaluations by incorporating forecasts for metrics like growth estimates, earnings, and revenue, delivering additional guidance to investors. It is vital to acknowledge that, although experts in stocks and sectors, analysts are human and express their opinions when providing insights.
Which Stocks Are Analysts Recommending Now?
Benzinga Edge gives you instant access to all major analyst upgrades, downgrades, and price targets. Sort by accuracy, upside potential, and more. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=be8be9arja3be22bz21&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here to stay ahead of the market</a>.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Key Takeaways From Pfizer Analyst Ratings

Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Louise Chen reiterates Pfizer (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFE#NYSE">PFE</a>) with a Overweight and maintains $45 price target.

Reiteration

Cantor Fitzgerald Reiterates Overweight on Pfizer, Maintains $45 Price Target

On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), working via the Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services (CMS), released final guidance for the second cycle of the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care">Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program</a>.
This initiative <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/hhs-releases-final-guidance-second-cycle-historic-medicare-drug-price-negotiation-program" rel="noreferrer noopener">aims</a> to provide lower drug prices starting in 2026 and 2027.
It also ensures that people with Medicare can access these negotiated prices, expanding on the groundwork laid in the first cycle of negotiations.
The first round of negotiations focused on 10 specific drugs. Medicare recipients should save approximately $1.5 billion in out-of-pocket costs when the new prices take effect in 2026.
By February 2025, CMS will select up to 15 additional drugs for the second round of negotiations. The selected drugs will undergo negotiations in 2025, with new prices becoming effective in 2027.
They include: 
<ul>
<li>Novo Nordisk&#8216;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVO#NYSE">NVO</a>) diabetes drug, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/08/40534249/novo-nordisks-ozempic-might-be-among-2027-medicare-price-negotiation-targets">Ozempic,</a></li>
<li>Pfizer Inc.&#8217;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFE#NYSE">PFE</a>) cancer drugs Ibrance and Xtandi</li>
<li>GSK Plc&#8217;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GSK#NYSE">GSK</a>) asthma treatment Trelegy Ellipta</li>
<li>Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.&#8217;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TEVA#NYSE">TEVA</a>) Huntington&#8217;s disease drug Austedo, and</li>
<li>Abbvie Inc.&#8217;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ABBV#NYSE">ABBV</a>) irritable bowel syndrome treatment Linzess.</li>
</ul>
CMS plans to improve patient-focused engagement during the second cycle of negotiations. It will also organize roundtable events and town hall meetings in 2025.
As Medicare Open Enrollment approaches on Oct. 15, beneficiaries can expect more cost-saving measures in the coming years. That includes a $2,000 annual cap on out-of-pocket drug costs starting in January 2025.
These changes build on other provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act, which was signed by President Joe Biden on Aug. 16, 2022. The legislation included a $35 monthly cap on insulin and free recommended vaccines for adults covered under Medicare Part D.
Monday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that Medicare enrollees will benefit from reduced prices on 54 drugs through Medicare Part B, effective from Oct. 1, 2024, to Dec. 31, 2024. Some Medicare beneficiaries could see daily savings ranging from $1 to as much as $3,854 on drugs included <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/10/41127143/us-hhs-reveal-cost-savings-for-54-prescription-drugs-including-novartis-cancer-drug-ozempic-could" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">in the rebate program</a>.
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Image: Shutterstock

Government

ABBV

TEVA

Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program Gets Final Guidance For Second Cycle, $1.5B Savings Expected

Wednesday, Johnson &amp; Johnson (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JNJ#NYSE">JNJ</a>) revealed results from a head-to-head study of Erleada (apalutamide) compared to Pfizer Inc&#8217;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFE#NYSE">PFE</a>) Xtandi (enzalutamide).
The data showed that Erleada (apalutamide) provided a statistically significant overall survival benefit at 24 months compared to enzalutamide in patients with metastatic castration-<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/10/n41140779/erleada-apalutamide-demonstrates-statistically-significant-and-clinically-meaningful-improvement-i" rel="noreferrer noopener">sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC)</a>.
Presented at the 6th European Congress of Oncology Pharmacy, the study of nearly 4,000 patients represents the largest real-world, head-to-head analysis of these two androgen receptor pathway inhibitors (ARPIs) in mCSPC.
The analysis demonstrated patients with mCSPC who initiated Erleada as their first ARPI had a statistically significant 23% reduction in their risk of death at 24 months compared to patients who initiated enzalutamide.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com//node/41140319" rel="noreferrer noopener">Humana Faces Sharp Decline In Medicare Star Ratings For 2025, Braces For 2026 Revenue Hit</a>
The proportion of patients alive at 24 months (87.6%) observed in the Erleada cohort in this real-world analysis is consistent with that in the Phase 3 TITAN trial (82.4%).
TITAN demonstrated a statistically significant superior overall survival benefit of Erleada plus androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) compared to ADT alone at the primary analysis after a median of 22.7 months of follow-up and at the final analysis after a median of 44 months of follow-up.
On Tuesday, Johnson &amp; Johnson&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.jnj.com/media-center/press-releases/johnson-johnson-to-invest-more-than-2-billion-in-new-advanced-technology-manufacturing-facility-in-north-carolina-to-support-robust-portfolio-growth" rel="noreferrer noopener">announced</a> an investment of more than $2 billion to build a biologics manufacturing facility in Wilson, North Carolina.
The new facility will expand the production of the company&#8217;s portfolio and pipeline of biologics in support of&nbsp;its broader plan to advance more than 70 novel therapies and product expansion filings and launches by the end of the decade.
When fully operational, the site will employ approximately 420 full-time employees.
Construction is anticipated to begin in the first half of 2025.
Price Action: JNJ stock is down 0.26% at $161.58 at last check Wednesday.
Photo via Shutterstock
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Equities

Johnson & Johnson's Erleada Shows Improved Overall Survival In Prostate Cancer Patients Compared To Pfizer's Drug

