** Pfizer PFE.N on Tuesday beat Wall Street estimates for fourth-quarter profit driven by cost cuts and steadier COVID vaccine sales

** PFE has been looking to show investors steadier execution and growth after large swings related to its COVID-19 vaccine

OBESITY DATA IS 'LITMUS TEST' FOR PIPELINE

** BMO Capital Markets ("Outperform", PT: $38) says Pfizer continues to execute the plan outlined for investors in what is shaping up to be a manageable macro and political environment

** J.P Morgan ("Neutral", PT: $30) says that while it sees several assets in PFE's pipeline (particularly in oncology) that could make the story more interesting, further progress is necessary to change the narrative on shares

** Guggenheim Partners ("Buy", PT: $33) says data from Pfizer's experimental obesity drug, danuglipron, will be a "litmus test for the company's pipeline productivity"

** Leerink ("Market Perform," PT: $28) says "management is executing well and delivering results above expectations, but we await future pipeline developments"

(Reporting by Padmanabhan Ananthan)

((Padmanabhan.Ananthan@thomsonreuters.com))