Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. Cuts Stake in West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. $WST

Key Points

• Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. reduced its stake in West Pharmaceutical Services by 29.9%, owning 6,832 shares worth about $1.495 million after selling 2,911 shares in Q2.
• West Pharmaceutical Services recently announced a quarterly dividend increase to $0.22 per share, with a payout ratio of 12.57% and a dividend yield of 0.3%.
• Research analysts have a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" for West Pharmaceutical Services, with an average target price of $321.89.

Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. reduced its stake in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE:WST - Free Report) by 29.9% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 6,832 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock after selling 2,911 shares during the quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc.'s holdings in West Pharmaceutical Services were worth $1,495,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. SG Americas Securities LLC grew its holdings in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services by 322.8% in the first quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 3,353 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $751,000 after purchasing an additional 2,560 shares in the last quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC grew its holdings in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services by 2.9% in the first quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 27,934 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $6,254,000 after purchasing an additional 782 shares in the last quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC grew its holdings in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services by 38.5% in the first quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 331 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $74,000 after purchasing an additional 92 shares in the last quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC grew its holdings in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services by 5.2% in the first quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 47,419 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $10,616,000 after purchasing an additional 2,350 shares in the last quarter. Finally, State of Alaska Department of Revenue grew its holdings in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services by 2.7% in the first quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue now owns 8,486 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $1,899,000 after purchasing an additional 225 shares in the last quarter. 93.90% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

West Pharmaceutical Services Stock Up 1.1%

NYSE:WST opened at $270.25 on Friday. West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. has a twelve month low of $187.43 and a twelve month high of $352.33. The company has a market cap of $19.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 40.46, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.74 and a beta of 1.07. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $254.94 and a 200-day simple moving average of $231.36. The company has a current ratio of 2.78, a quick ratio of 2.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07.

West Pharmaceutical Services (NYSE:WST - Get Free Report) last released its 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. West Pharmaceutical Services had a return on equity of 18.43% and a net margin of 16.48%.The business had revenue of $766.50 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $725.11 million. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.52 earnings per share. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 9.2% compared to the same quarter last year. West Pharmaceutical Services has set its FY 2025 guidance at 6.650-6.850 EPS. Analysts anticipate that West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. will post 6.62 EPS for the current year.

West Pharmaceutical Services Increases Dividend

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

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on WST shares. Evercore ISI set a $350.00 target price on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services in a report on Tuesday, October 7th. Barclays raised their price target on West Pharmaceutical Services from $260.00 to $275.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Thursday, October 2nd. Rothschild Redb upgraded West Pharmaceutical Services to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Monday, September 15th. Zacks Research downgraded West Pharmaceutical Services from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, September 23rd. Finally, Rothschild & Co Redburn initiated coverage on West Pharmaceutical Services in a research report on Monday, September 15th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $311.00 price target for the company. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have assigned a Buy rating and four have assigned a Hold rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, West Pharmaceutical Services has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $321.89.

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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