Thrivent Financial for Lutherans decreased its holdings in West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE:WST - Free Report) by 43.3% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 10,623 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock after selling 8,115 shares during the period. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans' holdings in West Pharmaceutical Services were worth $3,480,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Whipplewood Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in West Pharmaceutical Services in the fourth quarter worth $25,000. Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC bought a new position in West Pharmaceutical Services in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Centricity Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services during the fourth quarter valued at about $35,000. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC raised its position in West Pharmaceutical Services by 57.1% during the 4th quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 110 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $38,000 after purchasing an additional 40 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Brooklyn Investment Group acquired a new position in West Pharmaceutical Services in the third quarter valued at $41,000. Institutional investors own 93.90% of the company's stock.
West Pharmaceutical Services Stock Down 1.8 %
Shares of NYSE:WST traded down $3.98 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $222.08. 496,755 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 664,265. West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. has a 52-week low of $197.01 and a 52-week high of $396.75. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08, a quick ratio of 2.23 and a current ratio of 2.79. The firm has a market cap of $16.06 billion, a P/E ratio of 33.20, a PEG ratio of 6.74 and a beta of 1.09. The firm's 50 day simple moving average is $263.98 and its 200 day simple moving average is $297.82.
West Pharmaceutical Services (NYSE:WST - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 13th. The medical instruments supplier reported $1.82 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.75 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $748.80 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $739.59 million. West Pharmaceutical Services had a return on equity of 18.60% and a net margin of 17.03%. On average, equities analysts anticipate that West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. will post 6.62 EPS for the current year.
West Pharmaceutical Services Announces Dividend
The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 7th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, April 30th will be issued a dividend of $0.21 per share. This represents a $0.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.38%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, April 30th. West Pharmaceutical Services's payout ratio is presently 12.56%.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded West Pharmaceutical Services from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $250.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 14th. Bank of America upped their target price on West Pharmaceutical Services from $350.00 to $355.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, December 13th. UBS Group raised shares of West Pharmaceutical Services from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and lifted their price target for the company from $350.00 to $390.00 in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. Wolfe Research initiated coverage on West Pharmaceutical Services in a report on Friday, December 13th. They issued a "peer perform" rating on the stock. Finally, Citigroup began coverage on West Pharmaceutical Services in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $400.00 price objective for the company. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $332.50.
View Our Latest Stock Analysis on WST
West Pharmaceutical Services Company Profile
(
Free Report)
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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