Annex Advisory Services LLC Boosts Stake in West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. $WST

Key Points

• Annex Advisory Services LLC increased its holdings in West Pharmaceutical Services by 15.5%, owning 69,130 shares valued at approximately $15.13 million at the end of the second quarter.
• West Pharmaceutical Services reported a quarterly earnings per share (EPS) of $1.84, surpassing analysts' estimates of $1.51, with revenue up 9.2% year-over-year.
• The company declared a quarterly dividend increase to $0.22 per share, reflecting a dividend yield of 0.3% with a payout ratio of 12.57%.

Annex Advisory Services LLC grew its holdings in West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE:WST - Free Report) by 15.5% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 69,130 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock after purchasing an additional 9,264 shares during the period. Annex Advisory Services LLC owned approximately 0.10% of West Pharmaceutical Services worth $15,126,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT acquired a new stake in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services during the 1st quarter valued at $25,000. Quarry LP acquired a new stake in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services during the 1st quarter valued at $27,000. First Horizon Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services by 85.0% during the 1st quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 185 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $41,000 after acquiring an additional 85 shares in the last quarter. Opal Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services during the 1st quarter valued at $53,000. Finally, Whipplewood Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services by 248.0% during the 1st quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC now owns 261 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $58,000 after acquiring an additional 186 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 93.90% of the company's stock.

West Pharmaceutical Services Stock Down 0.1%

West Pharmaceutical Services stock traded down $0.29 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $254.69. 1,297,599 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 574,118. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $244.20 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $226.37. The company has a current ratio of 2.78, a quick ratio of 2.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07. The company has a market cap of $18.31 billion, a PE ratio of 38.13, a PEG ratio of 4.52 and a beta of 1.05. West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. has a one year low of $187.43 and a one year high of $352.33.

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 for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $1.51 by $0.33. West Pharmaceutical Services had a net margin of 16.48% and a return on equity of 18.43%. The business had revenue of $766.50 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $725.11 million. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.52 EPS. The company's quarterly revenue was up 9.2% compared to the same quarter last year. West Pharmaceutical Services has set its FY 2025 guidance at 6.650-6.850 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. will post 6.62 EPS 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 paid a $0.22 dividend. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.3%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, November 12th. This is an increase from West Pharmaceutical Services's previous quarterly dividend of $0.21. West Pharmaceutical Services's dividend payout ratio is presently 12.57%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

WST has been the topic of several recent research reports. Barclays assumed coverage on West Pharmaceutical Services in a report on Tuesday, June 24th. They set an "equal weight" rating and a $245.00 price objective on the stock. Evercore ISI upped their price target on West Pharmaceutical Services from $275.00 to $350.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, July 25th. Wall Street Zen raised West Pharmaceutical Services from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Saturday, July 26th. Redburn Partners set a $311.00 price objective on West Pharmaceutical Services in a report on Monday, September 15th. Finally, UBS Group raised their price target on West Pharmaceutical Services from $285.00 to $320.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, July 25th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have given a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $318.56.

About West Pharmaceutical Services

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.