STERIS plc (NYSE:STE) Given Consensus Recommendation of "Moderate Buy" by Analysts

Key Points

• Analysts assign STERIS a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" (six buys, one hold) with an average 1‑year price target of $275.20.
• STERIS reported Q EPS of $2.53 (in line with estimates) with revenue up 9.2% YoY and set FY2026 guidance of $10.15–$10.30 EPS, while analysts forecast about 9.08 EPS for the current fiscal year.
• Director Cynthia L. Feldmann sold 3,098 shares at roughly $237.21 (an 81.46% reduction in her holding); insiders own 1.07% of the stock while institutional investors own 94.69%.

Shares of STERIS plc (NYSE:STE - Get Free Report) have earned a consensus recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from the seven analysts that are covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price target among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $275.20.

A number of equities research analysts have commented on STE shares. Weiss Ratings reissued a "buy (b)" rating on shares of STERIS in a report on Friday, January 9th. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of STERIS from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Saturday, March 28th.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other STERIS news, Director Cynthia L. Feldmann sold 3,098 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $237.21, for a total transaction of $734,876.58. Following the sale, the director owned 705 shares of the company's stock, valued at $167,233.05. This represents a 81.46% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 1.07% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On STERIS

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in STE. Jones Financial Companies Lllp lifted its position in STERIS by 46.1% during the 1st quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 1,106 shares of the medical equipment provider's stock valued at $251,000 after purchasing an additional 349 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lifted its position in STERIS by 32.3% during the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 242,732 shares of the medical equipment provider's stock valued at $55,015,000 after purchasing an additional 59,264 shares during the period. Empowered Funds LLC lifted its position in STERIS by 16.1% during the 1st quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 2,303 shares of the medical equipment provider's stock valued at $522,000 after purchasing an additional 319 shares during the period. Woodline Partners LP lifted its position in STERIS by 40.0% during the 1st quarter. Woodline Partners LP now owns 8,300 shares of the medical equipment provider's stock valued at $1,881,000 after purchasing an additional 2,372 shares during the period. Finally, Jane Street Group LLC lifted its position in STERIS by 38.9% during the 1st quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 20,716 shares of the medical equipment provider's stock valued at $4,695,000 after purchasing an additional 5,803 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 94.69% of the company's stock.

STERIS Stock Down 0.1%

STE opened at $222.43 on Monday. The firm's 50-day simple moving average is $234.47 and its 200-day simple moving average is $246.79. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26, a quick ratio of 1.75 and a current ratio of 2.48. STERIS has a twelve month low of $209.98 and a twelve month high of $269.44. The firm has a market cap of $21.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.02 and a beta of 1.07.

STERIS (NYSE:STE - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 4th. The medical equipment provider reported $2.53 EPS for the quarter, hitting analysts' consensus estimates of $2.53. STERIS had a net margin of 12.15% and a return on equity of 14.34%. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $2.32 EPS. The company's revenue was up 9.2% compared to the same quarter last year. STERIS has set its FY 2026 guidance at 10.150-10.300 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that STERIS will post 9.08 EPS for the current fiscal year.

STERIS Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 19th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 17th were issued a dividend of $0.63 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 17th. This represents a $2.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.1%. STERIS's dividend payout ratio is currently 35.15%.

About STERIS

STERIS Corporation NYSE: STE is a global provider of infection prevention, contamination control and procedural products and services for the healthcare, life sciences, pharmaceutical and medical device industries. The company develops, manufactures and supports a broad portfolio of equipment and consumables designed to reduce risk of infection, maintain sterile environments and support critical clinical and manufacturing procedures.

Its offerings include sterilization and decontamination systems, instrument washers and washers-disinfectors, endoscope reprocessing solutions, surgical equipment and procedural disposables, and contamination-control products for cleanrooms and laboratories.

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