West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE:WST - Get Free Report)'s stock price reached a new 52-week low on Monday . The stock traded as low as $195.00 and last traded at $197.09, with a volume of 31604 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $203.21.
Analyst Ratings Changes
Several research analysts have commented on WST shares. Evercore ISI assumed coverage on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services in a research note on Tuesday, March 18th. They set an "outperform" rating and a $275.00 price objective for the company. Bank of America raised their target price on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services from $350.00 to $355.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, December 13th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of West Pharmaceutical Services from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $250.00 price target on the stock in a report on Friday, February 14th. Wolfe Research assumed coverage on West Pharmaceutical Services in a research report on Friday, December 13th. They set a "peer perform" rating for the company. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded West Pharmaceutical Services from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, February 27th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $332.50.
Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on West Pharmaceutical Services
West Pharmaceutical Services Price Performance
The firm has a market capitalization of $15.24 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.50, a P/E/G ratio of 6.74 and a beta of 1.22. The stock's 50 day simple moving average is $231.81 and its 200 day simple moving average is $289.85. 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 (NYSE:WST - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 13th. The medical instruments supplier reported $1.82 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping 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%. As a group, analysts expect 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 declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 7th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, April 30th will be paid a dividend of $0.21 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, April 30th. This represents a $0.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.40%. West Pharmaceutical Services's dividend payout ratio is currently 12.56%.
Institutional Inflows and Outflows
Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Whipplewood Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services in the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC bought a new position in West Pharmaceutical Services in the fourth quarter worth approximately $34,000. Centricity Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in West Pharmaceutical Services during the fourth quarter worth $35,000. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC boosted 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 valued at $38,000 after acquiring an additional 40 shares in the last quarter. Finally, IFP Advisors Inc increased its holdings in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services by 150.9% in the 4th quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 133 shares of the medical instruments supplier's stock valued at $45,000 after acquiring an additional 80 shares during the period. 93.90% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.
West Pharmaceutical Services Company Profile
(
Get 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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