Avantor (NYSE:AVTR) Reaches New 12-Month High - Still a Buy?

Key Points

• Avantor shares reached a new 52-week high of $16.45, significantly above the 50-day and 200-day moving averages of $14.85 and $11.37, respectively.
• Analysts remain cautious: the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $13.06, below its recent trading level, despite some target increases and a Wells Fargo “overweight” rating.
• Avantor exceeded quarterly expectations with $0.21 in EPS versus $0.19 expected and $1.69 billion in revenue versus $1.61 billion forecast; institutional investors own approximately 95.1% of the shares.

Avantor, Inc. (NYSE:AVTR - Get Free Report) shares hit a new 52-week high during trading on Friday. The stock traded as high as $16.45 and last traded at $16.2940, with a volume of 29,355,689 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $16.09.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts recently weighed in on AVTR shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a "hold" rating and issued a $13.00 target price on shares of Avantor in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on shares of Avantor from $14.00 to $16.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 30th. Evercore set a $10.50 price target on shares of Avantor in a research note on Monday, July 6th. Wolfe Research upgraded shares of Avantor from a "strong sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada raised their price objective on Avantor from $9.00 to $14.00 and gave the company a "sector perform" rating in a research note on Thursday, July 30th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, fifteen have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Avantor currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $13.06.

Avantor Price Performance

The company has a current ratio of 1.78, a quick ratio of 1.18 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $14.85 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $11.37. The company has a market cap of $11.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -19.40, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 8.93 and a beta of 0.94.

Avantor (NYSE:AVTR - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 29th. The company reported $0.21 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.19 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $1.69 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.61 billion. Avantor had a positive return on equity of 9.92% and a negative net margin of 8.81%. The business's revenue was up .5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.24 earnings per share. Avantor has set its FY 2026 guidance at 0.800-0.830 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Avantor, Inc. will post 0.81 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Avantor

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of AVTR. BlackRock Inc. acquired a new stake in Avantor during the second quarter worth approximately $695,784,000. Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss LLC bought a new stake in shares of Avantor during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $195,386,000. Engine Capital Management LP increased its stake in Avantor by 65.8% in the first quarter. Engine Capital Management LP now owns 19,780,830 shares of the company's stock valued at $155,082,000 after acquiring an additional 7,853,018 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its stake in shares of Avantor by 15.7% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 16,894,649 shares of the company's stock valued at $132,443,000 after purchasing an additional 2,288,053 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE acquired a new position in shares of Avantor during the 2nd quarter worth $108,795,000. 95.08% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Avantor Company Profile

Avantor, Inc is a global provider of products, services and solutions used in the life sciences and advanced technology industries. The company supplies materials and equipment that support research, drug discovery and development, biopharmaceutical manufacturing, clinical and diagnostic activities, and other laboratory applications.

Its offerings include laboratory chemicals and reagents, consumables, single-use manufacturing technologies, bioprocessing products, equipment, and related services.

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