Teacher Retirement System of Texas Boosts Position in West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE:WST)

Teacher Retirement System of Texas lifted its stake in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE:WST - Free Report) by 1,459.5% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 10,589 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock after acquiring an additional 9,910 shares during the period. Teacher Retirement System of Texas' holdings in West Pharmaceutical Services were worth $2,371,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of WST. First Horizon Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in West Pharmaceutical Services by 85.0% in the 1st quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 185 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $41,000 after buying an additional 85 shares during the period. Opal Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in West Pharmaceutical Services in the 1st quarter valued at about $53,000. Whipplewood Advisors LLC raised 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 during the period. Edmond DE Rothschild Holding S.A. purchased a new stake in West Pharmaceutical Services in the 4th quarter valued at about $74,000. Finally, Exchange Traded Concepts LLC raised its holdings in West Pharmaceutical Services by 38.5% in the 1st quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 331 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $74,000 after buying an additional 92 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.90% of the company's stock.

West Pharmaceutical Services Stock Performance

Shares of West Pharmaceutical Services stock opened at $226.19 on Thursday. West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. has a one year low of $187.43 and a one year high of $352.33. The company has a market cap of $16.25 billion, a PE ratio of 35.51, a P/E/G ratio of 5.42 and a beta of 1.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08, a quick ratio of 2.03 and a current ratio of 2.77. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $216.38 and a 200-day simple moving average of $247.61.

West Pharmaceutical Services (NYSE:WST - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 24th. The medical instruments supplier reported $1.45 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates 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 business had revenue of $698.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $685.24 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.56 earnings per share. The business's revenue for the quarter was up .4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts forecast that West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. will post 6.62 EPS for the current fiscal year.

West Pharmaceutical Services Announces Dividend

The firm 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 0.37%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, July 30th. West Pharmaceutical Services's payout ratio is 13.19%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have weighed in on the company. Stephens raised West Pharmaceutical Services to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Monday, April 21st. Citigroup reaffirmed a "buy" rating on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services in a research report on Thursday, May 22nd. Evercore ISI assumed coverage on West Pharmaceutical Services in a research report on Tuesday, March 18th. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $275.00 target price for the company. Finally, Barclays assumed coverage on West Pharmaceutical Services in a research report on Tuesday, June 24th. They issued an "equal weight" rating and a $245.00 target price for the company. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, West Pharmaceutical Services presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $320.00.

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.

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