Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO) Shares Purchased by National Pension Service

Key Points

• National Pension Service increased its holdings in Thermo Fisher Scientific by 6.9% during the first quarter, now owning 0.21% of the company, valued at approximately $396 million.
• Analysts have mixed views on Thermo Fisher, with price targets ranging from $480 to $665, but the consensus rating remains a "Moderate Buy" with a target of $593.
• The company recently announced a quarterly dividend of $0.43 per share, with a dividend yield of 0.4%, reflecting a payout ratio of 9.95%.

National Pension Service grew its stake in Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO - Free Report) by 6.9% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 796,154 shares of the medical research company's stock after buying an additional 51,175 shares during the quarter. National Pension Service owned 0.21% of Thermo Fisher Scientific worth $396,166,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Cypress Advisory Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific during the 4th quarter worth approximately $253,000. Mondrian Investment Partners LTD boosted its holdings in Thermo Fisher Scientific by 146.1% during the first quarter. Mondrian Investment Partners LTD now owns 214,506 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $106,738,000 after buying an additional 127,357 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its position in Thermo Fisher Scientific by 22.0% during the first quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 4,862 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $2,419,000 after buying an additional 877 shares during the period. Deutsche Bank AG raised its position in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific by 9.5% in the fourth quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 1,321,633 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $687,553,000 after acquiring an additional 114,277 shares during the period. Finally, Hancock Whitney Corp boosted its stake in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific by 0.6% during the 4th quarter. Hancock Whitney Corp now owns 5,386 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $2,802,000 after acquiring an additional 30 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.23% of the company's stock.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Trading Up 0.2%

NYSE TMO traded up $0.83 on Thursday, reaching $485.62. 1,955,228 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,096,282. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $385.46 and a fifty-two week high of $627.88. The stock has a market capitalization of $183.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.09, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.59 and a beta of 0.74. The business's fifty day moving average price is $433.08 and its 200 day moving average price is $461.44. The company has a current ratio of 1.93, a quick ratio of 1.50 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65.

Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE:TMO - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 23rd. The medical research company reported $5.36 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $5.22 by $0.14. Thermo Fisher Scientific had a net margin of 15.24% and a return on equity of 16.82%. The firm had revenue of $10.86 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.68 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $5.37 earnings per share. Thermo Fisher Scientific's quarterly revenue was up 2.9% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts forecast that Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. will post 23.28 earnings per share for the current year.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, September 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.43 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 15th. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.4%. Thermo Fisher Scientific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 9.95%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Thermo Fisher Scientific

In other news, EVP Gianluca Pettiti sold 400 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Friday, July 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $479.98, for a total value of $191,992.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 22,367 shares of the company's stock, valued at $10,735,712.66. This represents a 1.76% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO Marc N. Casper sold 8,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $454.45, for a total transaction of $3,635,600.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 115,174 shares in the company, valued at $52,340,824.30. The trade was a 6.49% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 18,400 shares of company stock valued at $8,345,792. 0.33% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on the company. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $610.00 price target on Thermo Fisher Scientific and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 23rd. Argus cut their price objective on Thermo Fisher Scientific from $620.00 to $470.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, April 29th. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their target price on Thermo Fisher Scientific from $665.00 to $620.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, April 24th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from $570.00 to $565.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, July 24th. Finally, Raymond James Financial reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and set a $535.00 price objective (up from $525.00) on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific in a report on Thursday, July 24th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $593.00.

About Thermo Fisher Scientific

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc provides life sciences solutions, analytical instruments, specialty diagnostics, and laboratory products and biopharma services in the North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and internationally. The company's Life Sciences Solutions segment offers reagents, instruments, and consumables for biological and medical research, discovery, and production of drugs and vaccines, as well as diagnosis of infections and diseases; and solutions include biosciences, genetic sciences, and bio production to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, agricultural, clinical, healthcare, academic, and government markets.