Fisher Asset Management LLC Sells 3,373 Shares of West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. $WST

Key Points

• Fisher Asset Management cut its West Pharmaceutical Services stake by 15.4% in the fourth quarter, selling 3,373 shares and leaving it with 18,576 shares valued at about $5.11 million.
• West Pharmaceutical Services reported strong quarterly results, with EPS of $2.13 beating estimates and revenue of $844.9 million topping expectations; revenue rose 21% year over year.
• The company’s shares were trading higher and analysts remain upbeat, with multiple buy ratings and an average price target of $322.89, while West also authorized a $1 billion share buyback.

Fisher Asset Management LLC reduced its position in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE:WST - Free Report) by 15.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 18,576 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock after selling 3,373 shares during the period. Fisher Asset Management LLC's holdings in West Pharmaceutical Services were worth $5,111,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in WST. Elyxium Wealth LLC bought a new position in West Pharmaceutical Services during the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. CYBER HORNET ETFs LLC bought a new position in West Pharmaceutical Services during the 2nd quarter valued at about $25,000. Private Trust Co. NA lifted its holdings in West Pharmaceutical Services by 156.4% during the 4th quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 100 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 61 shares during the last quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC bought a new position in West Pharmaceutical Services during the 4th quarter valued at about $31,000. Finally, Torren Management LLC bought a new position in West Pharmaceutical Services during the 4th quarter valued at about $34,000. 93.90% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Activity

In other West Pharmaceutical Services news, VP Annette F. Favorite sold 2,817 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $305.20, for a total value of $859,748.40. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president owned 16,828 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,135,905.60. This trade represents a 14.34% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CAO Chad Winters sold 896 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $300.67, for a total transaction of $269,400.32. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer owned 1,523 shares of the company's stock, valued at $457,920.41. The trade was a 37.04% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Company insiders own 0.60% of the company's stock.

West Pharmaceutical Services Trading Up 3.1%

WST opened at $322.27 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 2.71, a quick ratio of 2.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07. The stock has a market capitalization of $22.77 billion, a PE ratio of 43.08, a PEG ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 1.17. West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. has a 1-year low of $206.10 and a 1-year high of $330.88. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $281.89 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $267.33.

West Pharmaceutical Services (NYSE:WST - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 23rd. The medical instruments supplier reported $2.13 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.68 by $0.45. The firm had revenue of $844.90 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $779.68 million. West Pharmaceutical Services had a net margin of 16.85% and a return on equity of 19.03%. The company's quarterly revenue was up 21.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.45 EPS. West Pharmaceutical Services has set its FY 2026 guidance at 8.400-8.750 EPS and its Q2 2026 guidance at 2.050-2.120 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. will post 8.6 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

West Pharmaceutical Services announced that its Board of Directors has approved a stock repurchase program on Tuesday, February 17th that allows the company to buyback $1.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization allows the medical instruments supplier to buy up to 5.6% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are generally an indication that the company's board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on WST shares. UBS Group reissued a "buy" rating and set a $340.00 price target on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services in a report on Friday, February 13th. Evercore reissued an "outperform" rating on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services in a report on Friday, April 24th. Morgan Stanley set a $315.00 price target on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services in a report on Monday, April 27th. Zacks Research upgraded shares of West Pharmaceutical Services from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 13th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a "buy" rating and issued a $315.00 price objective on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services in a research report on Friday, February 13th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have given a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $322.89.

About West Pharmaceutical Services

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc is a global developer and manufacturer of components, systems and services that enable the containment and delivery of injectable drugs. The company focuses on high-quality packaging and delivery solutions for the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, producing primary drug packaging components and specialized drug delivery devices used for vaccines, biologics and other injectable therapies. West is known for its elastomeric closures, seals and polymer components that maintain sterility and compatibility with sensitive drug formulations.

In addition to component manufacturing, West provides engineered delivery systems and support services across the product lifecycle.

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