Monday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that Medicare enrollees will benefit from reduced prices on 54 drugs through Medicare Part B, effective from October 1, 2024, to December 31, 2024.
The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2024/09/30/hhs-announces-cost-savings-for-prescription-drugs-thanks-to-medicare-inflation-rebate-program.html" rel="noreferrer noopener">program</a> aims to counter drug price hikes that exceed inflation, providing financial relief for over 822,000 Medicare beneficiaries who rely on these medications to treat conditions like cancer, osteoporosis, and pneumonia.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/08/40422798/doctors-struggle-to-secure-medicare-coverage-for-heart-patients-on-novo-nordisks-wegovy" rel="noreferrer noopener">Doctors Struggle to Secure Medicare Coverage for Heart Patients on Novo Nordisk&#8217;s Wegovy</a>
HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra emphasized that the Biden administration&#8217;s prescription drug policies are making a tangible impact on seniors and people with disabilities by reducing out-of-pocket costs.
According to Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, CMS Administrator, some Medicare beneficiaries could see daily savings ranging from $1 to as much as $3,854 on drugs included in the rebate program.
For example, a cancer patient using Novartis&#8217; AGs (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVS#NYSE">NVS</a>) Kymriah could save up to $3,000.
Brooks-LaSure also noted that the law disincentivizes drug companies from raising prices faster than inflation, which helps protect Medicare beneficiaries from sharp price increases.
The Inflation Reduction Act&#8217;s initiatives extend beyond 2024. In August, the administration reached new agreements to reduce prices for ten additional high-cost drugs.
Once these prices take effect in 2026, Medicare is projected to save an estimated $6 billion, while beneficiaries could see a reduction of $1.5 billion in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/08/40397706/biden-administration-targets-6b-savings-through-medicare-drug-price-negotiations" rel="noreferrer noopener">out-of-pocket expenses</a>.
Starting in 2025, Medicare Part D enrollees will further benefit from a $2,000 annual cap on prescription drug costs, down from the current cap of $3,500 for those with high expenses.
According to some analysts,&nbsp;Novo Nordisk A/S&#8217; (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVO#NYSE">NVO</a>)&nbsp;blockbuster diabetes drug&nbsp;Ozempic might be included, along with several other well-known medications, in the next round of negotiations, which <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/08/40534249/novo-nordisks-ozempic-might-be-among-2027-medicare-price-negotiation-targets" rel="noreferrer noopener">is set for 2027</a>.
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Photo via Shutterstock

Regulations

US HHS Reveal Cost Savings For 54 Prescription Drugs Including Novartis' Cancer Drug, Ozempic Could be Next

Pfizer Inc (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/pfe#NYSE">PFE</a>) made a promise&nbsp;to outdo cancer, joining its Covid vaccine-peer, Moderna Inc (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mrna#NASDAQ">MRNA</a>) in turning to oncology for its next growth story. Both Moderna and Pfizer made history during the COVID-19 pandemic thanks to mRNA technology. Now, Moderna and Pfizer embarked on a journey to treat cancer with mRNA science. By using mRNA-based next-generation CRC screening tests, a much smaller and less known pharma player,&nbsp;Mainz Biomed N.V. (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mynz#NASDAQ">MYNZ</a>), is already redefining standards in early cancer detection with its flagship colorectal cancer test ColoAlert, while also tackling cancer prevention.
<h3>Moderna Has Several Oncology Trials In Motion</h3>
First, there is the collaboration with Merck &amp;Co Inc (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/mrk#NYSE">MRK</a>). The combination of&nbsp;immunotherapy blockbuster drug Keytruda from Merck and the&nbsp;experimental mRNA vaccine showed encouraging results in patients diagnosed with melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer. During summer, Merck and Moderna released positive mid-stage results that showed improved survival rates and showed long-lasting efficacy. Along with targeting melanoma by joining forces with Merck, Moderna is also conducting clinical trials of a cancer treatment for adults diagnosed with solid tumor cancers, lymphoma and non-small lung cancer.&nbsp;&nbsp;
<h3>Mainz Biomed Is Gearing Up To Revolutionize Early Cancer Detection</h3>
Determined to lead the way in cancer diagnostics, Mainz Biomed opened the week by releasing a statement to shareholders that highlighted its strategic plans,&nbsp;clinical developments, and its upcoming FDA trial anticipated for 2025 which should pave the way for entry into the U.S. market.&nbsp;With its innovative diagnostic solution ColoAlert that is already marketed across Europe, Mainz&nbsp;Biomed&nbsp;has positioned itself for substantial growth in global markets next year.&nbsp;With its&nbsp;flagship non-invasive test that not only revolutionized early detection of colorectal cancer but also prevention by identifying precancerous lesions, particularly advanced adenomas, Mainz Biomed reported significant clinical success in both US and European trials. Identifying these lesions allows for timely intervention through colonoscopy and adenoma removal, thereby warding off cancer from developing in the first place.
In addition to its mRNA next generation CRC screening test,&nbsp;Mainz&nbsp;Biomed&nbsp;is also developing PancAlert for an easy and convenient at home test for pancreatic cancer.
Tackling A&nbsp;fight that modern medicine just cannot seem to win.
Despite its efforts to translate scientific research into effective medicines for cancer patients, Pfizer is still not near a breakthrough in oncology. Undoubtably, Pfizer is betting big on oncology to turn its ship around, which it showed with the&nbsp;$43 billion acquisition of the cancer drugmaker Seagen. With the combined pipeline,&nbsp;Pfizer is hoping to produce at least eight blockbuster medicines by the end of the decade. But this is still only a promise while&nbsp;cancer remains one of the most complex diseases of the modern civilization and one of science&rsquo;s biggest challenges. Only time will show if mRNA technology is the missing piece of the puzzle for science to finally win the cancer battle. While no one knows if the COVID-19 success of mRNA science&nbsp;can be replicated for cancer, it does seem it is a good enough of a tool to make some much needed breakthroughs.&nbsp;
DISCLAIMER: This content is for informational purposes only. It is not intended as investing advice.
This article is from an unpaid external contributor. It does not represent Benzinga's reporting and has not been edited for content or accuracy.

Penny Stocks

MRNA

MYNZ

The Covid Era Tech Promises To Reinvent Cancer Treatment

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFE#NYSE">PFE</a>) has divested a $3.3 billion stake in Haleon (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HLN#NYSE">HLN</a>), reducing its holding in the British consumer healthcare company.
What Happened: The transaction occurred on Monday, cutting Pfizer&#8217;s shareholding from 22.6% to 15%. The shares were sold at 380 pence each, a 3.3% discount to Haleon&#8217;s last closing price.
Haleon, known for products like Sensodyne toothpaste and Panadol painkillers, saw its shares drop 1.2% to 388 pence in Tuesday morning trade. Despite the sale, Pfizer remains Haleon&#8217;s largest shareholder.
The U.S. drug giant had initially planned to sell about 540 million shares but increased this to 640 million due to strong demand, a book-runner on the deal stated. Haleon confirmed it will repurchase approximately 60.5 million of its shares from Pfizer for 230 million pounds ($307.4 million).
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/09/41066762/if-you-invested-1000-in-bitcoin-dogecoin-and-shiba-inu-exactly-a-year-ago-this-crypto-woul?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">If You Invested $1000 In Bitcoin, Dogecoin, And Shiba Inu Exactly A Year Ago, This Crypto Would Give You The Best Returns Today</a>
Why It Matters: This divestment comes on the heels of Pfizer&#8217;s recent challenges. 
On Thursday, Pfizer announced the voluntary withdrawal of its sickle cell disease treatment Oxbryta (voxelotor) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/09/41048780/pfizer-voluntarily-withdraws-sickle-cell-disease-treatment-oxbryta-from-global-market-due-to-pain">from the global market</a> due to severe complications and deaths. This decision also included halting all active clinical trials and expanding access programs for the drug.
Price Action: Pfizer Inc. stock closed at $28.94 on Monday, down 0.52% for the day, and is currently trading at $29.01 in pre-market, reflecting a slight gain of 0.24%. Year-to-date, Pfizer&#8217;s stock has declined by 2.66%.
Meanwhile, Haleon PLC &#8211; ADR finished at $10.58, down 0.84% on the same day, with a pre-market price up by 0.19%. The stock has performed well this year, rising by 28.55%, according to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.
Read Next: 
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</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock 
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Global

