Axiom Investors LLC DE Has $17.99 Million Stake in Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:MMSI)

Axiom Investors LLC DE decreased its stake in shares of Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:MMSI - Free Report) by 12.9% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 186,018 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock after selling 27,599 shares during the period. Axiom Investors LLC DE owned 0.32% of Merit Medical Systems worth $17,992,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in MMSI. NewSquare Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of Merit Medical Systems during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services LLC bought a new position in Merit Medical Systems in the 4th quarter valued at $52,000. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Merit Medical Systems by 237.7% in the 4th quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 1,388 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $134,000 after buying an additional 977 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its stake in shares of Merit Medical Systems by 14.7% in the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,494 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $144,000 after buying an additional 191 shares during the period. Finally, TD Private Client Wealth LLC raised its position in shares of Merit Medical Systems by 13.9% during the third quarter. TD Private Client Wealth LLC now owns 1,732 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $171,000 after acquiring an additional 211 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 99.66% of the company's stock.

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Merit Medical Systems Stock Down 9.1 %

NASDAQ MMSI traded down $9.42 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $94.54. 760,662 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 457,199. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57, a quick ratio of 3.82 and a current ratio of 5.36. The company has a market capitalization of $5.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 46.38, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.34 and a beta of 0.91. The company's 50-day moving average is $104.43 and its two-hundred day moving average is $101.25. Merit Medical Systems, Inc. has a one year low of $70.70 and a one year high of $111.45.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts recently commented on MMSI shares. Canaccord Genuity Group lowered their price objective on Merit Medical Systems from $128.00 to $127.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, February 26th. Raymond James boosted their price target on shares of Merit Medical Systems from $105.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 31st. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on shares of Merit Medical Systems from $120.00 to $117.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, February 26th. Needham & Company LLC cut their price target on Merit Medical Systems from $122.00 to $116.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, February 26th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. initiated coverage on Merit Medical Systems in a research note on Friday, March 28th. They set an "overweight" rating and a $120.00 price objective for the company. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $111.70.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CFO Raul Jr. Parra sold 12,451 shares of Merit Medical Systems stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $98.81, for a total value of $1,230,283.31. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 24,201 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,391,300.81. This trade represents a 33.97 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, insider Brian G. Lloyd sold 25,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $99.50, for a total value of $2,487,500.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 38,993 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $3,879,803.50. This trade represents a 39.07 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 109,132 shares of company stock valued at $11,139,521. Company insiders own 3.70% of the company's stock.

About Merit Medical Systems

Merit Medical Systems, Inc designs, develops, manufactures, and markets single-use medical products for interventional, diagnostic, and therapeutic procedures in the United States and internationally. It operates in two segments, Cardiovascular and Endoscopy. The company provides micropuncture kits, angiographic needles, sheaths, guide wires, and safety products; peripheral intervention, including angiography, drainage, delivery systems, and embolotherapy products; spine products, such as vertebral augmentation, radiofrequency ablation, and bone biopsy systems; oncology products; and cardiac intervention products, such as access, angiography, electrophysiology and cardiac rhythm management, fluid management, hemodynamic monitoring, hemostasis, and intervention to treat various heart conditions.