MML Investors Services LLC Has $1.94 Million Holdings in STERIS plc (NYSE:STE)

MML Investors Services LLC lessened its stake in STERIS plc (NYSE:STE - Free Report) by 28.8% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 9,426 shares of the medical equipment provider's stock after selling 3,813 shares during the quarter. MML Investors Services LLC's holdings in STERIS were worth $1,938,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Principal Financial Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of STERIS by 9.5% in the third quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 1,114,224 shares of the medical equipment provider's stock worth $270,230,000 after buying an additional 96,336 shares during the last quarter. SkyView Investment Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of STERIS by 1.6% during the third quarter. SkyView Investment Advisors LLC now owns 3,153 shares of the medical equipment provider's stock valued at $765,000 after purchasing an additional 51 shares during the last quarter. World Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of STERIS during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $5,171,000. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB bought a new stake in shares of STERIS in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $9,949,000. Finally, Tidal Investments LLC boosted its position in STERIS by 21.0% during the 3rd quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 12,650 shares of the medical equipment provider's stock valued at $3,068,000 after purchasing an additional 2,193 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.69% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts recently weighed in on the stock. JMP Securities reaffirmed a "market outperform" rating and issued a $265.00 price objective on shares of STERIS in a report on Thursday, April 10th. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a "hold" rating on shares of STERIS in a report on Monday, April 7th. Piper Sandler raised their price objective on STERIS from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Stephens reaffirmed an "overweight" rating and set a $240.00 target price on shares of STERIS in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, STERIS currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $258.75.

STERIS Stock Down 1.1 %

STE stock traded down $2.41 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $222.33. The company had a trading volume of 1,088,982 shares, compared to its average volume of 536,853. The company has a 50 day moving average of $223.12 and a two-hundred day moving average of $218.91. The company has a market capitalization of $21.84 billion, a P/E ratio of 47.20 and a beta of 0.87. STERIS plc has a 1 year low of $200.98 and a 1 year high of $248.24. The company has a current ratio of 2.13, a quick ratio of 1.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32.

STERIS (NYSE:STE - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 5th. The medical equipment provider reported $2.32 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.33 by ($0.01). STERIS had a return on equity of 13.91% and a net margin of 8.66%. On average, equities research analysts expect that STERIS plc will post 9.08 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

STERIS Profile

STERIS plc provides infection prevention products and services worldwide. It operates through four segments: Healthcare, Applied Sterilization Technologies, Life Sciences, and Dental. The Healthcare segment offers cleaning chemistries and sterility assurance products; automated endoscope reprocessing system and tracking products; endoscopy accessories, washers, sterilizers, and other pieces of capital equipment for the operation of a sterile processing department; and equipment used directly in the operating room, including surgical tables, lights, and connectivity solutions, as well as equipment management services.