Pfizer Divests $3.3B Stake In Sensodyne Toothpaste And Panadol Painkiller Maker Haleon

Sanofi&nbsp;(NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/sny#NASDAQ">SNY</a>) and partner Regeneron&nbsp;(NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/regn#NASDAQ">REGN</a>) announced that the FDA has approved their blockbuster drug, Dupixent, for its sixth indication &mdash; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) &mdash; in the United States. The approved indication is as an add-on maintenance treatment of adults with inadequately controlled COPD and an eosinophilic phenotype. With this approval, Dupixent became the first biologic treatment approved for COPD in the United States.
Dupixent was approved for treating COPD with raised blood eosinophils in the EU in July 2024. Dupixent was also approved for the COPD indication in China last week.
Sanofi&#39;s stock has gained 16.0% so far this year compared with an increase of 20.2% for the large cap <a href="https://www.zacks.com/stocks/industry-rank/industry/large-cap-pharmaceuticals-225">pharmaceutical industry</a>.
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/e4/79621.jpg?v=1565371588" style="height:310px; width:624px" />
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The approval for COPD, a respiratory disease that causes progressive lung function decline, was based on data from two studies. The NOTUS and BOREAS studies met their primary endpoint by showing that Dupixent significantly reduced moderate or severe acute COPD exacerbations by 30% and 34%, respectively. Dupixent also showed improvements in lung function and health-related quality of life compared to placebo.
Earlier this year, the FDA extended its decision on a supplemental biologics license application seeking approval of Dupixent for COPD from June 27 to Sept. 27.
<h3>Dupixent &ndash; Key Top-Line Driver For SNY, REGN</h3>
Dupixent is currently approved in several countries, including the United States and EU, for five other type II inflammatory diseases, namely severe chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis, severe asthma, moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, eosinophilic esophagitis and prurigo nodularis.
Dupixent is being jointly marketed by Regeneron and&nbsp;Sanofi&nbsp;under a global collaboration agreement. Sanofi records global net product sales of Dupixent, while Regeneron records its share of profits/losses in connection with the global sales of the drug. The approval for the COPD indication can significantly boost sales of Dupixent. Some analysts expect total sales of Dupixent for COPD to be around $6 billion.
Dupixent is a key top-line driver for both Sanofi and Regeneron on strong demand trends. In the first half of 2024, Dupixent generated global product sales of $&euro;6.1 billion, which were recorded by Sanofi, representing growth of 27.1% at a constant exchange rate. Sanofi expects Dupixent to achieve more than &euro;13 billion in sales in 2024.
For Regeneron, Dupixent generated collaboration revenues of $2.06 billion in the first half, up 18% year over year.
<h2>SNY Zacks Rank and Other Stocks to Consider</h2>
Sanofi currently has a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
<div class="chart_embed">
<h3>Sanofi Stock Price and Consensus</h3>
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/chart/SNY/price-consensus-chart?icid=chart-SNY-price-consensus-chart"><img alt="Sanofi Price and Consensus" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/charts/44/1727692069.png" style="height:287px; width:624px" title="" /> </a>
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/chart/SNY/price-consensus-chart?icid=chart-SNY-price-consensus-chart">Sanofi price-consensus-chart</a> | <a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/quote/SNY?icid=chart-SNY-price-consensus-chart">Sanofi Quote</a>
</div>
Some other top-ranked drug/biotech companies are Eli Lilly (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/lly#NYSE">LLY</a>) and Pfizer (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/pfe#NYSE">PFE</a>). While Lilly sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), Pfizer has a Zacks Rank #2. You can see <a href="https://www.zacks.com/stocks/buy-list/?ADID=zp_1link&amp;ICID=zpi%20_1link">the complete list of today&#39;s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here</a>.
Estimates for Lilly&#39;s 2024 earnings have risen from $13.79 to $16.49 per share over the past 60 days. For 2025, earnings estimates have risen from $19.44 to $23.97 per share over the same timeframe. Year to date, Lilly&#39;s stock has risen 50.5%.
Lilly beat estimates in each of the last four quarters, delivering a four-quarter average earnings surprise of 69.07%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Pfizer&#39;s earnings has risen from $2.38 to $2.62 per share for 2024 over the past 60 days, while that for 2025 has risen from $2.74 per share to $2.85 per share. Pfizer&#39;s shares have risen 1.0% year to date.
Pfizer beat estimates in each of the last four quarters, delivering a four-quarter average earnings surprise of 69.82%.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/">Zacks Investment Research</a>

