Baader Bank Aktiengesellschaft Makes New Investment in West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. $WST

Key Points

• Baader Bank Aktiengesellschaft has acquired 1,769 shares of West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc., valued at approximately $380,000, in its second-quarter investment.
• The company reported $1.84 earnings per share for the latest quarter, exceeding estimates and showing a 9.2% revenue increase year-over-year.
• West Pharmaceutical Services has announced a quarterly dividend increase to $0.22 per share, demonstrating a commitment to returning value to shareholders.

Baader Bank Aktiengesellschaft acquired a new position in West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE:WST - Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 1,769 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock, valued at approximately $380,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Vident Advisory LLC increased its stake in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services by 25.5% during the fourth quarter. Vident Advisory LLC now owns 2,385 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $781,000 after purchasing an additional 484 shares in the last quarter. Woodline Partners LP bought a new position in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $6,372,000. Vise Technologies Inc. bought a new position in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $203,000. Parr Mcknight Wealth Management Group LLC bought a new position in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $979,000. Finally, GF Fund Management CO. LTD. bought a new position in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $586,000. 93.90% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

West Pharmaceutical Services Trading Down 0.1%

Shares of West Pharmaceutical Services stock opened at $254.69 on Friday. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $244.20 and its 200-day simple moving average is $226.44. The stock has a market capitalization of $18.31 billion, a PE ratio of 38.13, a P/E/G ratio of 4.52 and a beta of 1.05. West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. has a 1-year low of $187.43 and a 1-year high of $352.33. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07, a current ratio of 2.78 and a quick ratio of 2.08.

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

West Pharmaceutical Services Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 19th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, November 12th will be paid a dividend of $0.22 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, November 12th. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.3%. This is a boost from West Pharmaceutical Services's previous quarterly dividend of $0.21. West Pharmaceutical Services's dividend payout ratio is 12.57%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on the stock. Evercore ISI raised their target price on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services from $275.00 to $350.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, July 25th. Barclays began coverage on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services in a research report on Tuesday, June 24th. They set an "equal weight" rating and a $245.00 price target for the company. Rothschild & Co Redburn began coverage on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services in a research report on Monday, September 15th. They set a "buy" rating and a $311.00 price target for the company. Redburn Partners set a $311.00 price target on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services in a research report on Monday. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised shares of West Pharmaceutical Services from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Saturday, July 26th. Two equities 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 stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price 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.

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