Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. Sells 4,554 Shares of West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. $WST

Key Points

• Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. reduced its stake in West Pharmaceutical Services by 74.4%, selling 4,554 shares and retaining 1,566 shares valued at $351,000.
• West Pharmaceutical Services reported $1.84 EPS in its latest quarter, exceeding analysts' expectations, with revenues of $766.5 million, reflecting a 9.2% year-over-year increase.
• The company announced an increase in its quarterly dividend to $0.22 per share, with a yield of 0.4%, which will be paid on November 19th.

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. trimmed its stake in West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE:WST - Free Report) by 74.4% in the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,566 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock after selling 4,554 shares during the period. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A.'s holdings in West Pharmaceutical Services were worth $351,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Quantbot Technologies LP acquired a new position in West Pharmaceutical Services during the 1st quarter worth about $1,148,000. Wellington Management Group LLP increased its stake in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services by 102.7% in the first quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 13,494 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $3,021,000 after buying an additional 6,838 shares during the period. Korea Investment CORP raised its position in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services by 35.9% during the first quarter. Korea Investment CORP now owns 24,962 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $5,588,000 after acquiring an additional 6,600 shares during the last quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group lifted its stake in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services by 83.3% in the first quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group now owns 275 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $61,000 after acquiring an additional 125 shares during the period. Finally, Corient IA LLC bought a new stake in West Pharmaceutical Services in the first quarter valued at approximately $402,000. 93.90% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

West Pharmaceutical Services Stock Up 2.0%

West Pharmaceutical Services stock opened at $247.57 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $17.80 billion, a PE ratio of 37.06, a PEG ratio of 4.40 and a beta of 1.05. West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. has a 12-month low of $187.43 and a 12-month high of $352.33. The firm's fifty day moving average is $232.14 and its 200 day moving average is $225.37. The company has a quick ratio of 2.08, a current ratio of 2.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07.

West Pharmaceutical Services (NYSE:WST - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 24th. The medical instruments supplier reported $1.84 EPS for the quarter, topping 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 analysts' expectations of $725.11 million. During the same period last year, the company posted $1.52 earnings per share. The business's quarterly revenue was up 9.2% on a year-over-year basis. West Pharmaceutical Services has set its FY 2025 guidance at 6.650-6.850 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. will post 6.62 EPS for the current fiscal year.

West Pharmaceutical Services Increases Dividend

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

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have weighed in on the stock. Citigroup reissued a "buy" rating on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services in a research report on Thursday, May 22nd. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of West Pharmaceutical Services from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Saturday, July 26th. UBS Group lifted their target price on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services from $285.00 to $320.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, July 25th. Evercore ISI upped their price target on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services from $275.00 to $350.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Friday, July 25th. Finally, Barclays initiated coverage on West Pharmaceutical Services in a report on Tuesday, June 24th. They set an "equal weight" rating and a $245.00 price target for the company. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have given a Buy rating and two have issued a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, West Pharmaceutical Services currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $320.71.

West Pharmaceutical Services Company 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.

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