REGN

Sanofi, Regeneron's Dupixent Gets FDA Approval For COPD

On Friday, Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AQST#NASDAQ">AQST</a>) hosted a virtual investor day highlighting the company&#8217;s Anaphylm (epinephrine) Sublingual Film and AQST-108 (epinephrine) <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/09/g41065740/aquestive-therapeutics-spotlights-its-innovative-epinephrine-delivery-pipeline-at-virtual-investor" rel="noreferrer noopener">Topical Gel</a>.
Aquestive said it completed enrollment in its remaining supportive study for Anaphylm, the oral allergy syndrome (OAS) challenge study. Following the completion of dosing, the study is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2024.
The company remains on track to hold the FDA pre-New Drug Application (NDA) meeting in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Aquestive remains focused on completing an NDA submission with the FDA in the first quarter of 2025 and initiating a full product launch of Anaphylm, if approved by the FDA, at the end of 2025 or in the first quarter of 2026.
The company completed its first human clinical study for AQST-108 and plans to develop AQST-108 for Alopecia areata (patchy hair loss), which impacts as many as 6.7 million people in the U.S.
The company expects to hold a pre-Investigational New Drug (IND) meeting with the FDA in the first quarter of 2025 and to commence the Phase 2 study in the second half of 2025.
H.C. Wainwright raised the price target for Aquestive Therapeutics to $10 from the prior $9 per share <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/AQST/analyst-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">with a Buy rating</a>, reflecting the addition of AQST-108 to the valuation assessment.
The analyst attributes a 30% probability of approval to AQST-108 for Alopecia areata and an 85% probability to Anaphylm for anaphylaxis.
In June 2022, the FDA approved Eli Lilly And Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>) / Incyte Corporation&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INCY#NASDAQ">INCY</a>) oral Olumiant (baricitinib) for adults with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/22/06/27704671/approval-of-baricitinib-for-patchy-baldness-validates-clinical-patch-for-this-small" rel="noreferrer noopener">severe alopecia areata</a>.
Just a year after, in June 2023, the FDA <a target="_blank" href="https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/fda-approves-pfizers-litfulotm-ritlecitinib-adults-and" rel="noreferrer noopener">approved</a> Pfizer Inc&#8217;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFE#NYSE">PFE</a>) oral Litfulo&nbsp;(ritlecitinib) for individuals 12 years of age and older with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/23/06/33001406/pfizers-litfulo-scores-fda-approval-as-first-alopecia-treatment-for-adolescents" rel="noreferrer noopener">severe alopecia areata</a>.
Given the steep list prices of treatments like Litfulo, which costs around $49K per year, Aquestive expects a topical alopecia areata treatment without a black box warning to capture significant market share if priced at a 25% discount to JAK inhibitors.
If approved, the analyst anticipates that AQST-108 could be priced at approximately $37K annually. Even with peak market penetration rates below 2%, the drug is projected to surpass $1 billion in annual U.S. sales.
Price Action: AQST stock is up 6.14% at $5.01 at last check Monday.
Photo via Shutterstock
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Analyst Color

Movers

AQST

INCY

Optimism Around Aquestive As it Moves Forward With Severe Allergy, Baldness Candidate

Offerings

Pfizer Boosts Haleon Offering Size To 640M Shares From 540M

- Reuters Citing Bookrunner&nbsp;

Pfizer Intends To Sell About 540M Ordinary Shares In Haleon Plc

CSL Limited (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSLLY#OTC">CSLLY</a>)&nbsp;and Arcturus Therapeutics (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ARCT#NASDAQ">ARCT</a>)&nbsp;announced the results of a Phase 3 head-to-head study of ARCT-154, a self-amplifying (sa-mRNA) COVID-19 vaccine, compared to Pfizer Inc&#8217;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFE#NYSE">PFE</a>) <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/09/b41089773/self-amplifying-mrna-covid-19-vaccine-demonstrates-superior-immune-response-compared-with-mrna-vac" rel="noreferrer noopener">shot Comirnaty</a>.
The study showed that the sa-mRNA COVID-19 vaccine maintained superior immunogenicity compared to the conventional mRNA vaccine Comirnaty&nbsp;for up to one year against Wuhan-Hu-1, Omicron&nbsp;BA.4-5&nbsp;and certain other variants, and at one-sixth the dose of the comparator&nbsp;(5 μg vs. 30 μg, respectively).
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/06/39234193/arcturus-inhaled-mrna-therapeutic-in-cystic-fibrosis-study-highlights-potential-ami" rel="noreferrer noopener">Arcturus&#8217; Inhaled mRNA Therapeutic In Cystic Fibrosis Study Highlights Potential Amid Competitive Landscape: Analyst</a>.
The COVID-19 vaccine from this sa-mRNA platform targeted against the JN.1 variant is approved in Japan for immunization against COVID-19 in adults 18 years and older. It is being sold under the trade name Kostaive.
At Day 29, neutralizing antibodies (GMTs unadjusted) against the Wuhan-Hu-1 strain in ARCT-154 recipients (n = 378) were superior to those in the Comirnaty&nbsp;group (n = 374)
<ul>
<li>GMT = 5390 vs. 3738, a GMT ratio of 1.44. This advantage persisted through all time points.</li>
<li>At Day 361 (unadjusted), GMTs were 3396 and 1771 in ARCT-154 (n = 272) and Comirnaty (n = 266) groups, with a GMT ratio of 1.92.</li>
<li>Differences were also observed in responses against Omicron BA.4-5, with GMT ratios of 1.31 at Day 29 and 1.89 at Day 361.</li>
</ul>
Additional data presented by CSL and Arcturus finds that the bivalent formula ARCT-2301, developed on the same platform as ARCT-154, induces superior immunogenicity over conventional bivalent mRNA vaccine Comirnaty, which persists against key variants up to six months postvaccination.
<ul>
<li>Data from 930 participants showed that ARCT-2301 (n = 398) induced superior neutralizing antibody responses vs. Comirnaty (n = 405) against Omicron BA.4-5 (GMT ratio 1·49), and against Wuhan-Hu-1 (GMT ratio 1.45).</li>
<li>The difference persisted through six months with GMT ratios of 2.17 and 1.98, respectively.</li>
<li>Antibody responses against Omicron XBB.1.5 were also higher after ARCT-2301 vs. Comirnaty.</li>
</ul>
Price Action: ARCT stock is up 4.70% at $23.07 at last check Monday.
Image via Unsplash
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</ul>

ARCT

CSLLY

Arcturus Therapeutics/CSL Partnered COVID-19 Vaccine Surpasses Pfizer's Comirnaty Shot, Even At Lower Doses

FDA Is Alerting Patients And Health Care Professionals About Voluntary Withdrawal Of Oxbryta From Market Due To Safety Concerns; Says Patients And Caregivers Should Contact Their Health Care Professional About Stopping Oxbryta And Starting Another Treatment Option

