ZWJ Investment Counsel Inc. Sells 13,673 Shares of Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE:BSX)

ZWJ Investment Counsel Inc. cut its stake in Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE:BSX - Free Report) by 2.2% in the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 603,631 shares of the medical equipment provider's stock after selling 13,673 shares during the quarter. Boston Scientific makes up approximately 2.5% of ZWJ Investment Counsel Inc.'s investment portfolio, making the stock its 9th largest position. ZWJ Investment Counsel Inc.'s holdings in Boston Scientific were worth $60,894,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Colonial Trust Co SC raised its stake in shares of Boston Scientific by 1,625.0% during the 4th quarter. Colonial Trust Co SC now owns 276 shares of the medical equipment provider's stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 260 shares during the period. Investment Management Corp VA ADV acquired a new position in shares of Boston Scientific during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Sunbeam Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Boston Scientific during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Ameriflex Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Boston Scientific during the 4th quarter worth approximately $31,000. Finally, Fairway Wealth LLC acquired a new position in shares of Boston Scientific during the 4th quarter worth approximately $36,000. 89.07% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages recently commented on BSX. Erste Group Bank upgraded Boston Scientific to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, May 8th. Barclays boosted their price target on Boston Scientific from $118.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, April 25th. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on Boston Scientific from $120.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, May 16th. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a "buy" rating and set a $115.00 price target on shares of Boston Scientific in a research report on Wednesday, May 28th. Finally, Evercore ISI boosted their price target on Boston Scientific from $110.00 to $112.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Thursday, April 24th. Twenty-two analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and three have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of $116.09.

Insider Activity at Boston Scientific

In other news, SVP Vance R. Brown sold 4,826 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, April 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $95.09, for a total transaction of $458,904.34. Following the sale, the senior vice president owned 36,193 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $3,441,592.37. This represents a 11.77% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP Joseph Michael Fitzgerald sold 56,372 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, June 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $102.88, for a total transaction of $5,799,551.36. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 178,342 shares in the company, valued at $18,347,824.96. This represents a 24.02% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 461,970 shares of company stock valued at $47,755,193 over the last quarter. 0.50% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Boston Scientific Trading Up 0.6%

BSX stock traded up $0.67 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $104.30. 2,931,148 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,666,246. The company has a quick ratio of 0.88, a current ratio of 1.45 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47. The firm has a market capitalization of $154.30 billion, a P/E ratio of 76.13, a PEG ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 0.68. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $103.42 and a 200-day simple moving average of $100.05. Boston Scientific Corporation has a 12-month low of $71.88 and a 12-month high of $107.53.

Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, April 23rd. The medical equipment provider reported $0.75 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.67 by $0.08. The company had revenue of $4.66 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.57 billion. Boston Scientific had a net margin of 11.58% and a return on equity of 18.67%. Boston Scientific's revenue was up 20.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.56 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts predict that Boston Scientific Corporation will post 2.85 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

About Boston Scientific

Boston Scientific Corporation develops, manufactures, and markets medical devices for use in various interventional medical specialties worldwide. It operates through two segments, MedSurg and Cardiovascular. The company offers devices to diagnose and treat gastrointestinal and pulmonary conditions, such as resolution clips, biliary stent systems, stents and electrocautery enhanced delivery systems, direct visualization systems, digital catheters, and single-use duodenoscopes; devices to treat urological conditions, including ureteral stents, catheters, baskets, guidewires, sheaths, balloons, single-use digital flexible ureteroscopes, holmium laser systems, artificial urinary sphincter, laser system, fiber, and hydrogel systems; and devices to treat neurological movement disorders and manage chronic pain, such as spinal cord stimulator system, proprietary programming software, radiofrequency generator, indirect decompression systems, practice optimization tools, and deep brain stimulation system.