Traders Buy High Volume of Baxter International Call Options (NYSE:BAX)

Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX) was the recipient of some unusual options trading activity on Thursday. Investors acquired 8,450 call options on the stock. This is an increase of approximately 108% compared to the typical daily volume of 4,063 call options.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have weighed in on the stock. Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Baxter International from $39.00 to $41.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, March 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on Baxter International from $38.00 to $36.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 21st. The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on Baxter International in a research report on Wednesday, February 26th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $42.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Argus upgraded Baxter International from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, February 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Baxter International currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $38.56.

Baxter International Stock Down 8.5 %

Baxter International stock opened at $28.13 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.31, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a current ratio of 1.43. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $32.81 and a 200 day moving average price of $33.03. Baxter International has a fifty-two week low of $26.25 and a fifty-two week high of $42.48. The company has a market capitalization of $14.43 billion, a PE ratio of -21.97, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.93 and a beta of 0.64.

Baxter International (NYSE:BAX) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 20th. The medical instruments supplier reported $0.58 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.52 by $0.06. Baxter International had a positive return on equity of 16.67% and a negative net margin of 5.05%. The business had revenue of $2.75 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.67 billion. Research analysts expect that Baxter International will post 2.48 earnings per share for the current year.

Baxter International Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 1st. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th were issued a $0.17 dividend. This represents a $0.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.42%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 28th. Baxter International’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently -53.13%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Baxter International

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. CoreFirst Bank & Trust purchased a new stake in Baxter International during the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. Riverview Trust Co grew its position in shares of Baxter International by 5,488.2% during the fourth quarter. Riverview Trust Co now owns 950 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 933 shares in the last quarter. LRI Investments LLC grew its position in shares of Baxter International by 60.8% during the third quarter. LRI Investments LLC now owns 1,560 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $59,000 after buying an additional 590 shares in the last quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB increased its stake in shares of Baxter International by 48.1% during the first quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 2,021 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $69,000 after buying an additional 656 shares during the period. Finally, Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC raised its holdings in Baxter International by 247.3% in the fourth quarter. Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC now owns 2,622 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $76,000 after acquiring an additional 1,867 shares in the last quarter. 90.19% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Baxter International Company Profile

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