Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Acquires 393,970 Shares of STERIS plc $STE

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans lifted its holdings in shares of STERIS plc (NYSE:STE) by 246.4% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 553,834 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 393,970 shares during the quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans’ holdings in STERIS were worth $137,041,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in shares of STERIS by 1.7% during the 2nd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 12,163,128 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock valued at $2,921,827,000 after buying an additional 205,276 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp increased its stake in STERIS by 2.4% in the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 4,188,103 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock valued at $1,006,069,000 after acquiring an additional 98,220 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its position in STERIS by 1.9% during the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 2,479,108 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock valued at $592,980,000 after purchasing an additional 46,859 shares in the last quarter. Orbis Allan Gray Ltd lifted its stake in STERIS by 36.0% during the second quarter. Orbis Allan Gray Ltd now owns 2,100,099 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock worth $504,486,000 after purchasing an additional 556,088 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of STERIS by 3.9% in the 2nd quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 1,346,039 shares of the medical equipment provider’s stock worth $323,345,000 after purchasing an additional 50,764 shares in the last quarter. 94.69% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Activity

In related news, VP John Adam Zangerle sold 15,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $265.14, for a total value of $3,977,100.00. Following the transaction, the vice president owned 33,669 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $8,926,998.66. This trade represents a 30.82% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, VP Renato Tamaro sold 5,036 shares of STERIS stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $257.55, for a total transaction of $1,297,021.80. Following the transaction, the vice president owned 5,695 shares in the company, valued at $1,466,747.25. This represents a 46.93% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Insiders have sold a total of 25,044 shares of company stock valued at $6,586,218 over the last ninety days. 1.07% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

STERIS Price Performance

Shares of STE stock opened at $262.81 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a quick ratio of 1.63 and a current ratio of 2.37. STERIS plc has a fifty-two week low of $204.90 and a fifty-two week high of $269.44. The firm has a market cap of $25.79 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.76 and a beta of 1.03. The business’s 50 day moving average price is $259.30 and its 200-day moving average price is $248.75.

STERIS (NYSE:STE) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The medical equipment provider reported $2.47 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.38 by $0.09. STERIS had a net margin of 12.07% and a return on equity of 14.43%. The company had revenue of $1.46 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.43 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.14 earnings per share. STERIS has set its FY 2026 guidance at 10.150-10.30 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that STERIS plc will post 9.08 earnings per share for the current year.

STERIS Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 19th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 17th will be paid a $0.63 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 17th. This represents a $2.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.0%. STERIS’s payout ratio is currently 36.21%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, Weiss Ratings reissued a “buy (b)” rating on shares of STERIS in a report on Friday, January 9th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $273.50.

STERIS Profile

STERIS Corporation (NYSE: STE) is a global provider of infection prevention, contamination control and procedural products and services for the healthcare, life sciences, pharmaceutical and medical device industries. The company develops, manufactures and supports a broad portfolio of equipment and consumables designed to reduce risk of infection, maintain sterile environments and support critical clinical and manufacturing procedures.

Its offerings include sterilization and decontamination systems, instrument washers and washers-disinfectors, endoscope reprocessing solutions, surgical equipment and procedural disposables, and contamination-control products for cleanrooms and laboratories.