1,498,605 Shares in Boston Scientific Co. (NYSE:BSX) Acquired by Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH

Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH bought a new stake in shares of Boston Scientific Co. (NYSE:BSX - Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund bought 1,498,605 shares of the medical equipment provider's stock, valued at approximately $133,855,000. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH owned 0.10% of Boston Scientific at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in BSX. TFC Financial Management Inc. increased its holdings in Boston Scientific by 308.8% during the 4th quarter. TFC Financial Management Inc. now owns 278 shares of the medical equipment provider's stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 210 shares during the period. Colonial Trust Co SC increased its position in Boston Scientific by 1,625.0% during the fourth quarter. Colonial Trust Co SC now owns 276 shares of the medical equipment provider's stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 260 shares in the last quarter. Investment Management Corp VA ADV acquired a new stake in Boston Scientific in the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. Sunbeam Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in Boston Scientific during the fourth quarter valued at about $26,000. Finally, Ameriflex Group Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Boston Scientific during the 4th quarter valued at about $31,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.07% of the company's stock.

Boston Scientific Trading Down 1.6%

Shares of BSX stock traded down $1.65 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $104.52. 6,364,220 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 6,404,513. Boston Scientific Co. has a 52-week low of $71.88 and a 52-week high of $107.17. The firm has a market capitalization of $154.63 billion, a P/E ratio of 83.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.79 and a beta of 0.68. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $100.22 and its 200-day moving average price is $97.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41, a current ratio of 1.08 and a quick ratio of 1.02.

Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, April 23rd. The medical equipment provider reported $0.75 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.67 by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $4.66 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.57 billion. Boston Scientific had a net margin of 11.07% and a return on equity of 17.80%. The company's revenue was up 20.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.56 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Boston Scientific Co. will post 2.85 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Boston Scientific news, CEO Michael F. Mahoney sold 164,443 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $102.48, for a total transaction of $16,852,118.64. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,535,706 shares in the company, valued at $157,379,150.88. This represents a 9.67% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, EVP John Bradley Sorenson sold 4,572 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $104.54, for a total value of $477,956.88. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 18,705 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,955,420.70. This trade represents a 19.64% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 191,155 shares of company stock worth $19,556,047. 0.50% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. Robert W. Baird upped their price target on shares of Boston Scientific from $115.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Thursday, April 24th. BTIG Research restated a "buy" rating and set a $124.00 price target on shares of Boston Scientific in a report on Wednesday, April 23rd. Erste Group Bank raised shares of Boston Scientific to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, May 8th. Argus set a $130.00 target price on Boston Scientific in a report on Tuesday, February 18th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price objective on Boston Scientific from $116.00 to $120.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Thursday, April 24th. Twenty-three analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of $114.87.

About Boston Scientific

Boston Scientific Corporation develops, manufactures, and markets medical devices for use in various interventional medical specialties worldwide. It operates through two segments, MedSurg and Cardiovascular. The company offers devices to diagnose and treat gastrointestinal and pulmonary conditions, such as resolution clips, biliary stent systems, stents and electrocautery enhanced delivery systems, direct visualization systems, digital catheters, and single-use duodenoscopes; devices to treat urological conditions, including ureteral stents, catheters, baskets, guidewires, sheaths, balloons, single-use digital flexible ureteroscopes, holmium laser systems, artificial urinary sphincter, laser system, fiber, and hydrogel systems; and devices to treat neurological movement disorders and manage chronic pain, such as spinal cord stimulator system, proprietary programming software, radiofrequency generator, indirect decompression systems, practice optimization tools, and deep brain stimulation system.