Aureus Asset Management LLC Cuts Position in Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO)

Aureus Asset Management LLC lessened its holdings in Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (NYSE:TMO) by 0.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 57,927 shares of the medical research company’s stock after selling 477 shares during the period. Thermo Fisher Scientific comprises about 2.3% of Aureus Asset Management LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 17th largest holding. Aureus Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Thermo Fisher Scientific were worth $35,832,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Bamco Inc. NY increased its stake in shares of Thermo Fisher Scientific by 1.2% in the 3rd quarter. Bamco Inc. NY now owns 41,635 shares of the medical research company’s stock valued at $25,754,000 after purchasing an additional 498 shares in the last quarter. Kestra Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in Thermo Fisher Scientific during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $544,000. Alerus Financial NA increased its stake in Thermo Fisher Scientific by 12.4% during the 3rd quarter. Alerus Financial NA now owns 9,547 shares of the medical research company’s stock worth $5,906,000 after buying an additional 1,055 shares in the last quarter. FSA Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in Thermo Fisher Scientific during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $80,000. Finally, B&L Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in Thermo Fisher Scientific during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $5,251,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 89.23% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have commented on TMO shares. Redburn Atlantic started coverage on Thermo Fisher Scientific in a research note on Monday, October 14th. They set a “buy” rating and a $680.00 price objective for the company. Bernstein Bank boosted their target price on Thermo Fisher Scientific from $565.00 to $625.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 22nd. Stephens started coverage on Thermo Fisher Scientific in a report on Tuesday, October 1st. They set an “overweight” rating and a $680.00 target price on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on Thermo Fisher Scientific from $650.00 to $670.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, September 20th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus lowered their target price on Thermo Fisher Scientific from $680.00 to $665.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, October 24th. Four research 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 stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $649.33.

Insider Transactions at Thermo Fisher Scientific

In related news, CEO Marc N. Casper sold 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, October 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $554.29, for a total value of $5,542,900.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 121,192 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $67,175,513.68. This represents a 7.62 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Michael A. Boxer sold 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, October 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $560.16, for a total value of $1,120,320.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 12,736 shares in the company, valued at $7,134,197.76. This trade represents a 13.57 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 37,150 shares of company stock valued at $20,651,865. 0.34% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Stock Up 1.5 %

NYSE:TMO opened at $529.63 on Monday. 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’s fifty day moving average is $566.33 and its two-hundred day moving average is $577.69. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. has a 52 week low of $487.06 and a 52 week high of $627.88. The stock has a market capitalization of $202.58 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.50 and a beta of 0.79.

Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE:TMO) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 23rd. The medical research company reported $5.28 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $5.25 by $0.03. Thermo Fisher Scientific had a return on equity of 17.49% and a net margin of 14.48%. The business had revenue of $10.60 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.63 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $5.69 earnings per share. The company’s revenue was up .2% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts anticipate that Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. will post 21.67 EPS for the current year.

Thermo Fisher Scientific Dividend Announcement

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

Thermo Fisher Scientific declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock repurchase program on Friday, November 15th that permits the company to buyback $4.00 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization permits the medical research company to reacquire up to 2% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback programs are typically an indication that the company’s board believes its stock is undervalued.

Thermo Fisher Scientific 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.