Everence Capital Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE:WST - Free Report) by 160.3% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 3,280 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock after purchasing an additional 2,020 shares during the period. Everence Capital Management Inc.'s holdings in West Pharmaceutical Services were worth $1,155,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
Other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Strs Ohio grew its stake in West Pharmaceutical Services by 0.3% in the fourth quarter. Strs Ohio now owns 91,498 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $32,218,000 after acquiring an additional 232 shares during the period. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System acquired a new position in West Pharmaceutical Services in the fourth quarter valued at about $1,585,000. NewEdge Wealth LLC grew its stake in West Pharmaceutical Services by 50.4% in the fourth quarter. NewEdge Wealth LLC now owns 1,242 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $437,000 after acquiring an additional 416 shares during the period. Cerity Partners LLC grew its stake in West Pharmaceutical Services by 44.8% in the fourth quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 1,741 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $613,000 after acquiring an additional 539 shares during the period. Finally, Impax Asset Management Group plc grew its stake in West Pharmaceutical Services by 68.7% in the fourth quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc now owns 1,965 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $692,000 after acquiring an additional 800 shares during the period. 93.90% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
West Pharmaceutical Services Stock Down 0.6 %
WST traded down $2.12 on Wednesday, hitting $377.36. 355,376 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 513,669. West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. has a 12 month low of $310.42 and a 12 month high of $415.73. The company has a market cap of $27.62 billion, a PE ratio of 47.89, a PEG ratio of 6.47 and a beta of 1.04. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.03, a quick ratio of 2.24 and a current ratio of 2.88. The stock's fifty day moving average is $379.98 and its 200-day moving average is $364.00.
West Pharmaceutical Services (NYSE:WST - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 15th. The medical instruments supplier reported $1.83 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.78 by $0.05. West Pharmaceutical Services had a return on equity of 21.60% and a net margin of 20.12%. The firm had revenue of $732.00 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $740.43 million. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.77 EPS. The company's revenue was up 3.3% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts predict that West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. will post 7.62 EPS for the current fiscal year.
West Pharmaceutical Services Dividend Announcement
The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 1st. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, April 24th will be paid a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, April 23rd. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.21%. West Pharmaceutical Services's payout ratio is 10.15%.
Insider Activity
In other news, SVP Silji Abraham sold 7,012 shares of West Pharmaceutical Services stock in a transaction on Friday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $365.00, for a total value of $2,559,380.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 4,660 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,700,900. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, CAO Chad Winters sold 815 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Monday, March 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $358.82, for a total transaction of $292,438.30. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 1,309 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $469,695.38. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, SVP Silji Abraham sold 7,012 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Friday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $365.00, for a total value of $2,559,380.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 4,660 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,700,900. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 73,978 shares of company stock worth $26,653,772. Insiders own 0.53% of the company's stock.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
A number of analysts have recently commented on the company. KeyCorp boosted their price target on West Pharmaceutical Services from $440.00 to $470.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, February 13th. StockNews.com lowered West Pharmaceutical Services from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, February 16th. UBS Group cut their price target on West Pharmaceutical Services from $400.00 to $375.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 16th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group upgraded West Pharmaceutical Services from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and boosted their price target for the company from $323.00 to $536.00 in a report on Wednesday, February 7th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $435.20.
Read Our Latest Report on West Pharmaceutical Services
About West Pharmaceutical Services
(
Free Report)
West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc designs, manufactures, and sells containment and delivery systems for injectable drugs and healthcare products in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. It operates in two segments, Proprietary Products and Contract-Manufactured Products.
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