First National Bank Sioux Falls Purchases 2,592 Shares of West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. $WST

Key Points

• First National Bank Sioux Falls increased its stake in West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. by 121.4%, bringing its total shares to 4,727, valued at approximately $1,034,000.
• West Pharmaceutical Services reported earnings of $1.84 per share for the recent quarter, exceeding expectations by $0.33, with a revenue growth of 9.2% year-over-year.
• The company announced a dividend increase, now paying $0.22 per share, up from the previous $0.21, with a current dividend yield of 0.3%.

First National Bank Sioux Falls boosted its holdings in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE:WST - Free Report) by 121.4% in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 4,727 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock after purchasing an additional 2,592 shares during the period. First National Bank Sioux Falls' holdings in West Pharmaceutical Services were worth $1,034,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT acquired a new stake in West Pharmaceutical Services during the first quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Quarry LP acquired a new position in West Pharmaceutical Services in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $27,000. First Horizon Advisors Inc. grew its position in West Pharmaceutical Services by 85.0% during the first quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 185 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $41,000 after buying an additional 85 shares in the last quarter. Opal Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in West Pharmaceutical Services during the first quarter worth about $53,000. Finally, Whipplewood Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services by 248.0% during the 1st quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC now owns 261 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $58,000 after acquiring an additional 186 shares during the period. 93.90% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have recently commented on WST. Rothschild & Co Redburn began coverage on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services in a report on Monday. They set a "buy" rating and a $311.00 price objective for the company. Redburn Partners set a $311.00 price objective on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services in a report on Monday. Wall Street Zen raised shares of West Pharmaceutical Services from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Saturday, July 26th. Rothschild Redb raised shares of West Pharmaceutical Services to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Monday. Finally, Citigroup reiterated a "buy" rating on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services in a research report on Thursday, May 22nd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have assigned a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $318.56.

West Pharmaceutical Services Stock Down 1.4%

WST traded down $3.58 during trading on Thursday, reaching $253.06. 323,386 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 814,371. The stock has a market cap of $18.20 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.73, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.58 and a beta of 1.05. West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. has a twelve month low of $187.43 and a twelve month high of $352.33. The stock's 50 day moving average price is $243.13 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $226.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07, a quick ratio of 2.08 and a current ratio of 2.78.

West Pharmaceutical Services (NYSE:WST - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 24th. The medical instruments supplier reported $1.84 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.51 by $0.33. The business had revenue of $766.50 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $725.11 million. West Pharmaceutical Services had a net margin of 16.48% and a return on equity of 18.43%. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 9.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.52 earnings per share. West Pharmaceutical Services has set its FY 2025 guidance at 6.650-6.850 EPS. Equities analysts expect that West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. will post 6.62 EPS for the current 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 issued a dividend of $0.22 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, November 12th. This is a positive change from West Pharmaceutical Services's previous quarterly dividend of $0.21. This represents a $0.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.3%. West Pharmaceutical Services's dividend payout ratio is presently 12.57%.

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.