Editor&#8217;s note: The story has been updated with the European Medicine Agency&#8217;s suspension recommendation in para 8
On Wednesday, Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFE#NYSE">PFE</a>) said the company is voluntarily withdrawing all lots of Oxbryta (voxelotor) for the treatment of sickle cell disease (SCD) at this time, in all markets <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/09/b41035514/pfizer-voluntarily-withdraws-all-lots-of-sickle-cell-disease-treatment-oxbryta-voxelotor-from-worl" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">where it is approved</a>.
Pfizer is also discontinuing all active voxelotor clinical trials and expanded access programs worldwide.
Pfizer&#8217;s decision is based on the totality of clinical data indicating that the overall benefit of Oxbryta no longer outweighs the risk in the approved sickle cell patient population.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/09/40752393/fda-battles-backlog-of-drug-factory-inspections-since-covid-19" rel="noreferrer noopener">FDA Battles Backlog of Drug Factory Inspections Since COVID-19</a>.
The data suggest an imbalance in vaso-occlusive crises and fatal events that require further assessment. A vaso-occlusive crisis is a common painful complication of sickle cell anemia.
Pfizer has notified regulatory authorities about these findings and its decision to voluntarily withdraw Oxbryta from the market and discontinue distribution and clinical studies while further reviewing the available data and investigating the findings.
The company does not anticipate the event impacting its full-year 2024 financial guidance.
In the second quarter of 2024, Oxbryta generated sales of $92 million, up 20% <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/07/40037079/pfizer-marks-first-revenue-growth-since-covid-revenue-peak-in-2022-lifts-annual-guidance" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">year-over-year</a>. Pfizer added Oxbryta to its portfolio via its $5.4 billion buyout of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/22/08/b28392839/pfizer-to-acquire-global-blood-therapeutics-for-5-4-billion-to-enhance-presence-in-rare-hematology" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Global Blood Therapeutics</a> in 2022.
Earlier today, the European Medicine Agency&#8217;s human medicines committee <a href="https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/news/ema-recommends-suspension-sickle-cell-disease-medicine-oxbryta" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">recommended</a> suspending the approval of Oxbryta as a precautionary measure while a review of emerging data is ongoing.
In July, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/referral/oxbryta-article-20-procedure-review-started_en.pdf" rel="noreferrer noopener">initiated</a> a review of Oxbryta (voxelotor) following clinical trial data indicating a higher number of deaths in patients receiving Oxbryta compared to those on a placebo. Another trial also reported more deaths than expected overall.
One trial focused on patients with sickle cell disease who were at increased risk of stroke, while the other studied the drug&#8217;s impact on leg ulcers, a common complication of the condition.
The manufacturer has now halted Oxbryta treatment in both trials, which are pending further investigation.
In November 2019, the FDA <a target="_blank" href="https://www.fda.gov/drugs/resources-information-approved-drugs/fda-approves-voxelotor-sickle-cell-disease" rel="noreferrer noopener">granted</a> accelerated approval to voxelotor (Oxbryta) for adults and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older with sickle cell disease.
Price Action: PFE stock is down 0.54% at $28.78 at the last check on Thursday.
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</ul>
Photo via Shutterstock

Pfizer Voluntarily Withdraws Sickle Cell Disease Treatment Oxbryta From Global Market Due To Painful Disease Complication, Deaths (UPDATED)

Pfizer Voluntarily Withdraws All Lots Of Its OXBRYTA Sickle Cell Disease Treatment From Worldwide Markets; Decision Based On The Totality Of Clinical Data That Now Indicates The Overall Benefit Of OXBRYTA No Longer Outweighs The Risk In The Approved Sickle Cell Patient Population

Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bearish stance on Pfizer.
Looking at options history for Pfizer (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFE#NYSE">PFE</a>) we detected 26 trades.
If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 46% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 50% with bearish.
From the overall spotted trades, 9 are puts, for a total amount of $523,182 and 17, calls, for a total amount of $1,209,045.
<h3>Expected Price Movements</h3>
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $18.0 and $35.0 for Pfizer, spanning the last three months.
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
Examining the volume and open interest provides crucial insights into stock research. This information is key in gauging liquidity and interest levels for Pfizer's options at certain strike prices. Below, we present a snapshot of the trends in volume and open interest for calls and puts across Pfizer's significant trades, within a strike price range of $18.0 to $35.0, over the past month.
<h3>Pfizer Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1727196338_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>PFE</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$1.32</td>
<td>$1.24</td>
<td>$1.24</td>
<td>$35.00</td>
<td>$344.5K</td>
<td>27.6K</td>
<td>3.2K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PFE</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>12/18/26</td>
<td>$2.2</td>
<td>$2.15</td>
<td>$2.2</td>
<td>$35.00</td>
<td>$224.7K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
<td>1.8K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PFE</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/21/25</td>
<td>$0.85</td>
<td>$0.75</td>
<td>$0.85</td>
<td>$32.50</td>
<td>$127.6K</td>
<td>16.3K</td>
<td>1.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PFE</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>12/19/25</td>
<td>$6.8</td>
<td>$6.7</td>
<td>$6.7</td>
<td>$35.00</td>
<td>$123.2K</td>
<td>8.7K</td>
<td>300</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PFE</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>11/21/25</td>
<td>$6.75</td>
<td>$6.65</td>
<td>$6.65</td>
<td>$35.00</td>
<td>$79.1K</td>
<td>457</td>
<td>51</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Pfizer</h3>
Pfizer is one of the world's largest pharmaceutical firms, with annual sales close to $50 billion (excluding COVID-19 product sales). While it historically sold many types of healthcare products and chemicals, now prescription drugs and vaccines account for the majority of sales. Top sellers include pneumococcal vaccine Prevnar 13, cancer drug Ibrance, and cardiovascular treatment Eliquis. Pfizer sells these products globally, with international sales representing close to 50% of total sales. Within international sales, emerging markets are a major contributor.
In light of the recent options history for Pfizer, it's now appropriate to focus on the company itself. We aim to explore its current performance.
<h3>Where Is Pfizer Standing Right Now?</h3>
<ul>
<li>Currently trading with a volume of 8,648,223, the PFE's price is up by 0.19%, now at $29.36. </li>
<li>RSI readings suggest the stock is currently may be approaching overbought.</li>
<li>Anticipated earnings release is in 35 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What Analysts Are Saying About Pfizer</h3>
2 market experts have recently issued ratings for this stock, with a consensus target price of $45.0.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22bz20&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Cantor Fitzgerald has revised its rating downward to Overweight, adjusting the price target to $45. 
&#x2A; In a cautious move, an analyst from Cantor Fitzgerald downgraded its rating to Overweight, setting a price target of $45. 
Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for Pfizer with <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

