Empirical Finance LLC increased its position in West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. (NYSE:WST – Free Report) by 2.4% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 2,416 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock after purchasing an additional 57 shares during the period. Empirical Finance LLC’s holdings in West Pharmaceutical Services were worth $725,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of WST. LGT Group Foundation bought a new position in West Pharmaceutical Services in the 2nd quarter worth about $68,854,000. Liontrust Investment Partners LLP bought a new position in West Pharmaceutical Services in the 2nd quarter worth about $64,196,000. Iron Triangle Partners LP purchased a new position in West Pharmaceutical Services in the 1st quarter worth about $47,381,000. Sei Investments Co. raised its position in West Pharmaceutical Services by 12.7% in the 2nd quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 401,026 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $132,095,000 after buying an additional 45,208 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board raised its position in West Pharmaceutical Services by 25.0% in the 2nd quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 207,564 shares of the medical instruments supplier’s stock worth $68,370,000 after buying an additional 41,454 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 93.90% of the company’s stock.
Insider Activity
In related news, VP Charles Witherspoon sold 703 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, October 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $310.40, for a total value of $218,211.20. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 1,253 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $388,931.20. This represents a 35.94 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 0.53% of the company’s stock.
West Pharmaceutical Services Price Performance
West Pharmaceutical Services (NYSE:WST – Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The medical instruments supplier reported $1.85 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.50 by $0.35. West Pharmaceutical Services had a return on equity of 18.41% and a net margin of 17.37%. The business had revenue of $746.90 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $709.62 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.16 EPS. West Pharmaceutical Services’s revenue was down .1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts expect that West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. will post 6.66 earnings per share for the current year.
West Pharmaceutical Services Increases Dividend
The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, November 20th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, November 13th will be given a dividend of $0.21 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, November 13th. This represents a $0.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.27%. This is a positive change from West Pharmaceutical Services’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.20. West Pharmaceutical Services’s dividend payout ratio is presently 12.46%.
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.
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