Fuller & Thaler Asset Management Inc. Raises Position in Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:MMSI)

Fuller & Thaler Asset Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:MMSI - Free Report) by 2.3% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,633,246 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock after acquiring an additional 36,489 shares during the quarter. Fuller & Thaler Asset Management Inc. owned about 2.80% of Merit Medical Systems worth $157,968,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System boosted its position in shares of Merit Medical Systems by 0.4% during the 4th quarter. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System now owns 28,200 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $2,728,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. lifted its stake in Merit Medical Systems by 4.6% in the fourth quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 2,347 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $227,000 after buying an additional 103 shares during the period. Tidal Investments LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Merit Medical Systems by 1.0% during the 3rd quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 10,398 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $1,028,000 after buying an additional 104 shares in the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System grew its position in shares of Merit Medical Systems by 0.8% during the 4th quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 16,869 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $1,632,000 after buying an additional 137 shares during the period. Finally, Summit Investment Advisors Inc. increased its stake in shares of Merit Medical Systems by 3.3% in the 4th quarter. Summit Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 5,987 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $579,000 after acquiring an additional 190 shares in the last quarter. 99.66% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Needham & Company LLC cut their target price on shares of Merit Medical Systems from $116.00 to $100.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on Merit Medical Systems from $120.00 to $117.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 26th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. began coverage on Merit Medical Systems in a research note on Friday, March 28th. They set an "overweight" rating and a $120.00 price target on the stock. Piper Sandler cut their price target on Merit Medical Systems from $116.00 to $112.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday. Finally, Robert W. Baird decreased their price objective on Merit Medical Systems from $111.00 to $110.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Friday. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $109.00.

Merit Medical Systems Stock Down 0.1 %

Shares of NASDAQ:MMSI traded down $0.06 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $94.61. 1,278,090 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 497,068. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $98.60 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $100.52. Merit Medical Systems, Inc. has a 12-month low of $73.40 and a 12-month high of $111.45. The stock has a market cap of $5.59 billion, a P/E ratio of 46.38, a P/E/G ratio of 2.34 and a beta of 0.85. The company has a current ratio of 5.36, a quick ratio of 3.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57.

Insider Buying and Selling at Merit Medical Systems

In related news, CFO Raul Jr. Parra sold 12,451 shares of Merit Medical Systems stock in a transaction on Friday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $98.81, for a total transaction of $1,230,283.31. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 24,201 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,391,300.81. This trade represents a 33.97 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Fred P. Lampropoulos sold 31,320 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $103.86, for a total value of $3,252,895.20. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 1,086,028 shares of the company's stock, valued at $112,794,868.08. This trade represents a 2.80 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 109,132 shares of company stock worth $11,139,521. Corporate 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.