Pfizer Unusual Options Activity

Johnson &amp; Johnson&nbsp;(NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/jnj#NYSE">JNJ</a>), via its subsidiary called Red River Talc, for the third time, filed for voluntary bankruptcy to resolve thousands of lawsuits related to its talc products. Red River Talc has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to equitably resolve all of JNJ&#39;s present and future talc-related claims in a bankruptcy court in the Southern District of Texas.
JNJ faces more than 62,000 lawsuits for its talc-based products, primarily its baby powders. The lawsuits allege that its talc products contain asbestos, which caused many women to develop ovarian cancer. JNJ insists that talc-based products are safe and do not cause cancer. JNJ has permanently discontinued the sale of its talc-based Johnson&#39;s Baby Powder.
So far this year, JNJ&#39;s shares have risen 4.7% compared with the&nbsp;industry&#39;s 23.5% increase.
<img alt="Zacks Investment Research" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/articles/charts/52/78741.jpg?v=633076405" />
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
<h2>JNJ&#39;s Two Failed Bankruptcy Attempts</h2>
Johnson &amp; Johnson&#39;s subsidiary, LTL Management, which was established to manage claims in the cosmetic talc litigation, filed for voluntary bankruptcy twice in New Jersey. However, both the bankruptcy filings were rejected by courts stating that J&amp;J was not in enough financial stress to qualify for bankruptcy.
<h2>JNJ&#39;s New Plan and 3rd Bankruptcy Filing</h2>
In May 2024, LTL Management proposed a new plan committing to pay claimants a present value of approximately $6.5 billion to be paid over 25 years, which could resolve 99.75% of all pending talc lawsuits against the company.
J&amp;J said that Red River filed the bankruptcy case after it received support from around 83% of current claimants for the proposed bankruptcy plan. This&nbsp;exceeds the 75% approval threshold required by the U.S. Bankruptcy Code to secure confirmation of the proposed plan. Red River also increased its settlement commitment by $1.75 billion to approximately $8 billion.
<h2>Several Rulings Against JNJ in Talc Lawsuits</h2>
Several juries have ruled against Johnson &amp; Johnson in talc lawsuits over the years. In one such ruling, in 2018, JNJ was ordered by a Missouri court to pay $4.7 billion in damages to 22 women who made such allegations, affirming a St. Louis court jury&#39;s verdict given earlier. Though the verdict was reduced to $2.1 billion by an appeals court in June 2020, it still rejected J&amp;J&#39;s appeal to overturn the 2018 jury verdict. JJohnson &amp; Johnson paid the award, which, including interest, totaled approximately $2.5 billion. In April 2023, J&amp;J offered to pay $8.9 billion over a period of 25 years to completely resolve its cosmetic talc litigation.
JNJ believes that resolving the claims via the civil law system would take years and incur significant costs for the company. The talc lawsuits have also hurt the company&#39;s goodwill and reputation. It believes that resolving the litigation through this proposed reorganization plan would be more efficient and would compensate claimants on time. &nbsp;However, some attorneys of the claimants feel Johnson &amp; Johnson is manipulating the bankruptcy process so that it can delay jury trials and also underpay the claimants. However, the higher settlement offer and a high percentage of claimant support may improve JNJ&#39;s chances of success after the previous two failures.
<h2>JNJ&#39;s Zacks Rank and Stocks to Consider</h2>
J&amp;J currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
<div class="chart_embed">
<h3>Johnson &amp; Johnson Stock Price and Consensus</h3>
<img alt="Johnson &amp; Johnson Price and Consensus" src="https://staticx-tuner.zacks.com/images/charts/93/1727080281.png" style="height:265px; width:591px" title="" />
Johnson &amp; Johnson price-consensus-chart | Johnson &amp; Johnson Quote
Some better-ranked drug/biotech companies are Eli Lilly (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/lly#NYSE">LLY</a>), Pfizer&nbsp;and Bayer (OTC: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/bayry#OTC">BAYRY</a>). While Lilly sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), Pfizer and Bayer have a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) each.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Lilly&#39;s 2024 earnings has risen from $13.78 to $16.49 per share over the past 60 days. For 2025, earnings estimates have risen from $19.44 to $23.97 per share over the same timeframe. Year to date, Lilly&#39;s stock has risen 58.1%.
</div>
Lilly beat estimates in each of the last four quarters, delivering a four-quarter average earnings surprise of 69.07%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Pfizer&#39;s 2024 earnings has risen from $2.38 to $2.62 per share in the past 60 days, while that for 2025 has risen from $2.74 per share to $2.85 per share. Pfizer&#39;s shares have risen 2.2% year to date.
Pfizer beat estimates in each of the last four quarters, delivering a four-quarter average earnings surprise of 69.82%.
Estimates for Bayer&#39;s 2024 earnings have risen from $1.35 to $1.38 per share over the past 60 days. For 2025, earnings estimates have risen from $1.42 to $1.44 per share over the same timeframe. Year to date, Bayer&#39;s stock has declined 13.4%.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2340100/johnson-johnson-files-for-bankruptcy-over-talc-lawsuits-for-the-third-time?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-analyst_blog|company_news_medical_sector-2340100">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Earnings

Earnings Beats

Management

BAYRY

Johnson & Johnson Files for Bankruptcy Over Talc Lawsuits for the Third Time

<ul>
<li>Omicron KP.2 variant adapted vaccine COMIRNATY is now authorized in Canada for individuals 6 months of age and older. It is expected to be available in Canada in the coming weeks.</li>
<li>The updated COVID-19 vaccine is tailored to the KP.2 strain of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron JN.1 lineage.</li>
</ul>
KIRKLAND, QC, Sept. 24, 2024 /CNW/ - <a href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=4261536-1&amp;h=4008310292&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pfizer.ca%2Fen&amp;a=Pfizer+Canada%C2%A0ULC">Pfizer Canada&nbsp;ULC</a>&nbsp;and <a href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=4261536-1&amp;h=3766478229&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.biontech.com%2F&amp;a=BioNTech+SE">BioNTech SE</a> (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BNTX#NASDAQ">BNTX</a>, ", BioNTech", )))) announced today that Health Canada has authorized the KP.2 variant adapted COMIRNATY&#xAE; COVID-19 vaccine for ages 6 months and older. The updated COMIRNATY&#xAE;&nbsp;vaccine targets the Omicron KP.2 variant, one of the most recently circulating SARS-CoV-2 lineages.
The adapted COVID-19 vaccine will be available in Canada as a single dose for individuals 5 years of age and older,&nbsp;regardless of prior COVID-19 vaccination history. For children 6 months through 4 years of age, COMIRNATY&#xAE; is&nbsp;authorized for administration as a three-dose series in those without a history of completion of a COVID-19 primary vaccination course, or as a single dose for those with a history of completion of a COVID-19 primary vaccination course.
The newly formulated vaccine will be available in pharmacies and vaccination centers across the country in the fall. Each province and territory will have its own pathway for accessing the vaccine, and individuals are encouraged to refer to their provincial/territorial authorities for more information.
The COVID-19 Vaccines (COMIRNATY&#xAE;) by Pfizer and BioNTech are based on BioNTech's proprietary mRNA technology and were developed by both companies. BioNTech is the Marketing Authorization Holder for COMIRNATY and its adapted vaccines in the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada and other countries, and the holder of emergency use authorizations or equivalents in the United States (jointly with Pfizer) and other countries.

