GDS Wealth Management Buys 3,088 Shares of STERIS plc (NYSE:STE)

GDS Wealth Management increased its position in STERIS plc (NYSE:STE - Free Report) by 5.6% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 58,243 shares of the medical equipment provider's stock after acquiring an additional 3,088 shares during the period. GDS Wealth Management owned approximately 0.06% of STERIS worth $11,972,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC bought a new stake in shares of STERIS during the 3rd quarter worth about $25,000. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division increased its stake in shares of STERIS by 65.5% during the fourth quarter. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division now owns 192 shares of the medical equipment provider's stock valued at $39,000 after acquiring an additional 76 shares during the period. Quarry LP bought a new stake in STERIS during the third quarter worth approximately $67,000. Asset Dedication LLC raised its holdings in STERIS by 54.8% during the third quarter. Asset Dedication LLC now owns 291 shares of the medical equipment provider's stock worth $71,000 after purchasing an additional 103 shares in the last quarter. Finally, R Squared Ltd acquired a new stake in STERIS in the fourth quarter worth approximately $78,000. 94.69% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have recently commented on STE shares. Piper Sandler boosted their price objective on STERIS from $260.00 to $265.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Monday. JMP Securities reissued a "market outperform" rating and issued a $265.00 price target on shares of STERIS in a report on Thursday. Needham & Company LLC reaffirmed a "hold" rating on shares of STERIS in a research note on Friday, November 8th. Stephens reissued an "overweight" rating and set a $240.00 target price on shares of STERIS in a research note on Thursday. Finally, StockNews.com cut shares of STERIS from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, October 29th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $258.75.

STERIS Trading Down 1.0 %

Shares of STE stock traded down $2.31 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $223.13. 682,890 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 519,147. The company has a quick ratio of 1.55, a current ratio of 2.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33. The firm has a market capitalization of $22.03 billion, a PE ratio of 50.94 and a beta of 0.84. STERIS plc has a 1-year low of $197.82 and a 1-year high of $248.24. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $212.49 and a 200 day moving average price of $224.60.

STERIS (NYSE:STE - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The medical equipment provider reported $2.32 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $2.33 by ($0.01). STERIS had a net margin of 8.02% and a return on equity of 13.78%. On average, equities research analysts forecast that STERIS plc will post 9.11 EPS for the current year.

STERIS Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 21st. Investors of record on Thursday, February 20th will be given a dividend of $0.57 per share. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.02%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 20th. STERIS's payout ratio is presently 52.05%.

Insider Buying and Selling at STERIS

In other STERIS news, SVP Cary L. Majors sold 1,682 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $217.32, for a total transaction of $365,532.24. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 11,372 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,471,363.04. This represents a 12.88 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Company insiders own 1.14% of the company's stock.

STERIS Company Profile

STERIS plc provides infection prevention products and services worldwide. It operates through four segments: Healthcare, Applied Sterilization Technologies, Life Sciences, and Dental. The Healthcare segment offers cleaning chemistries and sterility assurance products; automated endoscope reprocessing system and tracking products; endoscopy accessories, washers, sterilizers, and other pieces of capital equipment for the operation of a sterile processing department; and equipment used directly in the operating room, including surgical tables, lights, and connectivity solutions, as well as equipment management services.