KBC Group NV Boosts Stake in Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO)

KBC Group NV grew its position in Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO - Free Report) by 52.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 376,193 shares of the medical research company's stock after acquiring an additional 128,968 shares during the quarter. Thermo Fisher Scientific comprises about 0.7% of KBC Group NV's portfolio, making the stock its 19th largest position. KBC Group NV owned 0.10% of Thermo Fisher Scientific worth $232,702,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Huntington National Bank boosted its position in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific by 4.6% during the third quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 132,375 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $81,883,000 after buying an additional 5,855 shares during the period. Peak Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific by 9.2% during the third quarter. Peak Asset Management LLC now owns 3,403 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $2,105,000 after purchasing an additional 286 shares during the period. Fortis Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in Thermo Fisher Scientific by 5.3% during the 3rd quarter. Fortis Capital Management LLC now owns 1,599 shares of the medical research company's stock valued at $989,000 after buying an additional 80 shares in the last quarter. Plato Investment Management Ltd grew its stake in Thermo Fisher Scientific by 7.4% in the 3rd quarter. Plato Investment Management Ltd now owns 7,547 shares of the medical research company's stock worth $4,664,000 after acquiring an additional 523 shares in the last quarter. Finally, D Orazio & Associates Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific during the third quarter worth approximately $200,000. 89.23% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Stock Performance

Shares of TMO traded down $5.84 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $536.06. The company had a trading volume of 992,571 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,459,502. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $589.87 and a two-hundred day moving average of $583.04. The company has a quick ratio of 1.26, a current ratio of 1.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.64. The stock has a market capitalization of $205.04 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.78, a PEG ratio of 3.57 and a beta of 0.79. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has a 52-week low of $463.99 and a 52-week high of $627.88.

Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE:TMO - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 23rd. The medical research company reported $5.28 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $5.25 by $0.03. Thermo Fisher Scientific had a net margin of 14.48% and a return on equity of 17.49%. The business had revenue of $10.60 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $10.63 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $5.69 EPS. The business's revenue was up .2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts expect that Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. will post 21.69 earnings per share for the current year.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 13th will be paid a dividend of $0.39 per share. This represents a $1.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.29%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 13th. Thermo Fisher Scientific's payout ratio is currently 9.78%.

Insider Activity at Thermo Fisher Scientific

In other Thermo Fisher Scientific news, EVP Gianluca Pettiti sold 300 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, October 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $560.16, for a total transaction of $168,048.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 16,663 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,333,946.08. This represents a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other Thermo Fisher Scientific news, EVP Gianluca Pettiti sold 300 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Friday, October 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $560.16, for a total transaction of $168,048.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 16,663 shares in the company, valued at approximately $9,333,946.08. This represents a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Michael A. Boxer sold 2,000 shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific stock in a transaction dated Friday, October 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $560.16, for a total transaction of $1,120,320.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 12,736 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,134,197.76. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 37,150 shares of company stock worth $20,651,865 in the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 0.34% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have commented on TMO shares. Redburn Atlantic assumed coverage on Thermo Fisher Scientific in a report on Monday, October 14th. They set a "buy" rating and a $680.00 price objective on the stock. Robert W. Baird cut their price objective on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from $632.00 to $622.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 24th. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on Thermo Fisher Scientific from $655.00 to $680.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, September 20th. Bank of America increased their price target on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific from $600.00 to $675.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, September 16th. Finally, Stephens initiated coverage on shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific in a research note on Tuesday, October 1st. They set an "overweight" rating and a $680.00 price objective for the company. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seventeen have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $649.33.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Company Profile

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc provides life sciences solutions, analytical instruments, specialty diagnostics, and laboratory products and biopharma services in the North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and internationally. The company's Life Sciences Solutions segment offers reagents, instruments, and consumables for biological and medical research, discovery, and production of drugs and vaccines, as well as diagnosis of infections and diseases; and solutions include biosciences, genetic sciences, and bio production to pharmaceutical, biotechnology, agricultural, clinical, healthcare, academic, and government markets.