AMI Asset Management Corp Sells 8,857 Shares of West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE:WST)

AMI Asset Management Corp reduced its holdings in West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE:WST) by 4.8% during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 173,803 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock after selling 8,857 shares during the quarter. West Pharmaceutical Services accounts for about 2.3% of AMI Asset Management Corp’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 19th largest position. AMI Asset Management Corp owned 0.24% of West Pharmaceutical Services worth $38,911,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Ieq Capital LLC bought a new position in West Pharmaceutical Services during the 4th quarter worth approximately $231,000. IFP Advisors Inc lifted its holdings in West Pharmaceutical Services by 150.9% in the 4th quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 133 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $45,000 after buying an additional 80 shares during the period. Impax Asset Management Group plc lifted its stake in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services by 34.2% in the 4th quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc now owns 4,116 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock valued at $1,348,000 after purchasing an additional 1,049 shares during the period. FFT Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $593,000. Finally, LGL Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of West Pharmaceutical Services in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $213,000. 93.90% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

West Pharmaceutical Services Stock Down 0.7%

West Pharmaceutical Services stock opened at $221.12 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08, a current ratio of 2.77 and a quick ratio of 2.03. The stock has a market capitalization of $15.89 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.71, a PEG ratio of 5.48 and a beta of 1.09. West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. has a 1-year low of $187.43 and a 1-year high of $352.33. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $214.28 and a 200-day moving average price of $254.90.

West Pharmaceutical Services (NYSE:WST) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 24th. The medical instruments supplier reported $1.45 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.22 by $0.23. West Pharmaceutical Services had a return on equity of 18.23% and a net margin of 16.13%. The firm had revenue of $698.00 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $685.24 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.56 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was up .4% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts forecast that West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. will post 6.62 EPS for the current fiscal year.

West Pharmaceutical Services Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, August 6th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, July 30th will be given a dividend of $0.21 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, July 30th. This represents a $0.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.38%. West Pharmaceutical Services’s dividend payout ratio is currently 13.19%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have commented on WST shares. Citigroup reissued a “buy” rating on shares of West Pharmaceutical Services in a report on Thursday, May 22nd. Barclays began coverage on West Pharmaceutical Services in a report on Tuesday. They set an “equal weight” rating and a $245.00 price target for the company. Stephens raised West Pharmaceutical Services to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Monday, April 21st. Evercore ISI began coverage on West Pharmaceutical Services in a research note on Tuesday, March 18th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $275.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered West Pharmaceutical Services from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 27th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $320.00.

West Pharmaceutical Services 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.