Zacks Investment Management Sells 6,022 Shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO)

Zacks Investment Management reduced its stake in Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO - Free Report) by 13.2% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 39,711 shares of the medical research company's stock after selling 6,022 shares during the period. Zacks Investment Management's holdings in Thermo Fisher Scientific were worth $20,659,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Barrett & Company Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific during the fourth quarter worth approximately $28,000. FPC Investment Advisory Inc. bought a new position in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific in the fourth quarter valued at about $28,000. Missouri Trust & Investment Co acquired a new position in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific during the fourth quarter worth approximately $29,000. Pillar Financial Advisors LLC bought a new position in Thermo Fisher Scientific in the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. Finally, Endeavor Private Wealth Inc. bought a new stake in Thermo Fisher Scientific during the 4th quarter worth about $30,000. 89.23% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have commented on the stock. Barclays dropped their target price on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from $620.00 to $475.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 10th. Raymond James restated an "outperform" rating and set a $667.00 price objective (up previously from $650.00) on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on Thermo Fisher Scientific from $647.00 to $678.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, January 31st. Citigroup reduced their target price on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from $650.00 to $570.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, March 4th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their target price on Thermo Fisher Scientific from $680.00 to $580.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 17th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eighteen have given a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Thermo Fisher Scientific currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $642.67.

Insider Activity

In other news, SVP Michael A. Boxer sold 3,775 shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $532.52, for a total transaction of $2,010,263.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 10,816 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,759,736.32. This trade represents a 25.87 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Gianluca Pettiti sold 300 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $585.59, for a total transaction of $175,677.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 16,363 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,582,009.17. This trade represents a 1.80 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 23,900 shares of company stock worth $13,106,062 over the last ninety days. Company insiders own 0.34% of the company's stock.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Price Performance

Shares of NYSE TMO traded up $11.41 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $433.26. 1,062,877 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,715,108. The company has a quick ratio of 1.29, a current ratio of 1.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59. The stock's 50-day moving average price is $495.35 and its 200-day moving average price is $531.39. The stock has a market cap of $163.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.22, a PEG ratio of 2.99 and a beta of 0.86. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has a one year low of $409.85 and a one year high of $627.88.

Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE:TMO - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, January 30th. The medical research company reported $6.10 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $5.94 by $0.16. Thermo Fisher Scientific had a net margin of 14.78% and a return on equity of 17.51%. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. will post 23.28 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 14th were given a dividend of $0.43 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 14th. This represents a $1.72 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.40%. This is an increase from Thermo Fisher Scientific's previous quarterly dividend of $0.39. Thermo Fisher Scientific's dividend payout ratio is currently 10.41%.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Profile

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.