Tower Research Capital LLC TRC Has $1.31 Million Position in West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE:WST)

Tower Research Capital LLC TRC decreased its holdings in West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE:WST - Free Report) by 40.2% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 4,011 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock after selling 2,695 shares during the quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC's holdings in West Pharmaceutical Services were worth $1,314,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Quadrant Capital Group LLC boosted its stake in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services by 5.4% during the 4th quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 626 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $205,000 after buying an additional 32 shares during the period. Baron Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services by 1.9% during the 4th quarter. Baron Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,926 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $631,000 after buying an additional 35 shares during the last quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC grew its stake in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services by 18.9% in the 4th quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 239 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $78,000 after buying an additional 38 shares in the last quarter. Lake Street Advisors Group LLC increased its holdings in West Pharmaceutical Services by 5.8% in the fourth quarter. Lake Street Advisors Group LLC now owns 711 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock worth $233,000 after buying an additional 39 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cornerstone Planning Group LLC raised its position in West Pharmaceutical Services by 57.1% during the fourth quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 110 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $38,000 after acquiring an additional 40 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.90% of the company's stock.

West Pharmaceutical Services Stock Performance

NYSE:WST traded up $3.97 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $214.56. 905,920 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 719,559. The firm has a market capitalization of $15.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.07, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 6.74 and a beta of 1.22. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $217.89 and a two-hundred day moving average of $283.79. The company has a current ratio of 2.79, a quick ratio of 2.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08. West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. has a 12 month low of $187.43 and a 12 month high of $372.79.

West Pharmaceutical Services (NYSE:WST - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 24th. The medical instruments supplier reported $1.45 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.22 by $0.23. West Pharmaceutical Services had a net margin of 17.03% and a return on equity of 18.60%. The business had revenue of $698.00 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $685.24 million. On average, equities analysts forecast that West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. will post 6.62 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

West Pharmaceutical Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 6th. Investors of record on Wednesday, July 30th will be given a dividend of $0.21 per share. This represents a $0.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.39%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, July 30th. West Pharmaceutical Services's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 13.19%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Citigroup assumed coverage on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services in a research note on Wednesday, January 8th. They set a "buy" rating and a $400.00 price target on the stock. KeyCorp cut their target price on West Pharmaceutical Services from $470.00 to $325.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 14th. StockNews.com downgraded West Pharmaceutical Services from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 27th. Stephens raised West Pharmaceutical Services to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Monday, April 21st. Finally, Evercore ISI began coverage on West Pharmaceutical Services in a research report on Tuesday, March 18th. They set an "outperform" rating and a $275.00 target price for the company. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $332.50.

West Pharmaceutical Services Company Profile

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.