BNTX

Pfizer Canada And BioNTech Receive Health Canada Approval Of Omicron KP.2 Variant Adapted COVID-19 Vaccine

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Abnormal amounts of trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming levels. 
Below are some instances of options activity happening in the Health Care sector: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>PFE</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$32.50</td>
<td>$70.5K</td>
<td>38.1K</td>
<td>2.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BMY</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/04/24</td>
<td>$51.00</td>
<td>$32.5K</td>
<td>829</td>
<td>797</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BNTX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$120.00</td>
<td>$34.5K</td>
<td>1.3K</td>
<td>625</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CI</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/27/24</td>
<td>$355.00</td>
<td>$71.7K</td>
<td>16</td>
<td>505</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TGTX</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/17/25</td>
<td>$40.00</td>
<td>$137.7K</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>383</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>JNJ</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$175.00</td>
<td>$45.4K</td>
<td>513</td>
<td>382</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BHVN</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>10/18/24</td>
<td>$45.00</td>
<td>$48.4K</td>
<td>74</td>
<td>365</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VKTX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$60.00</td>
<td>$189.7K</td>
<td>4.5K</td>
<td>172</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>GMED</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$70.00</td>
<td>$31.6K</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>122</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MNKD</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>11/15/24</td>
<td>$3.50</td>
<td>$30.0K</td>
<td>121</td>
<td>100</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• For PFE (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFE#NYSE">PFE</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 116 day(s) on January 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 1500 contract(s) at a $32.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 47 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $70.5K, with a price of $47.0 per contract. There were 38163 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2583 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding BMY (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BMY#NYSE">BMY</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 11 day(s) on October 4, 2024. Parties traded 500 contract(s) at a $51.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 24 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $32.5K, with a price of $65.0 per contract. There were 829 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 797 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding BNTX (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BNTX#NASDAQ">BNTX</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 25 day(s) on October 18, 2024. Parties traded 150 contract(s) at a $120.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 19 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $34.5K, with a price of $230.0 per contract. There were 1345 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 625 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding CI (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CI#NYSE">CI</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 4 day(s) on September 27, 2024. Parties traded 239 contract(s) at a $355.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 15 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $71.7K, with a price of $300.0 per contract. There were 16 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 505 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For TGTX (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TGTX#NASDAQ">TGTX</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 116 day(s) on January 17, 2025. This event was a transfer of 82 contract(s) at a $40.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 12 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $137.7K, with a price of $1680.0 per contract. There were 2 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 383 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For JNJ (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JNJ#NYSE">JNJ</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 88 day(s) on December 20, 2024. This event was a transfer of 329 contract(s) at a $175.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 11 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $45.4K, with a price of $138.0 per contract. There were 513 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 382 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For BHVN (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BHVN#NYSE">BHVN</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 25 day(s) on October 18, 2024. This event was a transfer of 149 contract(s) at a $45.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $48.4K, with a price of $325.0 per contract. There were 74 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 365 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding VKTX (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VKTX#NASDAQ">VKTX</a>), we observe a call option trade with neutral sentiment. It expires in 53 day(s) on November 15, 2024. Parties traded 150 contract(s) at a $60.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $189.7K, with a price of $1265.0 per contract. There were 4588 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 172 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For GMED (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GMED#NYSE">GMED</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 88 day(s) on December 20, 2024. This event was a transfer of 102 contract(s) at a $70.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 31 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $31.6K, with a price of $310.0 per contract. There were 7 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 122 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For MNKD (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MNKD#NASDAQ">MNKD</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 53 day(s) on November 15, 2024. This event was a transfer of 100 contract(s) at a $3.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 5 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $30.0K, with a price of $300.0 per contract. There were 121 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 100 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more about unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

BHVN

GMED

MNKD

TGTX

VKTX

10 Health Care Stocks With Whale Alerts In Today's Session

Pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson ($JNJ) has announced that it will spend $2 billion to develop a new manufacturing plant in North Carolina....

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) to Spend $2 Billion on New Manufacturing Plant

