Lazard Asset Management LLC Cuts Stake in Guardian Pharmacy Services, Inc. $GRDN

Lazard Asset Management LLC reduced its holdings in shares of Guardian Pharmacy Services, Inc. (NYSE:GRDN) by 12.1% during the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 147,502 shares of the company’s stock after selling 20,229 shares during the period. Lazard Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Guardian Pharmacy Services were worth $5,555,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Ameritas Investment Partners Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Guardian Pharmacy Services by 26.5% in the 3rd quarter. Ameritas Investment Partners Inc. now owns 1,647 shares of the company’s stock valued at $43,000 after purchasing an additional 345 shares in the last quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System grew its holdings in shares of Guardian Pharmacy Services by 3.4% during the 4th quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 17,983 shares of the company’s stock valued at $541,000 after purchasing an additional 593 shares during the last quarter. Police & Firemen s Retirement System of New Jersey raised its position in Guardian Pharmacy Services by 20.4% in the 4th quarter. Police & Firemen s Retirement System of New Jersey now owns 6,070 shares of the company’s stock worth $183,000 after purchasing an additional 1,028 shares during the period. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its stake in Guardian Pharmacy Services by 13.4% in the fourth quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 11,885 shares of the company’s stock worth $358,000 after purchasing an additional 1,409 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Clearstead Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Guardian Pharmacy Services by 196.3% in the fourth quarter. Clearstead Advisors LLC now owns 2,628 shares of the company’s stock worth $79,000 after purchasing an additional 1,741 shares during the last quarter.

Guardian Pharmacy Services Stock Up 0.5%

NYSE:GRDN opened at $41.20 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.05 billion, a P/E ratio of 49.64, a P/E/G ratio of 2.69 and a beta of 0.05. The company has a fifty day moving average of $40.70 and a 200 day moving average of $36.69. Guardian Pharmacy Services, Inc. has a 52 week low of $19.30 and a 52 week high of $44.00.

Guardian Pharmacy Services (NYSE:GRDN) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 6th. The company reported $0.29 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.24 by $0.05. Guardian Pharmacy Services had a net margin of 3.64% and a return on equity of 30.72%. The business had revenue of $336.60 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $329.89 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.22 EPS. The company’s revenue was up 2.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts anticipate that Guardian Pharmacy Services, Inc. will post 1.18 EPS for the current year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have issued reports on the stock. Weiss Ratings lowered shares of Guardian Pharmacy Services from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “hold (c)” rating in a research report on Monday, May 11th. Oppenheimer boosted their target price on Guardian Pharmacy Services from $38.00 to $43.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, May 7th. Truist Financial increased their target price on Guardian Pharmacy Services from $43.00 to $47.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, June 17th. Zacks Research cut Guardian Pharmacy Services from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, May 11th. Finally, Bank of America raised their price target on Guardian Pharmacy Services from $42.00 to $47.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, June 17th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $42.83.

Guardian Pharmacy Services Profile

Guardian Pharmacy Services, Inc, a pharmacy service company, provides a suite of technology-enabled services designed to help residents of long-term health care facilities (LTCFs) in the United States. Its individualized clinical, drug dispensing, and administration capabilities are used to serve the needs of residents in lower acuity LTCFs, such as assisted living facilities and behavioral health facilities and group homes. The company’s Guardian Compass includes dashboards created using data from its data warehouse to help its local pharmacies plan, track, and optimize their business operations; and GuardianShield Programs for LTCFs.