Baxter International Inc. (BAX) To Go Ex-Dividend on February 28th

Baxter International Inc. (NYSE:BAX) declared a quarterly dividend on Tuesday, February 11th,RTT News reports. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be paid a dividend of 0.17 per share by the medical instruments supplier on Tuesday, April 1st. This represents a $0.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.24%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th.

Baxter International has decreased its dividend payment by an average of 1.4% per year over the last three years. Baxter International has a dividend payout ratio of 25.0% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Research analysts expect Baxter International to earn $2.47 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $0.68 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 27.5%.

Baxter International Stock Down 1.0 %

Shares of Baxter International stock opened at $30.29 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.31, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a current ratio of 1.43. Baxter International has a 52-week low of $28.33 and a 52-week high of $44.01. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $30.65 and its 200-day moving average price is $34.35. The stock has a market capitalization of $15.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 151.46, a P/E/G ratio of 9.83 and a beta of 0.61.

Analyst Ratings Changes

BAX has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Baxter International from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, November 11th. Citigroup lowered their price target on Baxter International from $37.00 to $35.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus reduced their target price on Baxter International from $46.00 to $38.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 11th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Baxter International has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $39.44.

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.