Novartis (NVS) Could Be a Great Choice

Company Overview - Novartis (NVS) is headquartered in Basel and has experienced a price change of 12.64% this year [3] - The company currently pays a dividend of $2.52 per share, resulting in a dividend yield of 2.29%, which is higher than the Large Cap Pharmaceuticals industry's yield of 2.23% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.59% [3] Dividend Performance - The annualized dividend of$ 2.52 represents a 3.7% increase from the previous year [4] - Over the last 5 years, Novartis has increased its dividend 4 times, achieving an average annual increase of 4.66% [4] - The current payout ratio is 31%, indicating that Novartis paid out 31% of its trailing 12-month EPS as dividends [4] Earnings Growth - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Novartis's earnings in 2025 is $8.47 per share, reflecting a year-over-year growth rate of 8.45% [5] Investment Considerations - Novartis is considered a compelling investment opportunity due to its strong dividend profile and current Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [7]