Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. Decreases Stock Holdings in West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE:WST)

Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. lowered its position in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE:WST - Free Report) by 18.9% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 9,743 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock after selling 2,266 shares during the period. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc.'s holdings in West Pharmaceutical Services were worth $2,181,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Whipplewood Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services in the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. Private Trust Co. NA grew its stake in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services by 138.6% in the fourth quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 136 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $45,000 after acquiring an additional 79 shares during the last quarter. IFP Advisors Inc raised its holdings in West Pharmaceutical Services by 150.9% in the fourth quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 133 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $45,000 after buying an additional 80 shares during the last quarter. Opal Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in West Pharmaceutical Services in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $53,000. Finally, Lindbrook Capital LLC increased its holdings in West Pharmaceutical Services by 41.9% in the 4th quarter. Lindbrook Capital LLC now owns 220 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $72,000 after buying an additional 65 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.90% of the company's stock.

West Pharmaceutical Services Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:WST opened at $216.11 on Monday. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $213.74 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $256.10. West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. has a 52 week low of $187.43 and a 52 week high of $352.33. The company has a quick ratio of 2.03, a current ratio of 2.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08. The stock has a market capitalization of $15.53 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.93, a PEG ratio of 5.31 and a beta of 1.09.

West Pharmaceutical Services (NYSE:WST - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 24th. The medical instruments supplier reported $1.45 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.22 by $0.23. The company had revenue of $698.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $685.24 million. West Pharmaceutical Services had a return on equity of 18.23% and a net margin of 16.13%. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up .4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.56 earnings per share. On average, analysts expect that West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. will post 6.62 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

West Pharmaceutical Services Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 6th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, July 30th will be paid a dividend of $0.21 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, July 30th. This represents a $0.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.39%. West Pharmaceutical Services's dividend payout ratio is 13.19%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have weighed in on WST shares. Stephens raised West Pharmaceutical Services to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Monday, April 21st. Citigroup reiterated a "buy" rating on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services in a research report on Thursday, May 22nd. Wall Street Zen cut shares of West Pharmaceutical Services from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 27th. Finally, Evercore ISI began coverage on West Pharmaceutical Services in a report on Tuesday, March 18th. They set an "outperform" rating and a $275.00 price target on the stock. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $332.50.

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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