Jefferies Financial Group Inc. Has $4.30 Million Stake in West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE:WST)

Key Points

• Jefferies Financial Group Inc. reduced its stake in West Pharmaceutical Services by 43.5% in Q1, selling 14,814 shares and now holding 19,212 shares worth approximately $4.3 million.
• Several institutional investors have adjusted their holdings in West Pharmaceutical Services, with First Horizon Advisors increasing their stake by 85% during the same period.
• West Pharmaceutical Services recently declared a quarterly dividend increase from $0.21 to $0.22, reflecting a payout ratio of 12.57% and a dividend yield of 0.4%.

Jefferies Financial Group Inc. trimmed its position in West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE:WST - Free Report) by 43.5% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 19,212 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock after selling 14,814 shares during the period. Jefferies Financial Group Inc.'s holdings in West Pharmaceutical Services were worth $4,301,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. First Horizon Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services by 85.0% in the first quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 185 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $41,000 after purchasing an additional 85 shares in the last quarter. Opal Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services in the first quarter valued at about $53,000. Whipplewood Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services by 248.0% in the first quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC now owns 261 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $58,000 after purchasing an additional 186 shares in the last quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC lifted 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. Finally, Allworth Financial LP raised its holdings in West Pharmaceutical Services by 229.7% during the first quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 455 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $96,000 after acquiring an additional 317 shares in the last quarter. 93.90% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

West Pharmaceutical Services Stock Performance

NYSE:WST traded down $0.11 on Friday, hitting $239.15. The company's stock had a trading volume of 632,899 shares, compared to its average volume of 873,539. The company has a current ratio of 2.78, a quick ratio of 2.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $224.19 and a two-hundred day moving average of $234.85. The firm has a market capitalization of $17.20 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.80, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.23 and a beta of 1.05. West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. has a one year low of $187.43 and a one year high of $352.33.

West Pharmaceutical Services (NYSE:WST - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 24th. The medical instruments supplier reported $1.84 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.51 by $0.33. The firm had revenue of $766.50 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $725.11 million. West Pharmaceutical Services had a return on equity of 18.43% and a net margin of 16.48%. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 9.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.52 earnings per share. Research analysts predict that West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. will post 6.62 earnings per share 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. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, November 12th will be given a $0.22 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend 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 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.4%. West Pharmaceutical Services's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 12.57%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

WST has been the topic of several analyst reports. Evercore ISI upped their target price on West Pharmaceutical Services from $275.00 to $350.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, July 25th. UBS Group upped their target price on West Pharmaceutical Services from $285.00 to $320.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, July 25th. Barclays initiated coverage on West Pharmaceutical Services in a report on Tuesday, June 24th. They set an "equal weight" rating and a $245.00 target price on the stock. Stephens upgraded West Pharmaceutical Services to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Monday, April 21st. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded West Pharmaceutical Services from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Saturday, July 26th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $320.71.

West Pharmaceutical Services Company Profile

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.