Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:MMSI) Shares Sold by Westwood Holdings Group Inc.

Westwood Holdings Group Inc. lessened its holdings in shares of Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:MMSI - Free Report) by 4.5% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 613,635 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock after selling 28,959 shares during the period. Westwood Holdings Group Inc. owned approximately 1.05% of Merit Medical Systems worth $59,351,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in MMSI. Barclays PLC raised its holdings in shares of Merit Medical Systems by 305.4% during the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 112,727 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $11,142,000 after purchasing an additional 84,923 shares during the last quarter. Park Avenue Securities LLC raised its holdings in shares of Merit Medical Systems by 20.6% during the fourth quarter. Park Avenue Securities LLC now owns 4,812 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $465,000 after purchasing an additional 821 shares during the last quarter. Ballentine Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Merit Medical Systems during the fourth quarter worth $200,000. AMI Asset Management Corp raised its holdings in shares of Merit Medical Systems by 28.7% during the fourth quarter. AMI Asset Management Corp now owns 33,041 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $3,196,000 after purchasing an additional 7,367 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH raised its holdings in shares of Merit Medical Systems by 8.3% during the fourth quarter. Fort Washington Investment Advisors Inc. OH now owns 195,140 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $18,874,000 after purchasing an additional 14,990 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.66% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Merit Medical Systems news, insider Brian G. Lloyd sold 25,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $99.50, for a total transaction of $2,487,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 38,993 shares in the company, valued at $3,879,803.50. The trade was a 39.07% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CEO Fred P. Lampropoulos sold 31,320 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $103.86, for a total transaction of $3,252,895.20. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 1,086,028 shares of the company's stock, valued at $112,794,868.08. This trade represents a 2.80% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 130,382 shares of company stock valued at $13,189,508 in the last ninety days. Company insiders own 3.20% of the company's stock.

Merit Medical Systems Stock Up 0.3%

MMSI traded up $0.27 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $95.38. 401,921 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 519,691. Merit Medical Systems, Inc. has a 12-month low of $80.02 and a 12-month high of $111.45. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $96.52 and a 200 day moving average of $100.51. The firm has a market cap of $5.64 billion, a P/E ratio of 46.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.34 and a beta of 0.70. The company has a current ratio of 5.36, a quick ratio of 3.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57.

Merit Medical Systems (NASDAQ:MMSI - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The medical instruments supplier reported $0.86 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.75 by $0.11. Merit Medical Systems had a net margin of 9.05% and a return on equity of 15.61%. The firm had revenue of $355.35 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $352.57 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.77 EPS. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 9.8% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts predict that Merit Medical Systems, Inc. will post 3.37 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts recently issued reports on MMSI shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. started coverage on shares of Merit Medical Systems in a report on Friday, March 28th. They set an "overweight" rating and a $120.00 target price for the company. Needham & Company LLC lifted their price objective on shares of Merit Medical Systems from $100.00 to $108.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, May 15th. Robert W. Baird cut their price objective on shares of Merit Medical Systems from $111.00 to $110.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Friday, April 25th. Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed an "overweight" rating and issued a $108.00 price objective (up previously from $106.00) on shares of Merit Medical Systems in a report on Wednesday. Finally, Piper Sandler lifted their price objective on shares of Merit Medical Systems from $106.00 to $110.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $109.11.

About Merit Medical Systems

Merit Medical Systems, Inc designs, develops, manufactures, and markets single-use medical products for interventional, diagnostic, and therapeutic procedures in the United States and internationally. It operates in two segments, Cardiovascular and Endoscopy. The company provides micropuncture kits, angiographic needles, sheaths, guide wires, and safety products; peripheral intervention, including angiography, drainage, delivery systems, and embolotherapy products; spine products, such as vertebral augmentation, radiofrequency ablation, and bone biopsy systems; oncology products; and cardiac intervention products, such as access, angiography, electrophysiology and cardiac rhythm management, fluid management, hemodynamic monitoring, hemostasis, and intervention to treat various heart conditions.