Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. $TMO Shares Purchased by United Super Pty Ltd in its capacity as Trustee for the Construction & Building Unions Superannuation Fund

Key Points

• United Super Pty Ltd (trustee for the Construction & Building Unions Superannuation Fund) increased its stake in Thermo Fisher by 17.1%, adding 18,447 shares to hold 126,612 shares worth $61.41 million, representing about 2.2% of the fund and its 13th largest holding.
• Thermo Fisher beat quarterly estimates, reporting EPS of $6.57 (vs. $6.45 expected) and $12.22 billion in revenue (vs. $11.95 billion), while several analysts raised price targets and the consensus target sits at about $633.68.
• Insider activity and shareholder returns: CEO Marc N. Casper sold 5,000 shares (avg $512.40) and EVP Gianluca Pettiti sold 400 shares, and the company raised its quarterly dividend to $0.47 (from $0.43), payable April 15 with an ex-dividend date of March 13.

United Super Pty Ltd in its capacity as Trustee for the Construction & Building Unions Superannuation Fund grew its holdings in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO - Free Report) by 17.1% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 126,612 shares of the medical research company's stock after acquiring an additional 18,447 shares during the period. Thermo Fisher Scientific comprises about 2.2% of United Super Pty Ltd in its capacity as Trustee for the Construction & Building Unions Superannuation Fund's investment portfolio, making the stock its 13th biggest holding. United Super Pty Ltd in its capacity as Trustee for the Construction & Building Unions Superannuation Fund's holdings in Thermo Fisher Scientific were worth $61,409,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Lombard Odier Asset Management Switzerland SA grew its stake in Thermo Fisher Scientific by 8.4% in the second quarter. Lombard Odier Asset Management Switzerland SA now owns 14,490 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $5,875,000 after purchasing an additional 1,128 shares in the last quarter. Cornerstone Investment Partners LLC bought a new position in Thermo Fisher Scientific during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $41,393,000. Weaver Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $506,000. VELA Investment Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific by 65.5% in the 3rd quarter. VELA Investment Management LLC now owns 9,305 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $4,513,000 after acquiring an additional 3,683 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Lockheed Martin Investment Management Co. raised its position in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific by 45.3% during the 3rd quarter. Lockheed Martin Investment Management Co. now owns 11,160 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $5,413,000 after acquiring an additional 3,480 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.23% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Gianluca Pettiti sold 400 shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific stock in a transaction on Monday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $541.20, for a total transaction of $216,480.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 20,752 shares in the company, valued at approximately $11,230,982.40. This trade represents a 1.89% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Marc N. Casper sold 5,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $512.40, for a total value of $2,562,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 123,925 shares in the company, valued at $63,499,170. This represents a 3.88% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Corporate insiders own 0.33% of the company's stock.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:TMO opened at $501.72 on Friday. The firm's 50 day moving average is $567.28 and its two-hundred day moving average is $548.67. The firm has a market capitalization of $186.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.28, a PEG ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.96. The company has a current ratio of 1.89, a quick ratio of 1.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has a 52 week low of $385.46 and a 52 week high of $643.99.

Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE:TMO - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 29th. The medical research company reported $6.57 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $6.45 by $0.12. The business had revenue of $12.22 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.95 billion. Thermo Fisher Scientific had a return on equity of 16.92% and a net margin of 15.05%.The business's revenue for the quarter was up 7.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $6.10 EPS. Analysts anticipate that Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. will post 23.28 earnings per share for the current year.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 15th. Investors of record on Friday, March 13th will be paid a dividend of $0.47 per share. This is an increase from Thermo Fisher Scientific's previous quarterly dividend of $0.43. This represents a $1.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.4%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 13th. Thermo Fisher Scientific's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 9.70%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have weighed in on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their target price on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from $583.00 to $700.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 9th. HSBC raised shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Monday, December 1st. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from $625.00 to $650.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Wall Street Zen raised Thermo Fisher Scientific from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Saturday, February 28th. Finally, Citigroup increased their price target on Thermo Fisher Scientific from $660.00 to $685.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, January 30th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eighteen have given a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $633.68.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Company Profile

Thermo Fisher Scientific NYSE: TMO is a global provider of scientific instrumentation, reagents and consumables, software, and services that support research, clinical, and industrial laboratories. The company supplies analytical instruments and laboratory equipment, life sciences reagents and kits, specialty diagnostics, and a broad range of consumables used by researchers, clinicians, and manufacturers. Its offerings also include laboratory information management and data-analysis software, as well as service solutions such as instrument maintenance, validation, and logistics that help customers run complex workflows efficiently.

Thermo Fisher operates through multiple business areas that broadly cover life sciences solutions, analytical instruments, specialty diagnostics, and laboratory products and biopharma services, including contract development and manufacturing for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.

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