Avantor, Inc. $AVTR Position Boosted by Balefire LLC

Key Points

• Balefire LLC has increased its stake in Avantor, Inc. by 27.8%, owning a total of 302,114 shares valued at approximately $4.07 million, making it the fund's 23rd largest position.
• Multiple institutional investors have also recently adjusted their positions in Avantor, with hedge funds collectively owning 95.08% of the company's stock.
• Analysts have lowered their price targets on Avantor, with a consensus target price now set at $15.50, indicating a cautious outlook despite seven analysts assigning a "Buy" rating to the stock.

Balefire LLC grew its holdings in shares of Avantor, Inc. (NYSE:AVTR - Free Report) by 27.8% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 302,114 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 65,735 shares during the quarter. Avantor makes up about 0.9% of Balefire LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its 23rd biggest position. Balefire LLC's holdings in Avantor were worth $4,066,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Rise Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Avantor in the 1st quarter worth $25,000. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. raised its position in shares of Avantor by 288.4% in the 1st quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 1,701 shares of the company's stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 1,263 shares during the period. Wealthquest Corp purchased a new position in shares of Avantor in the 1st quarter worth $34,000. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its position in shares of Avantor by 121.6% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 3,747 shares of the company's stock worth $61,000 after buying an additional 2,056 shares during the period. Finally, Fifth Third Bancorp raised its position in shares of Avantor by 52.0% in the 1st quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 3,972 shares of the company's stock worth $64,000 after buying an additional 1,359 shares during the period. 95.08% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Avantor Stock Up 3.7%

Shares of Avantor stock traded up $0.46 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $12.86. 5,541,793 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 10,759,931. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $12.90 and a 200-day simple moving average of $13.82. The company has a quick ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48. The company has a market cap of $8.77 billion, a PE ratio of 12.99, a PEG ratio of 1.41 and a beta of 0.98. Avantor, Inc. has a twelve month low of $10.82 and a twelve month high of $27.83.

Avantor (NYSE:AVTR - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, August 1st. The company reported $0.24 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.25 by ($0.01). The business had revenue of $1.68 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.67 billion. Avantor had a net margin of 10.31% and a return on equity of 11.39%. The firm's revenue was down 1.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.25 earnings per share. Equities research analysts anticipate that Avantor, Inc. will post 1.06 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Avantor

In other news, CAO Steven W. Eck sold 3,476 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, August 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $11.39, for a total transaction of $39,591.64. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer owned 55,068 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $627,224.52. This trade represents a 5.94% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 1.20% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Barclays reaffirmed an "overweight" rating and issued a $13.00 target price (down from $15.00) on shares of Avantor in a research report on Monday, August 4th. Raymond James Financial set a $14.00 price target on Avantor and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Monday, August 4th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on Avantor from $19.00 to $16.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Monday, August 4th. Stifel Nicolaus set a $12.00 price target on Avantor and gave the company a "hold" rating in a report on Monday, August 4th. Finally, Robert W. Baird lowered their price target on Avantor from $18.00 to $15.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Monday, August 4th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and eight have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Avantor has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $15.50.

Avantor Company Profile

Avantor, Inc engages in the provision of mission-critical products and services to customers in the biopharma, healthcare, education and government, advanced technologies, and applied materials industries in the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. The company offers materials and consumables, such as purity chemicals and reagents, lab products and supplies, formulated silicone materials, customized excipients, customized single-use assemblies, process chromatography resins and columns, analytical sample prep kits, education and microbiology products, clinical trial kits, peristaltic pumps, and fluid handling tips.