Trexquant Investment LP Makes New Investment in West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. $WST

Key Points

• Trexquant Investment LP purchased 46,186 shares of West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. for approximately $10.34 million, representing a 0.06% stake in the company.
• West Pharmaceutical Services experienced a quarterly earnings beat, reporting $1.84 EPS compared to the expected $1.51, with revenues of $766.5 million, up 9.2% year-over-year.
• The company recently increased its quarterly dividend from $0.21 to $0.22 per share, resulting in an annualized dividend yield of 0.4% and a payout ratio of 12.57%.

Trexquant Investment LP bought a new stake in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE:WST - Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor bought 46,186 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock, valued at approximately $10,340,000. Trexquant Investment LP owned about 0.06% of West Pharmaceutical Services as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT bought a new position in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services during the 1st quarter valued at $25,000. First Horizon Advisors Inc. grew its stake in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services by 85.0% in the 1st quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 185 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $41,000 after purchasing an additional 85 shares during the period. Opal Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services in the 1st quarter worth approximately $53,000. Whipplewood Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services by 248.0% in the first quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC now owns 261 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $58,000 after buying an additional 186 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Brooklyn Investment Group lifted its position in West Pharmaceutical Services by 83.3% during the 1st quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group now owns 275 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $61,000 after buying an additional 125 shares in the last quarter. 93.90% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have commented on WST shares. Citigroup reiterated a "buy" rating on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services in a research report on Thursday, May 22nd. UBS Group raised their price target on West Pharmaceutical Services from $285.00 to $320.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, July 25th. Evercore ISI boosted their price objective on West Pharmaceutical Services from $275.00 to $350.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, July 25th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of West Pharmaceutical Services from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Saturday, July 26th. Finally, Barclays started coverage on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services in a research note on Tuesday, June 24th. They issued an "equal weight" rating and a $245.00 price objective on the stock. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have issued a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, West Pharmaceutical Services has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $320.71.

West Pharmaceutical Services Stock Down 1.3%

Shares of West Pharmaceutical Services stock traded down $3.20 on Tuesday, hitting $243.75. The company had a trading volume of 405,572 shares, compared to its average volume of 831,267. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07, a current ratio of 2.78 and a quick ratio of 2.08. The firm has a market capitalization of $17.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.49, a P/E/G ratio of 4.38 and a beta of 1.05. West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. has a twelve month low of $187.43 and a twelve month high of $352.33. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $235.45 and a 200-day moving average of $223.05.

West Pharmaceutical Services (NYSE:WST - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, July 24th. The medical instruments supplier reported $1.84 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.51 by $0.33. The business had revenue of $766.50 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $725.11 million. West Pharmaceutical Services had a return on equity of 18.43% and a net margin of 16.48%.West Pharmaceutical Services's revenue for the quarter was up 9.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.52 EPS. West Pharmaceutical Services has set its FY 2025 guidance at 6.650-6.850 EPS. Research analysts predict that West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. will post 6.62 earnings per share for the current year.

West Pharmaceutical Services Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 19th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, November 12th will be given a dividend of $0.22 per share. This is a positive change from West Pharmaceutical Services's previous quarterly dividend of $0.21. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, November 12th. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.4%. West Pharmaceutical Services's payout ratio is presently 12.57%.

West Pharmaceutical Services Profile

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc designs, manufactures, and sells containment and delivery systems for injectable drugs and healthcare products in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It operates in two segments, Proprietary Products and Contract-Manufactured Products.