Ascent Group LLC Acquires 7,009 Shares of Boston Scientific Co. (NYSE:BSX)

Ascent Group LLC lifted its holdings in Boston Scientific Co. (NYSE:BSX - Free Report) by 84.6% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 15,297 shares of the medical equipment provider's stock after buying an additional 7,009 shares during the quarter. Ascent Group LLC's holdings in Boston Scientific were worth $1,366,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Investment Management Corp VA ADV acquired a new stake in shares of Boston Scientific in the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Colonial Trust Co SC increased its position in shares of Boston Scientific by 1,625.0% in the fourth quarter. Colonial Trust Co SC now owns 276 shares of the medical equipment provider's stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 260 shares in the last quarter. TFC Financial Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Boston Scientific by 308.8% during the 4th quarter. TFC Financial Management Inc. now owns 278 shares of the medical equipment provider's stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 210 shares during the last quarter. Sunbeam Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Boston Scientific in the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. Finally, Valley National Advisers Inc. increased its stake in Boston Scientific by 262.4% during the 4th quarter. Valley National Advisers Inc. now owns 395 shares of the medical equipment provider's stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 286 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 89.07% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Boston Scientific

In related news, SVP Vance R. Brown sold 4,826 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $95.09, for a total value of $458,904.34. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 36,193 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,441,592.37. This represents a 11.77% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Michael F. Mahoney sold 164,443 shares of Boston Scientific stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $102.48, for a total transaction of $16,852,118.64. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,535,706 shares in the company, valued at approximately $157,379,150.88. This represents a 9.67% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 191,155 shares of company stock valued at $19,556,047 in the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 0.50% of the company's stock.

Boston Scientific Trading Down 0.0%

Boston Scientific stock traded down $0.02 during trading on Thursday, reaching $104.49. The company had a trading volume of 7,128,860 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,407,398. The firm has a market capitalization of $154.58 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 83.59, a PEG ratio of 2.79 and a beta of 0.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a current ratio of 1.08. The stock's 50 day moving average price is $100.22 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $97.66. Boston Scientific Co. has a 12-month low of $71.88 and a 12-month high of $107.17.

Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 23rd. The medical equipment provider reported $0.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.67 by $0.08. Boston Scientific had a return on equity of 17.80% and a net margin of 11.07%. The company had revenue of $4.66 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.57 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.56 EPS. Boston Scientific's revenue for the quarter was up 20.9% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts expect that Boston Scientific Co. will post 2.85 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have commented on the stock. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a $115.00 price objective on shares of Boston Scientific in a report on Wednesday. Erste Group Bank raised Boston Scientific to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, May 8th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on Boston Scientific from $100.00 to $118.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 6th. Citigroup reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $125.00 price objective (up previously from $119.00) on shares of Boston Scientific in a report on Thursday, May 22nd. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised shares of Boston Scientific from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 29th. Twenty-two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of $114.87.

Boston Scientific Profile

Boston Scientific Corporation develops, manufactures, and markets medical devices for use in various interventional medical specialties worldwide. It operates through two segments, MedSurg and Cardiovascular. The company offers devices to diagnose and treat gastrointestinal and pulmonary conditions, such as resolution clips, biliary stent systems, stents and electrocautery enhanced delivery systems, direct visualization systems, digital catheters, and single-use duodenoscopes; devices to treat urological conditions, including ureteral stents, catheters, baskets, guidewires, sheaths, balloons, single-use digital flexible ureteroscopes, holmium laser systems, artificial urinary sphincter, laser system, fiber, and hydrogel systems; and devices to treat neurological movement disorders and manage chronic pain, such as spinal cord stimulator system, proprietary programming software, radiofrequency generator, indirect decompression systems, practice optimization tools, and deep brain stimulation system.