BNP Paribas Financial Markets Purchases New Stake in Smith & Nephew plc (NYSE:SNN)

BNP Paribas Financial Markets bought a new position in shares of Smith & Nephew plc (NYSE:SNN - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund bought 17,709 shares of the medical equipment provider's stock, valued at approximately $435,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Principal Securities Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Smith & Nephew by 87.6% during the 4th quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 1,480 shares of the medical equipment provider's stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 691 shares during the period. R Squared Ltd bought a new position in Smith & Nephew during the fourth quarter valued at about $41,000. National Bank of Canada FI increased its stake in Smith & Nephew by 36.5% during the fourth quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 1,667 shares of the medical equipment provider's stock valued at $41,000 after acquiring an additional 446 shares during the period. Hara Capital LLC increased its position in shares of Smith & Nephew by 391.4% during the fourth quarter. Hara Capital LLC now owns 2,457 shares of the medical equipment provider's stock valued at $60,000 after purchasing an additional 1,957 shares during the period. Finally, Blue Trust Inc. increased its position in shares of Smith & Nephew by 26.0% during the fourth quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 5,871 shares of the medical equipment provider's stock valued at $144,000 after purchasing an additional 1,213 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 25.64% of the company's stock.

Smith & Nephew Price Performance

NYSE SNN traded up $0.03 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $28.85. 72,384 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 791,877. The stock has a market cap of $12.64 billion, a PE ratio of 13.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.26 and a beta of 0.68. Smith & Nephew plc has a one year low of $23.69 and a one year high of $31.72. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $27.47 and a 200-day moving average of $26.49. The company has a current ratio of 2.51, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Canaccord Genuity Group boosted their price target on shares of Smith & Nephew from $27.00 to $28.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, May 1st. UBS Group cut shares of Smith & Nephew from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 12th. Hsbc Global Res cut shares of Smith & Nephew from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Smith & Nephew from a "buy" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 26th. Finally, HSBC lowered Smith & Nephew from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $28.00.

Smith & Nephew Company Profile

Smith & Nephew plc engages in the development, manufacture, marketing, and sale of medical devices. It operates through the following segments: Orthopaedics, Sports Medicine and ENT, and Advanced Wound Management. The Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine and ENT segment consists of the following businesses: knee implants, hip implants, other reconstruction, trauma, sports medicine joint repair, arthroscopic enabling technologies, and ENT.