Russell Investments Group Ltd. reduced its holdings in West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE:WST - Free Report) by 66.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 44,064 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock after selling 86,104 shares during the period. Russell Investments Group Ltd. owned approximately 0.06% of West Pharmaceutical Services worth $14,442,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of WST. Whipplewood Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in West Pharmaceutical Services in the fourth quarter worth $34,000. Centricity Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services during the fourth quarter worth $35,000. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services by 57.1% in the 4th quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 110 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $38,000 after buying an additional 40 shares during the period. Finally, Private Trust Co. NA raised its stake in West Pharmaceutical Services by 138.6% during the 4th quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 136 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $45,000 after buying an additional 79 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.90% of the company's stock.
West Pharmaceutical Services Stock Performance
WST traded up $0.23 on Wednesday, reaching $212.73. The company had a trading volume of 118,552 shares, compared to its average volume of 952,040. The stock has a market cap of $15.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.82, a P/E/G ratio of 6.74 and a beta of 1.22. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08, a quick ratio of 2.23 and a current ratio of 2.79. West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $187.43 and a fifty-two week high of $394.42. The company's fifty day moving average is $226.99 and its 200 day moving average is $288.51.
West Pharmaceutical Services (NYSE:WST - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 13th. The medical instruments supplier reported $1.82 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.75 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $748.80 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $739.59 million. West Pharmaceutical Services had a return on equity of 18.60% and a net margin of 17.03%. As a group, analysts predict that West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. will post 6.62 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
West Pharmaceutical Services Announces Dividend
The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 7th. Investors of record on Wednesday, April 30th will be paid a $0.21 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, April 30th. This represents a $0.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.39%. West Pharmaceutical Services's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 12.56%.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth
WST has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. KeyCorp decreased their target price on West Pharmaceutical Services from $470.00 to $325.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 14th. Evercore ISI initiated coverage on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services in a research note on Tuesday, March 18th. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $275.00 price target on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised shares of West Pharmaceutical Services from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $250.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Friday, February 14th. Citigroup started coverage on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services in a research report on Wednesday, January 8th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $400.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, StockNews.com cut West Pharmaceutical Services from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, February 27th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $332.50.
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About West Pharmaceutical Services
(
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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.
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