Bamco Inc. NY Trims Stake in West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE:WST)

Bamco Inc. NY reduced its holdings in West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE:WST - Free Report) by 36.6% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 483,842 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock after selling 279,326 shares during the period. Bamco Inc. NY owned approximately 0.67% of West Pharmaceutical Services worth $145,230,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC raised its position in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services by 21.8% in the 3rd quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 683,350 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $205,114,000 after acquiring an additional 122,361 shares during the period. FMR LLC lifted its holdings in West Pharmaceutical Services by 199.4% during the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 595,775 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $178,828,000 after acquiring an additional 396,780 shares in the last quarter. Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLC grew its stake in West Pharmaceutical Services by 6.8% in the second quarter. Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Management LLC now owns 593,692 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $195,556,000 after acquiring an additional 37,702 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its position in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services by 1.5% during the third quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 448,184 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $134,527,000 after purchasing an additional 6,756 shares during the period. Finally, Champlain Investment Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services by 29.7% during the 3rd quarter. Champlain Investment Partners LLC now owns 444,000 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $133,271,000 after purchasing an additional 101,710 shares in the last quarter. 93.90% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

West Pharmaceutical Services Stock Down 0.7 %

Shares of West Pharmaceutical Services stock traded down $2.30 on Monday, hitting $323.38. The company had a trading volume of 250,037 shares, compared to its average volume of 569,947. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $308.81 and a 200-day moving average of $312.62. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07, a current ratio of 3.00 and a quick ratio of 2.23. West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. has a twelve month low of $265.00 and a twelve month high of $413.70. The firm has a market capitalization of $23.42 billion, a P/E ratio of 48.38, a P/E/G ratio of 24.71 and a beta of 1.01.

West Pharmaceutical Services (NYSE:WST - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The medical instruments supplier reported $1.85 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.50 by $0.35. West Pharmaceutical Services had a net margin of 17.37% and a return on equity of 18.41%. The business had revenue of $746.90 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $709.62 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $2.16 earnings per share. The firm's revenue for the quarter was down .1% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts predict that West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. will post 6.64 earnings per share for the current year.

West Pharmaceutical Services Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, November 20th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, November 13th were given a $0.21 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, November 13th. This is an increase from West Pharmaceutical Services's previous quarterly dividend of $0.20. This represents a $0.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.26%. West Pharmaceutical Services's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 12.46%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, VP Charles Witherspoon sold 703 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, October 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $310.40, for a total value of $218,211.20. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 1,253 shares in the company, valued at $388,931.20. This trade represents a 35.94 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.53% of the company's stock.

West Pharmaceutical Services Profile

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.