BNP Paribas Financial Markets Buys 50,514 Shares of STERIS plc (NYSE:STE)

BNP Paribas Financial Markets lifted its stake in STERIS plc (NYSE:STE - Free Report) by 44.8% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 163,280 shares of the medical equipment provider's stock after buying an additional 50,514 shares during the period. BNP Paribas Financial Markets owned approximately 0.17% of STERIS worth $33,564,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Avalon Trust Co bought a new position in STERIS in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Human Investing LLC acquired a new stake in STERIS in the fourth quarter valued at about $31,000. Anfield Capital Management LLC raised its stake in STERIS by 100.0% during the fourth quarter. Anfield Capital Management LLC now owns 182 shares of the medical equipment provider's stock worth $37,000 after acquiring an additional 91 shares in the last quarter. Manchester Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of STERIS by 182.7% in the fourth quarter. Manchester Capital Management LLC now owns 212 shares of the medical equipment provider's stock worth $44,000 after acquiring an additional 137 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. grew its holdings in shares of STERIS by 66.7% during the 4th quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 220 shares of the medical equipment provider's stock valued at $45,000 after purchasing an additional 88 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 94.69% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have issued reports on STE. JMP Securities reaffirmed a "market outperform" rating and issued a $265.00 target price on shares of STERIS in a report on Thursday, April 10th. Stephens upgraded shares of STERIS to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Thursday, May 1st. Needham & Company LLC reissued a "hold" rating on shares of STERIS in a report on Monday, April 7th. Finally, Piper Sandler raised their price target on shares of STERIS from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, four have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Buy" and an average target price of $258.75.

STERIS Stock Up 0.3 %

STE stock traded up $0.68 during trading on Friday, reaching $226.54. The stock had a trading volume of 511,899 shares, compared to its average volume of 536,534. The company has a quick ratio of 1.40, a current ratio of 2.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. The company has a market capitalization of $22.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 48.10 and a beta of 0.96. STERIS plc has a one year low of $200.98 and a one year high of $248.24. The company's 50 day moving average is $223.40 and its two-hundred day moving average is $218.85.

STERIS (NYSE:STE - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 5th. The medical equipment provider reported $2.32 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $2.33 by ($0.01). STERIS had a return on equity of 13.91% and a net margin of 8.66%. Equities research analysts forecast that STERIS plc will post 9.08 EPS for the current year.

STERIS Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 26th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, June 10th will be given a dividend of $0.57 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, June 10th. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.01%. STERIS's dividend payout ratio is presently 48.41%.

STERIS Profile

STERIS plc provides infection prevention products and services worldwide. It operates through four segments: Healthcare, Applied Sterilization Technologies, Life Sciences, and Dental. The Healthcare segment offers cleaning chemistries and sterility assurance products; automated endoscope reprocessing system and tracking products; endoscopy accessories, washers, sterilizers, and other pieces of capital equipment for the operation of a sterile processing department; and equipment used directly in the operating room, including surgical tables, lights, and connectivity solutions, as well as equipment management services.