Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. increased its position in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE:WST - Free Report) by 34.7% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 5,581 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock after purchasing an additional 1,437 shares during the quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V.'s holdings in West Pharmaceutical Services were worth $1,249,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.
Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in WST. IFP Advisors Inc grew its holdings in West Pharmaceutical Services by 150.9% in the 4th quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 133 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $45,000 after buying an additional 80 shares in the last quarter. Private Trust Co. NA grew its holdings in West Pharmaceutical Services by 138.6% in the 4th quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 136 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $45,000 after buying an additional 79 shares in the last quarter. Opal Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in West Pharmaceutical Services in the 1st quarter valued at $53,000. Whipplewood Advisors LLC grew its holdings in West Pharmaceutical Services by 248.0% in the 1st quarter. Whipplewood Advisors LLC now owns 261 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $58,000 after buying an additional 186 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Lindbrook Capital LLC grew 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 valued at $72,000 after buying an additional 65 shares in the last quarter. 93.90% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
West Pharmaceutical Services Stock Performance
Shares of West Pharmaceutical Services stock opened at $221.35 on Thursday. West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. has a 52 week low of $187.43 and a 52 week high of $352.33. The business's fifty day simple moving average is $215.46 and its 200-day simple moving average is $251.31. The firm has a market cap of $15.90 billion, a PE ratio of 34.75, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.47 and a beta of 1.09. The company has a quick ratio of 2.03, a current ratio of 2.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08.
West Pharmaceutical Services (NYSE:WST - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The medical instruments supplier reported $1.45 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.22 by $0.23. West Pharmaceutical Services had a return on equity of 18.23% and a net margin of 16.13%. The firm had revenue of $698.00 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $685.24 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.56 EPS. West Pharmaceutical Services's revenue was up .4% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts forecast that West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. will post 6.62 earnings per share for the current year.
West Pharmaceutical Services Dividend Announcement
The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 6th. Investors of record on Wednesday, July 30th will be paid a dividend of $0.21 per share. This represents a $0.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.38%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, July 30th. West Pharmaceutical Services's payout ratio is 13.19%.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
Several analysts have issued reports on the company. Evercore ISI assumed coverage on West Pharmaceutical Services in a report on Tuesday, March 18th. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $275.00 target price for the company. Citigroup restated a "buy" rating on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services in a report on Thursday, May 22nd. Stephens upgraded West Pharmaceutical Services to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Monday, April 21st. Finally, Barclays assumed coverage on West Pharmaceutical Services in a report on Tuesday, June 24th. They issued an "equal weight" rating and a $245.00 target price for the company. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, West Pharmaceutical Services currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $320.00.
Check Out Our Latest Analysis on WST
About West Pharmaceutical Services
(
Free Report)
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.
Further Reading
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