Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO) Shares Sold by MML Investors Services LLC

MML Investors Services LLC cut its holdings in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO - Free Report) by 12.4% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 44,954 shares of the medical research company's stock after selling 6,359 shares during the quarter. MML Investors Services LLC's holdings in Thermo Fisher Scientific were worth $23,386,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Howard Capital Management Group LLC raised its position in Thermo Fisher Scientific by 0.5% during the third quarter. Howard Capital Management Group LLC now owns 54,575 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $33,759,000 after acquiring an additional 286 shares in the last quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific by 22.1% during the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 1,247,838 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $771,876,000 after purchasing an additional 225,568 shares in the last quarter. Virtu Financial LLC purchased a new stake in Thermo Fisher Scientific during the third quarter worth $638,000. Anchor Investment Management LLC grew its position in Thermo Fisher Scientific by 1.7% during the third quarter. Anchor Investment Management LLC now owns 11,366 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $7,031,000 after buying an additional 195 shares during the period. Finally, World Investment Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific by 3.8% in the third quarter. World Investment Advisors LLC now owns 15,088 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $9,333,000 after acquiring an additional 548 shares during the period. 89.23% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Trading Down 0.6 %

Shares of TMO traded down $2.64 during trading on Friday, reaching $424.02. 2,698,284 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,743,532. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $487.28 and a 200-day simple moving average of $526.70. The company has a quick ratio of 1.29, a current ratio of 1.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has a twelve month low of $409.85 and a twelve month high of $627.88. The stock has a market cap of $160.06 billion, a PE ratio of 25.65, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.99 and a beta of 0.86.

Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE:TMO - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 23rd. The medical research company reported $5.15 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $5.10 by $0.05. Thermo Fisher Scientific had a return on equity of 17.51% and a net margin of 14.78%. The company had revenue of $10.36 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $10.23 billion. On average, 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 was paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 14th were given a dividend of $0.43 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 14th. This is an increase from Thermo Fisher Scientific's previous quarterly dividend of $0.39. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.41%. Thermo Fisher Scientific's payout ratio is currently 10.09%.

Insider Activity at Thermo Fisher Scientific

In other news, EVP Gianluca Pettiti sold 300 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $585.59, for a total value of $175,677.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 16,363 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,582,009.17. This trade represents a 1.80 % 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 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $516.67, for a total value of $5,166,700.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 115,174 shares in the company, valued at $59,506,950.58. This trade represents a 7.99 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 23,900 shares of company stock valued at $13,106,062 over the last 90 days. 0.33% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts recently weighed in on the company. Stifel Nicolaus cut their price target on Thermo Fisher Scientific from $665.00 to $620.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their target price on Thermo Fisher Scientific from $651.00 to $637.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday. UBS Group cut their price target on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from $715.00 to $500.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Thursday. StockNews.com lowered shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday. Finally, Raymond James restated an "outperform" rating and set a $667.00 price target (up previously from $650.00) on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific in a research report on Monday, February 3rd. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $616.95.

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.