U.S. port strike expected to have limited impact on healthcare supply chain: HHS

With the Federal Reserve potentially cutting interest rates for the first time in over four years, uncertainty looms in the market. Amid this backdrop, it could be wise to scoop up the shares of fundamentally sound pharma stocks like AbbVie (ABBV), Novartis (NVS), and Pfizer (PFE), which are not just attractive due to their high dividends but are also trading at discounts. Keep reading… As investors await the Federal Reserve's upcoming two-day meeting, all eyes are on the first potential interest rate cut in over four years. While a rate cut is typically intended to stimulate economic growth, it also reflects deeper concerns about the broader economy's health.
Given the uncertainty in the air, investors could consider investing in high-dividend pharmaceutical stocks like AbbVie Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/ABBV/">ABBV</a>), Novartis AG (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/NVS/">NVS</a>), and Pfizer Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/PFE/">PFE</a>) that are trading at discounts. These blue-chip giants are known for their financial robustness and history of reliable returns to shareholders, making them excellent options for both seasoned and newer investors seeking stable growth.
Healthcare, unlike other sectors, remains resilient in the face of economic fluctuations due to the consistent demand for medicines and treatments. The Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services (CMS) project U.S. healthcare spending to climb, with national expenditures expected to hit <a href="https://www.pgpf.org/blog/2024/09/healthcare-spending-will-be-one-fifth-of-the-economy-within-a-decade">$7.7 trillion by 2032</a>. This growing demand, paired with an aging population, ensures that companies in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors are well-positioned for long-term growth.  
With that in mind, let's examine the <a href="https://stocknews.com/category/pharmaceuticals/">Medical – Pharmaceuticals</a> industry picks in detail, beginning with the third choice:
Stock #3: Pfizer Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/PFE/">PFE</a>)
PFE is a global leader in biopharmaceuticals, offering a wide range of medicines and vaccines across several therapeutic areas. Its diverse portfolio spans treatments for cardiovascular conditions, metabolic issues, migraines, women's health, and infectious diseases, including COVID-19 prevention and treatment.
On August 27, the company introduced PfizerForAll, a digital platform designed to make access to healthcare and managing health and wellness more seamless for Americans. The platform supports common illnesses like migraines, COVID-19, and flu, as well as adult vaccinations. It integrates with the existing healthcare system and partners to streamline access and address gaps in care.
On July 25, PFE received conditional marketing authorization from the European Commission for DURVEQTIX, a gene therapy for severe Hemophilia B in adults, promising a one-time dose to reduce or eliminate bleeding.
With 13 years of consecutive dividend growth, the company pays an annual dividend of $1.68 per share, which translates to a yield of 5.59% on the current share price. Its four-year average yield is 4.17%. PFE's dividend payout has grown at a CAGR of 4.4% over the past five years.
In terms of forward non-GAAP P/E, PFE is trading at 11.39x, 47.1% lower than the industry average of 21.51x. Likewise, the stock's forward EV/EBITDA and Price/Cash Flow multiples of 10.46 and 9.28 are 25.2% and 42.6% lower than the industry averages of 13.99x and 16.17x, respectively.
PFE's revenues for the second quarter (ended June 30, 2024) increased 2.1% year-over-year to $13.28 billion. Its adjusted <a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/n/netincome.asp">net income</a> and adjusted EPS attributable stood at $3.40 billion and $0.60, respectively.
The company has updated its fiscal year 2024 financial guidance, increasing its revenue projection to a range of $59.50 billion to $62.50 billion from the previous estimate of $58.50 billion to $61.50 billion. Additionally, it has raised its adjusted EPS guidance to a new range of $2.45 to $2.65, higher than the prior forecast of $2.15 to $2.35.
Analysts expect PFE's revenue for the fourth quarter (ending December 2024) to grow 26.3% year-over-year to $18 billion, while its EPS for the same period is expected to increase considerably from the prior year to $0.67. Also, it topped the EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters.
PFE shares have surged 12.9% over the past nine months to close the last trading session at $30.07.
PFE's bright prospects are reflected in its <a href="https://stocknews.com/powr-ratings/">POWR Ratings</a>. The stock has an overall rating of B, which translates to a Buy in our proprietary rating system. The POWR Ratings are calculated by considering 118 different factors, with each factor weighted to an optimal degree.
PFE also has a B grade for Growth and Value. It is ranked #48 out of 161 stocks in the <a href="https://stocknews.com/category/pharmaceuticals/">Medical - Pharmaceuticals</a> industry. <a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/PFE/">Click here</a> to see PFE's ratings for Momentum, Stability, Sentiment, and Quality.
Stock #2: Novartis AG (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/NVS/">NVS</a>)
Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, NVS researches, develops, manufactures, and markets healthcare products worldwide through two segments: Innovative Medicines and Sandoz.
On August 28, the company's subsidiary Novartis Pharma AG entered into a global licensing agreement with Lindy Biosciences to access its innovative microglassification technology for biologic drugs. This partnership grants NVS exclusive global rights across multiple biologic targets, focusing on developing high-concentration, self-administered treatments.
The collaboration aims to improve patient outcomes and compliance by enabling at-home treatments. Further, it strengthens the company's position in innovative drug delivery and enhances its ability to offer patient-friendly solutions.
NVS pays an annual dividend of $3.74 per share, translating to a yield of 3.20% at the current price level, while its four-year average yield is 3.49%. Its dividend payouts have increased at a 7.3% CAGR over the past three years and a 6.9% CAGR over the past five years.
In terms of forward non-GAAP P/E, NVS is trading at 15.68x, which is 27.1% lower than the industry average of 21.51x. Also, its forward EV/EBIT ratio of 13.79x is 18.4% below the industry average of 16.90x.
In the fiscal second quarter that ended June 30, 2024, NVS' net sales increased 9.4% year-over-year to $12.51 billion. Its operating income from continuing operations grew 43% from the year-ago value to $4.01 billion. The company's net income and EPS came in at $3.25 billion and $1.60, representing a 40.1% and 44.1% year-over-year improvement, respectively. In addition, its free cash flow stood at $4.62 billion, up 40.9% year-over-year.
The consensus EPS estimate of $1.96 for the fiscal third quarter (ending September 2024) represents a 12.5% improvement year-over-year. The consensus revenue estimate of $12.52 billion for the ongoing quarter represents a 6.3% increase from last year. The company has an impressive surprise history; it surpassed the consensus revenue estimates in three of the trailing four quarters.
Shares of NVS have gained 20.1% over the past nine months and 15.8% year-to-date to close the last trading session at $116.95.
It is no surprise that NVS has an overall rating of A, equating to a Strong Buy in our POWR Ratings system. It has a B grade for Growth, Value, Stability, and Quality. Within the same industry, it is ranked #3.
In addition to the POWR Rating grades I've just highlighted, you can see NVS' Momentum and Sentiment ratings <a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/NVS/">here</a>.
Stock #1: AbbVie Inc. (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/ABBV/">ABBV</a>)
ABBV is a global diversified research-based biopharmaceutical company engaged in manufacturing and selling medications and therapies. It offers a comprehensive product portfolio across Immunology, Oncology, Neuroscience, Eye Care, Aesthetics, and Other Specialties.
On September 06, the company declared a quarterly dividend of $1.55 per share, payable to its shareholders on November 15, 2024. Its forward annual dividend of $6.20 translates to a 3.17% yield on current prices. ABBV's four-year average dividend yield is 4.01%.
Its dividends have grown at 6.5% and 8% CAGRs over the past three and five years, respectively. Also, it has a record of 10 years of consecutive dividend growth.
On August 01, ABBV announced the acquisition of Cerevel Therapeutics (<a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/CERE/">CERE</a>) to strengthen its position in neuroscience and expand its portfolio in psychiatry, migraine, and Parkinson's disease, bolstering its existing pipeline and market presence.
In terms of forward non-GAAP P/E, ABBV is trading at 17.98x, 16.4% lower than the industry average of 21.51x. Likewise, the stock's forward EV/EBIT multiple of 16.25 is below its industry average of 16.90 by 3.9%.
For the six-month period that ended on June 30, 2024, ABBV's net revenue increased 2.6% year-over-year to $26.77 billion, while the company's Neuroscience segment reported net revenue of $4.13 billion, indicating a 15.3% growth from the prior-year quarter. ABBV's attributable net income came in at $2.74 billion, up 21% year-over-year, while its earnings per share attributable grew 21.4% from the year-ago value to $1.53.
Looking ahead, ABBV forecasts full-year 2024 and raises its adjusted EPS to range between $10.71 and $10.91, from the prior forecast of $10.61 and $10.81.
Street expects ABBV's revenue and EPS for the fiscal fourth quarter (ending December 2024) to increase 2.4% and 5.7% year-over-year to $14.64 billion and $2.95, respectively. Moreover, it beat the revenue estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, which is promising.
Over the past year, the stock has gained 28.7%, closing the last trading session at $195.73.
ABBV's strong fundamentals are reflected in its POWR Ratings. The stock has an overall rating of A, which translates to a Strong Buy in our proprietary rating system.
It has a B grade for Growth, Value, Stability, Sentiment, and Quality. Out of 161 stocks in the Medical - Pharmaceuticals industry, ABBV is ranked #2. <a href="https://stocknews.com/stock/ABBV/">Click here</a> to see ABBV's rating for Momentum.
What To Do Next?
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ABBV shares were trading at $192.84 per share on Tuesday afternoon, down $2.89 (-1.48%). Year-to-date, ABBV has gained 27.96%, versus a 19.14% rise in the benchmark S&amp;P 500 index during the same period.
<hr><div style="clear:both;"></div> <h2>About the Author: Shweta Kumari</h2> <img src='https:/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Shweta-Kumari_Image-2.jpg' style="float:left; padding:5px;width:125px;">Shweta's profound interest in financial research and quantitative analysis led her to pursue a career as an investment analyst. She uses her knowledge to help retail investors make educated investment decisions.<a href="https://stocknews.com/authors/?author=shweta-kumari">More...</a>The post <a href=https://stocknews.com/news/abbv-pfe-nvs-cere-3-high-dividend-pharma-blue-chips-that-are-on-sale-right/>3 High-Dividend Pharma Blue Chips That Are on Sale Right Now</a> appeared first on <a href=https://stocknews.com/>StockNews.com</a>

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