Pfizer Inc. ( PFE ) shares are trading higher on Tuesday, as the stock benefits from a price forecast increase at Cantor Fitzgerald.

The firm raised its forecast to $27 from $24, providing a catalyst for the pharmaceutical giant even as the broader healthcare sector declined 1.6% during the session.

The move stands out against mixed market performance, with the S&P 500 gaining 0.42% and the Nasdaq climbing 0.89%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1.01%.

Recent Developments Supporting Pfizer

Pfizer ( PFE ) has been active on multiple fronts in recent weeks. The company recently entered a non-exclusive licensing agreement with Novavax Inc. ( NVAX ) for its Matrix-M adjuvant technology, which will be utilized in products across two disease areas.

Under the deal, Novavax ( NVAX ) received a $30 million upfront payment, with potential development and sales milestones totaling up to $500 million, along with tiered royalties.

Additionally, Pfizer ( PFE ) sells sunitinib under the brand Sutent, which is being studied in combination with Cogent Biosciences Inc. ( COGT )‘s bezuclastinib for gastrointestinal stromal tumors. The combination recently received Food and Drug Administration Breakthrough Therapy Designation after demonstrating a 50% reduction in disease progression risk.

Leadership Commentary

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland last week, Pfizer ( PFE ) CEO Albert Bourla addressed vaccine policy and global competition.

Bourla warned that reduced funding for U.S. universities has weakened America’s position in global health research as Chinese institutions now account for roughly 80% of top-tier positions in health research rankings.

Earnings & Analyst Outlook

Investors are looking ahead to the next earnings report on Feb. 3.

EPS Estimate: $0.57 (Down from $0.63 YoY)

Revenue Estimate: $16.83 billion (Down from $17.76 billion YoY)

Valuation: P/E of 15.0x (Indicates fair valuation)

Benzinga Edge Rankings

Below is the Benzinga Edge scorecard for Pfizer ( PFE ), highlighting its strengths and weaknesses compared to the broader market:

Value: 34.84 — Trading at a premium relative to peers.

Quality: 54.07 — Balance sheet remains healthy.

Momentum: 29.54 — Stock is underperforming the broader market.

PFE Price Action: Pfizer ( PFE ) shares were up 2.14% at $26.43 at the time of publication on Tuesday, according to Benzinga Pro data.