Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC Boosts Stake in Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO)

Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC increased its stake in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO) by 10.5% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 297,996 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 28,331 shares during the quarter. Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC’s holdings in Novo Nordisk A/S were worth $25,634,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in NVO. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in the third quarter valued at about $28,000. Center for Financial Planning Inc. increased its holdings in Novo Nordisk A/S by 72.4% in the 4th quarter. Center for Financial Planning Inc. now owns 293 shares of the company’s stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 123 shares during the period. Dunhill Financial LLC raised its position in Novo Nordisk A/S by 196.8% during the 3rd quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 469 shares of the company’s stock worth $56,000 after buying an additional 311 shares during the last quarter. Albion Financial Group UT lifted its stake in Novo Nordisk A/S by 121.4% during the 4th quarter. Albion Financial Group UT now owns 507 shares of the company’s stock valued at $44,000 after acquiring an additional 278 shares during the period. Finally, Hager Investment Management Services LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in the 4th quarter valued at $46,000. 11.54% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Novo Nordisk A/S Trading Down 2.2 %

Shares of NVO stock opened at $70.18 on Friday. Novo Nordisk A/S has a fifty-two week low of $69.77 and a fifty-two week high of $148.15. The firm has a market capitalization of $314.93 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.33, a PEG ratio of 0.90 and a beta of 0.42. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $82.52 and its two-hundred day moving average is $99.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.62, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a current ratio of 0.74.

Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The company reported $0.91 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.88 by $0.03. Novo Nordisk A/S had a net margin of 34.81% and a return on equity of 84.68%. Research analysts expect that Novo Nordisk A/S will post 3.84 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Novo Nordisk A/S Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 8th. Investors of record on Monday, March 31st will be issued a $0.7874 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 1.2%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 31st. This is a boost from Novo Nordisk A/S’s previous semi-annual dividend of $0.51. Novo Nordisk A/S’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 47.72%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have commented on NVO shares. UBS Group raised shares of Novo Nordisk A/S from a “sell” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 8th. BMO Capital Markets dropped their target price on Novo Nordisk A/S from $156.00 to $105.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, December 23rd. Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on Novo Nordisk A/S in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. They issued an “equal weight” rating for the company. BNP Paribas raised shares of Novo Nordisk A/S to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Monday, December 2nd. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein raised shares of Novo Nordisk A/S from an “underperform” rating to a “market perform” rating in a report on Monday, January 6th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Novo Nordisk A/S has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $145.25.

Novo Nordisk A/S Profile

Novo Nordisk A/S, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the research and development, manufacture, and distribution of pharmaceutical products in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, North America, and internationally. It operates in two segments, Diabetes and Obesity Care, and Rare Disease.