Cerity Partners LLC Sells 4,454 Shares of Stryker Co. (NYSE:SYK)

Cerity Partners LLC decreased its holdings in shares of Stryker Co. (NYSE:SYK - Free Report) by 1.9% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 230,929 shares of the medical technology company's stock after selling 4,454 shares during the period. Cerity Partners LLC owned approximately 0.06% of Stryker worth $83,175,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Kohmann Bosshard Financial Services LLC bought a new stake in Stryker during the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Dunhill Financial LLC boosted its holdings in Stryker by 94.9% during the 3rd quarter. Dunhill Financial LLC now owns 76 shares of the medical technology company's stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 37 shares during the last quarter. Rakuten Securities Inc. grew its stake in shares of Stryker by 618.2% in the 4th quarter. Rakuten Securities Inc. now owns 79 shares of the medical technology company's stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 68 shares in the last quarter. Centricity Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Stryker in the fourth quarter valued at about $30,000. Finally, BankPlus Trust Department bought a new position in shares of Stryker during the fourth quarter valued at about $33,000. 77.09% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Stryker news, Director Allan C. Golston sold 2,458 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $383.07, for a total value of $941,586.06. Following the sale, the director now owns 14,895 shares of the company's stock, valued at $5,705,827.65. This trade represents a 14.16 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Director Ronda E. Stryker sold 201,392 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $392.24, for a total value of $78,993,998.08. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 3,642,075 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,428,567,498. The trade was a 5.24 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 5.90% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Stryker Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:SYK traded up $1.63 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $350.02. 1,767,159 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,359,415. Stryker Co. has a 12 month low of $314.93 and a 12 month high of $406.19. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $375.54 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $373.63. The company has a quick ratio of 1.32, a current ratio of 1.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59. The firm has a market capitalization of $133.60 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 45.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.93 and a beta of 0.93.

Stryker (NYSE:SYK - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 28th. The medical technology company reported $4.01 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.87 by $0.14. Stryker had a return on equity of 23.58% and a net margin of 13.25%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $3.46 EPS. On average, equities analysts expect that Stryker Co. will post 13.47 earnings per share for the current year.

Stryker Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 31st will be issued a $0.84 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 31st. This represents a $3.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.96%. Stryker's payout ratio is currently 43.30%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have commented on SYK. Needham & Company LLC reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a $442.00 price objective on shares of Stryker in a research note on Friday, March 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on Stryker from $420.00 to $445.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 29th. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price objective on Stryker from $400.00 to $440.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 29th. Canaccord Genuity Group raised their target price on Stryker from $420.00 to $435.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 29th. Finally, JMP Securities reissued a "market perform" rating on shares of Stryker in a report on Tuesday, February 18th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fifteen have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $423.05.

About Stryker

Stryker Corporation operates as a medical technology company. The company operates through two segments, MedSurg and Neurotechnology, and Orthopaedics and Spine. The Orthopaedics and Spine segment provides implants for use in total joint replacements, such as hip, knee and shoulder, and trauma and extremities surgeries.